Anyone know of any cirrhosis of the Liver specialist that are taking on patients?

[Plecos]

I decided to go onto a drug trial that was trialling a drug for Fatty Liver disease. To do this I had to go through a number of tests which included a liver biopsy. I had this biopsy and it came back that I had Cirrhosis of the Liver and I could not continue with the trial as my liver had passed the fatty liver stage! After this diagnosis I felt helpless and nobody helped me including my own GP. I am a very young 58yr old Mum of x4. My Cirrhosis was caused by prescription drugs I was taking (I don’t drink at all) and even though I don’t take many of them any longer I am still taking drugs due to pain, diabetes, High Blood Pressure etc. My doctor does not seem worried about my condition so nothing is being done about it? I really want to be proactive in finding a healthier liver and lifestyle?

Doing nothing is definitely not helping me!

I would like the name of a Liver Specialist that really knows what they are doing! If possible near Cardiff but I can travel anywhere in UK for the right Specialist.

[AyrshireK]

The University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff is Wales' main liver unit. With a diagnosis you should absolutely be under the care of a liver specialist at hospital - minimum monitoring for cirrhosis is 6 monthly ultrasounds scans and six monthly bloods. This is the NICE guideline stipulated monitoring.

As your GP to refer you to a liver specialist NOW to get the proper care you need.

Katie

[kensimmons in reply to AyrshireK]

Katie is absolutely right.

It is very tough - even for a hepatologist (liver doctor) to diagnose when and where fatty liver ends and cirrhosis begins. It is not like a light switch (Cirrhosis "on" or "off") it is more like a dimmer switch which is gradual. And if it's tough for a liver doctor to diagnose, imagine how tough it is for a "regular" doctor!

So go see a liver doctor, nothing can be said to be set in stone yet and things can still be improved upon. If caught early and stopped people can live more than 20 years. As some liver doctors have said upon meeting a new patient "My goal is to make you live as long and comfortable as you can and for you to die WITH cirrhosis not BECAUSE of cirrhosis". And that is often exactly what happens if the patient works with the doctor and follows the instructions.

So get that referral now!