New here, concerned!

[youngandworried]

Hi there,

I'm new here! I'm a 24 year old male. I'm a little overweight though I'm not morbidly obese or anything like that. My diet hasn't been fantastic (lots of fatty foods etc) in the past. I drink moderately but I don't think to excess (10 or so pints a week perhaps?).

Anyway. About 3 years ago I was told my liver enzymes were raised (ALT raised). This has never gone away and continues to be raised despite lifestyle measures. I haven't got hepatitis or any infection or injury etc. I've had 3 liver ultrasounds, all of which have shown a bright liver and therefore my diagnosis has been fatty liver disease.

Recently my GP referred me to Hepatology. I am waiting for a fibroscan and an appointment with a consultant, although I'm told this could take 15-20 weeks to come around.

The reason I'm worried is because I've been reading scare stories online (bad idea I know) about cirrhosis and I'm just praying I don't have it. My GP has tried to reassure me that my ALT is raised higher than my AST so that indicates fatty liver disease and not cirrhosis. She also said cirrhosis probably would have shown up on my latest ultrasound scan (2 weeks ago). However I've read that cirrhosis can be missed on blood tests and even on ultrasounds.

My only 'symptom' is an occasional dull ache in my upper right abdomen. Can this occur with fatty liver disease? Or would i have to have fibrosis/cirrhosis for this to come about?

Just really scared as I'm only 24!

Thanks

[Laura009]

Hi.

You are young and if all you have been diagnosed with is fatty liver this is easily rectified as the liver has the ability to cure itself IF you look after it properly.

You need to stop pouring alcohol into your system .. it is poison to your liver and give up eating rubbish fatty sugary foods, these to will cause liver damage. You need a well balanced diet of fresh lean meats for protein , fruit and veg, small portions of daily carbohydrates inc wholemeal bread plus baked or boiled potatoes and pasta and rice. Take regular daily exercise too. As long as you stop consuming the foods and drinks which cause liver problems, it will, as l say regenerate itself, the fat will gradually go and your pain over the next few weeks and months, subside. Once you have cured the problem, don't be tempted to go back to old habits, there is a limit as to how many times you can abuse your liver before it won't recover. The consequences of which can be fatal.

Good luck living a fitter, healthier lifestyle. Your liver will be very grateful.

Laura

[youngandworried in reply to Laura009]

Hi Laura,

Thank you for your reply. I am trying to rectify my diet and drinking - I have lost weight recently following a healthy diet and am trying to limit alcohol intake to the government guidelines - I know it's a rubbish excuse but I'm 24 and live quite 'socially' both in my professional and private life.

I was just a bit worried the tests had missed something to be honest!

[AyrshireK]

Hi young and worried, it is highly unlikely that cirrhosis would be missed on an ultrasound scan, it is seen and described as a coarse, dense echo texture and often the liver is abnormally sized either enlarged or in my hubbies case shrivelled and shrunken so comment is often made on the shape of the liver. So that's good news that they are saying yours is bright.

Fatty liver disease can occur either through alcohol or non alcohol related reasons. The first step would be to look at your alcohol intake - 10 pints a week of regular beer/lager equates to 20 units - but in premium beers/ales and ciders a single pint is 3 units so 10 pints = 30 units. The government guideline limit is only 14 units per week so you are drinking in excess of guideline limits.

A period of sobriety and looking at your diet with a retest some weeks from now would give you a more accurate pattern of the health of your liver.

Having said all that, there are also conditions of the liver totally unrelated to anything 'lifestyle' related - there are auto immune conditions, hereditary issues and more so hopefully when you do see a specialist you will get all of those investigated and ruled out too.

Pain in your liver area is often due to the sack around your liver stretching if the liver is inflamed or indeed nothing at all to do with your liver since there are other organs in that vicinity which are often more painful than the liver. (liver has no pain receptors and liver conditions tend to be 'silent' until they show actual symptoms).

Address the life style issues as a first step and hopefully be the time you get a retest and your follow up with specialist all will be looking a lot better.

Katie

[youngandworried in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you for your detailed and helpful response.

I had read some stories about ultrasound diagnosing fatty liver and missing cirrhosis but these are probably either scare stories or extremely rare events.

I really appreciate the information on the pain, as all the doctors I've spoken to have pretty much told me it's impossible for FLD to cause pain.

I'm definitely looking to correct my diet and alcohol intake

[AyrshireK in reply to youngandworried]

You might find the British Liver Trust pages on Alcohol and the liver and Non Alcohol Related Fatty Liver Disease a good bit of guidance.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Katie