I have been diagnosed with NAFLD not been given any real information from GP except to drop 10% weight - which is fine but should we avoid fatty foods ? I am weighing and counting calories -yesterday we were out and my partner had a Cornish pasty which I would of loved and found of tracked but thought of the fat content so I didn’t .
Also at what stage do you get to speak to a specialist - I asked doctor about fibrosis scan she said that is only if you are drinking ???? I didn’t think this was right but I wasn’t going to argue the point at the moment .
I do have a scan next Monday .
Thanks in advance
Andree
Written by
Tiaday
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NAFLD can have different stages so you are quite right to want to find out more.
NICE (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) have devised guidelines with the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) that state people diagnosed with NAFLD should have further testing to assess for their risk of fibrosis- stiffening or scarring in the liver.
The specific blood tests are Fib-4 score blood test or an Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) blood test. A specific scan called a FibroScan also estimates fibrosis.
You may want to discuss this with your own GP who will be able to look up the NICE guidance.
If you do have some weight to lose, then you could also ask your GP for a referral to a hospital registered dietitian for more support and guidance.
When I was diagnosed I was to avoid high processed foods, fatty and sugary foods. You need to eat as natural as possible such as fruits veg nuts etc. Avoid anything processed such as chocolate biscuits, crisps. You did well avoiding the pasty. Try and have all your meals home cooked from scratch. The best thing i did was meal plan every meal to keep me focused and avoid those moments where you end up eating crap because you haven't sorted dinner if you know what I mean.
Thankyou I totally understand what you are saying - for most of my life I have cooked from Scratch except after my husband died and I resulted to low calories micro meals but I really would like to understand how I got this ? Can they ever determine this ? Nice colourful dinner prepped already for tonight chicken snd lots med veg
Do you have PCOS? I have this condition which I was told didn't help as people with it are prone to NAFLD. Its very frustrating as I'm not massive, I'd say a size 14 to 16, yet I have this issue. I think some people are just more susceptible than others. I also carry my weight on my stomach area which doesn't help either.
I don’t have PCOS - yet I am overweight size 16 but only 5ft 4.5 inch - always been fairly fit use to teach aerobics years ago and have always done some activity whether it be gym running and lately swimming and walking - I hope come Monday they can tell me what they find on the scan
Good morning ,20+ years ago following an ultrasound scan looking for gall stones found “only a bit of a fatty liver”she added “ most of the western world has a degree of fatty liver, so don’t worry “No advice about life style changes as I had over the previous year got back into a healthy BMI with the help and support of Weight Watchers .
My occasional pain was put down to “ sludging” which I was told by the ultrasonographer , was very common after being on a low fat diet.
Roll forward 20 years .. after multiple holidays and normal socialising ,yo- yoing dieting ,moderate alcohol consumption ( never to excess …)
I noticed spider veins on my chest and upper arm , as a nurse I knew this needed investigation .
After 3 months of blood , scans , biopsy and endoscopy .
I was diagnosed with NASH cirrhosis and oesophageal varices .
Had I been advised about the risks of developing cirrhosis,I would of made significant life style changes .
Two years on from my diagnosis , I have chosen to abstain from alcohol , cook from scratch , reduced my sat intake and reversed my type 2 diabetes.
I wish I had asked more questions 20 years ago .
I’m sure many people assume cirrhosis can only be caused due to alcoholism ,I know I did .
My advice would be , ask questions , use this forum as a resource but remember no 2 people are the same .
Thankyou for the reply - this is exactly why I have been pushing my GP - I was having blood tests for gallstones over a year ago and they picked up NAFLD on blood tests . I am so glad I read up about it then as the guidelines the GPS have say you don’t need regular bloods - I disputed this with my GP and had another within 6/7 months and it had gone from moderate to severe . I hope I have got in soon enough to stop it getting worse - I am a bit like you throughout my teens and 20s yo yo dieting and drinking (not every day but going out at weekends )
I have a scan on Monday so will see what liver looks like
I have seen what cirrhosis and then ascetis do to you my brother lost his fight against alcohol two years ago
This is site is giving me lots of questions to ask my GP - although unfortunately they are not up to speed -she only thought a fibrosis scan was for alcoholics !!!
You press on with what you feel is right for you. Research online and check any questions of concern with British Liver Trust. I was diagnosed with non alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in 2005. GP knew nothing about the condition. I was Not overweight. I was prescribed Statins. In 2014 I asked my GP if I could have a scan of the liver; result from U/S was 'Normal Liver'. A year later I had a CT scan for another issue; the report showed I had Cirrhosis (in one year!!!). I was shocked; how this could happen, it still beyond me. I get monitored twice-yearly with U/S scans and an Endoscopy, the liver remains unchanged, no treatment, no adverse symptoms thankfully, it's a silent condition. I don't drink alcohol, 100% tee-total. It is your body, do NOT leave anything to chance.
Hi Tiaday, what effect do you think the statins had on your liver. I was also told I had mild NAFL over 15 years ago. No advice on diet or anything. I’m on 2 statins, due to hereditary high cholesterol. My cardiologist says the statins are helping the fat in my liver. Although, my ALT is always elevated at about 41. I’m not certain if the elevation is from my liver or the stains and can’t get a clear answer. Any information you have or anyone else has that’s taking statins along with fatty liver will be appreciated.
I have had liver problems for over 30 years, and the diet advice keeps changing. First I was told to follow a low-fat diet with lots of fruits and veggies; then I was told that had way too many carbs, especially fructose, and I should eat low-carb instead. Then I was told monounsaturated fats were good for me. Now I try to eat plenty of monosaturated fats (olive and peanut oil) and not too much carbs. I hope this time, the physicians and have gotten it right! (Most *dietitians* still say I should eat a low-fat, high carb diet.)
How non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is diagnosed
NAFLD is often diagnosed after a blood test called a liver function test produces an abnormal result and other liver conditions, such as hepatitis, are ruled out.
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but I really would like to understand how I got this ? Can they ever determine this ? Nice colourful dinner prepped already for tonight chicken snd lots med veg 
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