Should I accept this answer?

[LindzSmyth]

Hi everyone,

I have had a few ultrasounds due to concerns with past drinking habits. My blood work for years and years has always come back within range (consistent, not increasing either) and no deritis ratio, my ultrasound has show heterogeneous echogenicity, statstednalso it demonstrates smoothness in countour, notes as normal liver size, normal spleen size. My doctor has said I am fine and sent me on my way without being willing to order additional testing. My question is should I accept his answer or is it possible I have fibrosis and it may not be showing?

[AyrshireK]

It would be highly unusual to have any ongoing liver damage with normal bloods and normal scans. I think you can accept the medical findings. (Scans are generally very reliable together with normal bloods, normal liver and spleen sized all sounds great - whilst you can have near normal bloods with serious liver disease, this would not be missed on scans).

If you have now seriously reduced or stopped drinking then any fibrosis would reverse so it's all positive news.

Katie

[LindzSmyth in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you, I appreciate your feedback. How long on average does it take for levels of fibrosis to reverse? I have been through three pregnancies with just some social drinking afterward...

[briccolone in reply to LindzSmyth]

You seem to be assuming you have fibrosis? not sure why you're assuming that given your blood results. I agree with Katie...any fatty liver due to social drinking depending on how much you've been drinking normally resolves in 6 weeks or so-can take longer. Do you actually have any symptoms?

[LindzSmyth in reply to briccolone]

Yes I am assuming based off past habits. There were about 6 years of up to a bottle of wine a night some nights, so I got scared. After having kids I hardly ever drink but when I do I get a very weird reaction tbat I never had before, I sweat like crazy on my sleep and have horrible heart palpitations. I’m wondering if pregnancy gave me some level of an intolerance, which is ok because it makes it even easier to not have, but I do ultimately worry about what the years of havoc had done to it.

[briccolone in reply to LindzSmyth]

yes -know what you mean-don't worry about the past though-we've all been there-it's a bit futile because there's nothing you can do about it. A few years back I developed a real intolerance of alcohol-even tiny amounts like liquer chocolates etc. this eventually wore off-took months. I would just avoid for now if you can . Give it a good 6 weeks maybe more. I've found stopping drinking has improved my blood pressure/cholesterol/weight loss. It's not just the liver that improves... Keep posting all the best

[LindzSmyth in reply to AyrshireK]

Just happen to come across an ad for fatty liver which stated bloods only give a minor picture and ultrasound doesn’t detect early cirrhosis. Do you think it’s still possible they are missing something in my testing? I’m nervous and unfortunately in the us it’s not easy to get a fibroscan even if you are willing to pay out of pocket, I've tried.

[AyrshireK in reply to LindzSmyth]

You need to continue positive lifestyle activities, leave the booze behind. Your bloods are normal and your various scans were normal. Unless you had full on cirrhosis any other degree of liver disease is reversible so by following positive lifestyle guidance.

I would trust the results and continue to look after yourself and if you do have any minor liver change it will hopefully reverse.

Katie

[LindzSmyth in reply to AyrshireK]

My first ultrasound last year said it was smooth in contour. This year it didn’t but that could also just be the difference in narrative from one radiologist to another I assume. If I had early stage cirrhosis would they still have noted that?

[AyrshireK in reply to LindzSmyth]

Heterogeneous echogenicity means you have some change in the liver but with liver being smooth, normal in size and shape and your bloods being good is likely to indicate early change - fatty liver as you've been told. This is pretty normal given the level of drinking you were previously doing. If you've stopped that now and eating healthily then you can reverse this. Cirrhosis is rarely missed on ultrasound as it changes the echo texture of the liver, shape of the liver and size of the liver.

Katie

[LindzSmyth in reply to AyrshireK]

Sorry Katie it was homogenous not heterogenous.

[AyrshireK in reply to LindzSmyth]

Well homogenous means it's all the same texture throughout, no lumps bumps or abnormalities. So even better than the heterogenous that you posted in the first post.

[LindzSmyth in reply to AyrshireK]

So you would say even if I had done past damage that it has most likely resolved itself and the fact that it was homogenous and not even fatty liver was found that I should be ok?

[AyrshireK in reply to LindzSmyth]

I can't say 100% as I am not medically qualified to do so but if your liver isn't lumpy and bumpy, has smooth appearance and is normal throughout then it sounds good. As you have previously shown signs of fatty liver it would be wise to continue your sobriety and continue to look after your liver. The British Liver Trust 'Love Your Liver' guidance would be good for you going forward. britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Don't see this as carte blanche to return to bad ways, your liver obviously doesn't like something you were doing, you've had the warning shot, if you return to drinking etc. it could well deteriorate again and perhaps not have such a positive outcome in the future.

Best wishes, Katie

[LindzSmyth in reply to AyrshireK]

I haven’t ever been diagnosed with fatty liver or anything else. I went strictly or our concern with no other issues trying to be proactive.

[AyrshireK in reply to LindzSmyth]

Well the love your liver guidance is appropriate. You've been lucky to avoid long term damage thus far.

Katie

[LindzSmyth in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks, Katie. I do hope so but I do still worry. I had my gallbladder out a few months ago and was told morphology of the liver looked good. I would assume if I had advanced fibrosis that would have been visible as well at that time?