Bloods reassurance?

[youngandworried]

Hi all,

Little background recap - 24 years old. Male. Slightly overweight. Raised ALT levels for the last few years - likely non alcoholic. 3 echo's have shown a bright liver with 'fat infiltration'. Currently waiting for a fibroscan, booked for next month. My only symptom is dull (sometimes sharp) pain under the rips in the upper right of my abdomen.

I've just had some follow up/monitoring bloods. ALT is around 360 so obviously high, however my AST is normal, billirubin is normal and GGT is normal. Doc said that this pattern is unlikely to reflect fibrosis/cirrhosis and more likely to reflect a fatty liver at this stage, however I'm still very nervous about cirrhosis? How have other people's blood patterns looked?

thanks

[Hidden]

Hi Joey,

My bloods were normal like yours apart from ALT 63. If that’s what your doc said then it’s reassuring to you and for me too. There is masses that you can do for fatty liver. I’m on strict diet, lots of veggies every day, fruits like blueberries and grapes, bananas and drinking only water. I also eat beans and pulses and Fish is supposed to be great for the liver. The liver trust has publications for the right foods to help your liver be healthy, you should take a look and follow it. Keep it up regardless of what the outcome is because it’s worth it.

Fatty liver can be reversed with the right diet.

[Hidden]

Hi,

Have you read our NAFLD info? Here is a link:

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Hopefully the FibroScan will provide more information. Are you under the care of a liver specialist? You may want to discuss a referral with your GP.

Keep us posted.

[olishay]

Hey I’m 23 so similar age to you and I’m also petrified about cirrhosis so I understand what you’re going through! My ALT was high and everything else normal on my last blood test but I’m still waiting for a scan to confirm fatty liver. It’s hard playing the waiting game especially if you’re worried, but I think your doctor is right and because you’re so young time is on your side.

From all the research I’ve done it seems to be quite rare for young people to have cirrhosis especially from NAFLD as usually it takes years to progress. It’s not impossible but it’s unlikely. Fatty liver can also be reversible before it gets to that point with diet, weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. Remembering that helps me stay calm and reduces my anxiety a little!

The fibroscan will give you a better idea of the damage but until then the best advice anyone can give is just eat healthy, exercise and stop drinking alcohol. Let us know how you get on.

[youngandworried]

Thanks for your reply! It is reassuring in a way to know I'm not the only young person worried about this.

Are you waiting for an ultrasound scan? Ultrasound scans are a weird one because when you search online, it says that ultrasound's can diagnose cirrhosis, but when you get the report back it just says "Bright fatty liver" and doctors say ultrasounds can't differentiate between a fatty liver and liver damage. Frustrating. All 3 of my ultrasounds have just said "Bright fatty liver" and nothing more.

Definitely hoping the fibroscan can shed more light.

The main reason I'm worried is this nagging pain in my upper right quadrant wrapping around to my back. I've heard such conflicting views on this pain. Some people say simple fatty liver can cause pain, some people say you can't get pain until you reach cirrhosis!

[olishay]

Yeah I'm waiting for an ultrasound, since all of this started I've developed quite bad health anxiety over it so I wanted to book privately for a fibroscan asap as I saw that is the most reliable test but I can't find ANYWHERE in like a 200 mile radius that is doing them The consultant at my local private hospital has paused his liver clinic indefinitely because of covid so I'm going to have to wait for the NHS which seems like a nightmare.

At least you've got a fibroscan in the works so you'll know sooner rather than later!

I have terrified myself for the past few weeks as I've been absolutely convinced that I have cirrhosis. I'm overweight but before my LFTs I lost like 20lb in 5 weeks because I could barely eat due to stress (unrelated to liver). Then test said my ALT was 104. Now I've read that rapid weight loss can actually make liver disease worse and progress faster so I'm even more frightened that I've accidentally harmed my liver more. The waiting is the worst part for sure. In the meantime I've been eating as low-carb as I can and cutting out fizzy drinks, alcohol, junk food etc.

I feel like I've been getting some pain under my right rib going into my side occasionally too but it is more of an ache and it comes and goes. Sometimes it is on the left side as well. I'm on a Facebook group for reversing fatty liver and lots of people on there seem to also have pain with their NAFLD so I'm just as confused as you about it. The liver doesn't have any pain receptors but I've read if the membrane surrounding it is inflamed then it can hurt so maybe it is to do with that?

Hoping your fibroscan results come back good!!