I've received a letter from the Consultant...

[ScienceFriction]

Hi, I've been diagnosed with NAFLD for quite a while and recently had a biopsy. I've received a letter this morning from the consultant saying that I have significant scarring and that I'm at stage 5/6 for fibrosis. I've been advised to become permanently abstinent from alcohol and to get my BMI below 25, which I am already working towards.

If I take action, can my liver repair itself or is it now at the stage where it's so damaged that it is going to definitely turn into cirrhosis anyway?

My appointment to see the consultant isn't until the end of March, so I'm sitting her wondering if I'm going to be ok or whether I should start putting my affairs into order.

Any advice is appreciated. I'm 52, height 5"8", weight 13st12lb, I also have type 2 diabetes.

Many thanks in advance.

[AyrshireK]

Your doctor is using the Ishak scale for fibrosis staging and it runs from 0-6 where 6 is cirrhosis. All is not lost and you can still make major improvements to your liver and potentially stave of full blown cirrhosis but you do need to take action now! It's a pity you weren't given good advice when you first got the NAFLD diagnosis.

The BLT has a good page about NAFLD at:- britishlivertrust.org.uk/in... .

There is also good dietary advice re. the benefits of a Mediterranean style diet:- britishlivertrust.org.uk/ea...

Even if you did progress to cirrhosis it's not an inevitable death sentence.

Katie

[ScienceFriction in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you Katie! I've know for a long time, but all I've ever had is "you've got a bit of a fatty liver, so you should lose a bit of weight and cut down your drinking", but never a warning of that it could turn into cirrhosis, I always thought that was just for alcoholics. I've lost just over a stone since my biopsy and had four small cans of beer in six weeks, so I'm doing what I can, but I suppose I will have to knock the beer on the head full stop if that's what it takes, despite it being one of my little luxuries in life (I've never smoked, vaped or taken drugs), the other being food, it's like it's a double whammy at the same time. I'll keep you informed how I get on, but in the meantime, I'll check out those links. TY!

[AyrshireK in reply to ScienceFriction]

That 'just a bit of fatty liver' has been a line that several doctors have given patients for some years which is a great pity because fatty liver can obviously progress if not addressed.

* My hubby has cirrhosis (diagnosed April 2012) despite being life long t-total, fit, healthy weight, no smoking, no non-prescription drugs, no tattoos or any 'risky' behaviours - his is due to auto immune liver disease. *

[ScienceFriction in reply to AyrshireK]

Unfortunately, along with the "it's only a bit of fatty liver", I've also been on meds long term that, when you look into them, have a damaging effect on the liver (duloxetine and omeprazole). I've reduced my duloxetine right down, but I tried to stop the omeprazole and ended up back at the hospital, so it sort of defeated the object.

[AyrshireK in reply to ScienceFriction]

My hubby is on omeprazole because of his cirrhosis and the effects of stomach acid on varices etc. He's been on them since he was hospitalized with his big variceal bleed in April 2012 and they are the only thing that keeps some of his symptoms at bay.