New here. Around the end of 2020 early 2021 I was diagnosed with severe fatty liver through fibroscan f3. Doc wanted to further test by making me an appointment for a liver biopsy. Well, I guess me being in denial, stubborn and fairly young (41 then). I decided to just change my diet and stop drinking.
Everything was going well. I lost over 50lbs yay! BUT I have since slipped and started eating bad again and gone on some drinking party binges. I feel great but I'm starting to get concerned again. could I have gotten cirrhosis since then? Is it too late for me? I've read so many horror stories that event tho I feel great, I feel like one day I will wake up with acites or yellow or with a bleed! I guess I'm kinda down and anxious and have trouble sleeping thinking I'll wake up dying or something. I have now started the clean eating again and no booze this time FOR GOOD.
Should I go back for the biopsy? I feel like my doctor might see me as a failure...I really wanted to go back triumphant. I don't want to end up dead/sick or on a transplant list. I'm really scared of what the further testing might show... Any advice I'd truly appreciate. P.S. I have gotten a few CT scans for other issues ( kidney stones) and my liver only showed as fatty and blood work normal... Thanks again all of you so much!
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NoRainCa
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I won’t give you a lecture as I’m sure that’s not very helpful, plus you obviously have a degree of awareness that you could be doing further damage if you do not adopt a healthy lifestyle.
What I would say is, do you know why you fell off the wagon ? You mention party binges, which suggests drinking with others? Are your friends drinkers-or unwittingly encouraging you to drink as they are not aware you are an alcoholic?
Do you need to rethink who you socialise with or reframe how that works i.e being designated driver or telling them that you are not going to drink alcohol when out? Or even say you are allergic to it now, which is route I have gone down as was too ashamed to admit the truth 😐
In terms of your direct question though, I think you should ask for a biopsy. It’s clearly playing on your mind and will give you either peace of mind, or make you more determined not to relapse.
Being an alcoholic is a really tough cycle to break. No one understands better than a fellow alcoholic, or any addict for that matter. No one plans on becoming a alcoholic, it happens for various reasons and we just need to unpick that and find a solution that works for us. There is no one size fits all.
Hi Archie, Thank you for the reply. To be honest, according to my Doctor (and I made sure to ask). My Liver disease comes from my diet and not so much the drinking. I can stop drinking with no problem but eating seems to be the hardest for me and with food comes the drink As far as the friends/social thing It's seems everyone eats whatever they want and drinks whatever whenever they want but I cannot blame them for my lack of willpower. I guess it's just time to pick myself back up and start over again.
I would go for the biopsy, things may not be as bad as your head is worrying it is. Your gp won't think of you as a failure, you managed to lose 50lb and that takes some really hard work! And if you've slipped and put some back on, ok - you can do it again. I would just explain to your gp what you've said to us here, get things looked at and get your worries put to bed.
Thank you! Yeah, It took hard work to lose that weight. Lot’s of walking and low carb. I’ve made an appointment with my gastro unfortunately it’s not until December but that gives me some time to get a bit back on track!
Why do you think you’re so very anxious about going back to the doctors? Even just coming on here and opening up about your anxieties and worries you’re showing how anxious you are….. do you think maybe that’s because you know you shouldn’t be drinking?
Go to the doctors and assess where you are at the moment. If all is well, well, that’s a decision you have to make. Whethe you want to live with the conscious nagging worry and stress everytime you “party binge”, have to write on a forum to get your worries out of your system, or do you want to live that amazing, carefree life you had without booze again? That’s how I deal with it in part… I LOVE not having to worry!! Except about not picking up that first drink anyway…
if you had a fibroscan score of f3 and have abstained until recently, it’s likely it may have improved but you can’t live on “maybes” - get it checked.
You don’t mention how often you’re now drinking and what amount? You say it’s the food not the drink - you can stop drinking at any time….? Stopping drinking isn’t the main battle, unfortunately it’s staying stopped… doing THAT without support? That’s tough…
I think Archie says it but no one understands addiction like an addict. Give AA a call or way better, find your nearest group and drop in. We don’t go for fun (we’ll, sometimes!!) but to support each other and other alcoholics in need.
Ok, I appreciate the reply but like I stated earlier my liver issues don’t stem from drinking. I’m as much an “alcoholic” as anyone else without a “problem” with it. It has definitely not helped with my liver disease. My main issue lies with my weight, which I do have an issue with. Yes, I’m very anxious but like I said, time to pick up and start again
by the time I 'found out' I had a problem I was in a hospital bed facing the prospect of not seeing tomorrow. I wonder if I'd have been brave enough to give up the booze if I'd been told beforehand or whether I'd have shrugged it off and put it back in the denial basket.
Anyway here I am 2 years later, discovering the wonderful world of alco free beer (and it is wonderful and getting better all the time). Doing remarkably well, although I struggle with tiredness and stamina.
You've had a wake up call, smell the coffee. Sorry if that sounds brutal but there's nothing nice about Cirrhosis. If you're lucky enough to get a second bite of the cherry go for it!
please go back to your doctor and get your tests, you are frightening yourself with the unknown, so bite the bullet and make an appointment, it’s always easier to fight when you know what you are dealing with. Carry on with your good work, I know how hard and long the road is. Good luck, let us know how you get on, it’s probably going to better than the pictures in your head xx
First and foremost well done on your weightloss, given that 1 in 3 are overweight you are not alone in your battle and in my proffessional opinion weightloss is never linear. The important thing is you are getting back on track.
It may not feel like it but you have been given a chance to regenerate your liver and sometimes it is the shock of a diagnosis or fear that finally drives us to change. So I would say use that fear or shock to keep aiming for the healthy lifestyle which is never too late for even when a few diversions have been taken along the way.
Be mindful about why and what your eating or drinking. Think protein and greens, takeaways on occasion, don’t do desserts or drink your calories…fizzy drinks/alcohol except occasionally.
Being active doesn’t have to mean 5 days a week brutally in the gym. Exercise by definition is any activity that raises the heart rate and moves the skeleton. Walk more, take the stairs, get up every 15 minutes and be active. Do a 30 minute you tube walking workout. I lift dumbells now and use bands although before my diagnosis was a weightlifting cross fitter and have done triathlons.
Don’t need hard on yourself. Give yourself a Pat on the back when u have good days and forgive yourself for any slips.
You done it once cant see why you cant do it again would not imagine you done to much damage in such a short space of time. I left it to late would not listen to doctors now i got a de compensated liver thats a worry not knowing how long your going to live for i been off the drink now for 7months now still got a slight tinge of yellow even now so my advice stop now before its to late you only fell off the wagon once dont punish your self for that
Hi, I can understand wanting to get better by yourself, proving you can do it on your own. And you’ve made a fantastic start but until you have more blood tests and another fibroscan you won’t know if your changes have helped, so it’s a good idea to go back to the consultant to ind out.
Re the liver biopsy, it may be that they want to rule out other liver diseases. I was told that Iprobably had fatty liver disease, but a biopsy showed I have 2 autoimmune conditions which are both treatable. My liver is now functioning well with medication.
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I've read so many horror stories that event tho I feel great, I feel like one day I will wake up with acites or yellow or with a bleed! I guess I'm kinda down and anxious and have trouble sleeping thinking I'll wake up dying or something. I have now started the clean eating again and no booze this time FOR GOOD.
Too anxious? 
Too much worry?
Liver Pain, LFTs sort of normal and major pains on left side too! 
Feeling too well pre- transplant
Scaring myself silly and pretty ashamed too.
