A diagnosis of Cirrhosis.

[MistyMoments]

Hi everyone about a year ago I had an endoscopy to check my oesophagus. I quite complex in the sense I have type 2 diabetes many years ago I had my gallbladder removed and a hernia repair. I’ve always struggled with my weight. To my shock the endoscopy and further tests I was told I had Cirrhosis caused by possibly Diabetes Metabolic Disease and was classed as having NAFLD as I only drank socially my score on the Child Scale was A and on the Meld scale was 7 . I have portal vein hypertension no ascites but a varice I think in my oesophagus. I had to constantly push for follow up scan and blood test and contact with a consultant it’s all moving now, scan mid March and blood tests in April so then will no current state. However in the meantime my liver readings were in normal range at the lower end had an annual blood test at the GPS. Also showed I have has low very low and slightly improved by still low under normal range platelet readings that the gp has had done show I be pushing for the gp to look further into this I’m been having 3 monthly checks 4 check in April. Sorry seems like I’m writing a book I help support I would like from others here is around diet . I can find diet advice for people who have cirrhosis who need to nourish and try and put weight on stabilise but not for weight reduction. Paleo Keto cabs low carbs intermittent fasting I’m like confused dot com. I know that I to do this slowly as too fast can damage the liver . All advice greatfully accepted 😊

[AyrshireK]

Ask your consultant for referral to a dietician, advice is very individual as like you say a cirrhosis diet for fueling and build up is going to be different than someone with diabetes related issues and possible need for weight loss. Avoid fasting though as it can worsen fatty liver and also your liver might start to burn your muscles for fuel instead of burning the desired fat.

A proper dietician appointment is required - preferrably one with good liver disease knowledge.

On the plus side your liver seems to be holding it's own at present and remains well compensated based on your symptoms and results at the moment.

Katie

[MistyMoments in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you so much for replying I’m actually seeing a dietitian who is lovely but specialises in diabetes I’m also on Ozempic have lost some weight but keep getting throat ear infections and feel extremely tired I forgot to say my medications were changed too. And yes the report said my liver at that time was well compensated. In love in Scotland but no support group locally and like everywhere running understaffed I haven’t seen a gp nor when the consultant called my it was by telephone and consultation was out of the blue no warning so I probably didn’t ask the right questions. So glad to be here 😊.

[AyrshireK in reply to MistyMoments]

Obviously we are Scotland too - hence my user name. Hubbies local consultant has recently retired with no replacement yet in sight but thankfully he's still under the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where we have been lucky enough to see the liver specialist dieticians. They are great and have even given us advice over the telephone when it was suggested that hubby had developed diabetes on top of his cirrhosis.

The British Liver Trust has members of staff who were facilitating and supporting local support groups for liver disease (pre-covid) we were going along to one in Ayr but obviously it's ground to a halt at the moment though they seem to be gradually restarting. They also have a whole raft of online support groups. Details for all on the website at:- britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Katie

[MistyMoments in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks very much I’m in the Scottish Borders I have registered recently with the Scottish website will try the on-line meeting

[kensimmons]

Google liver friendly diet - 200 books will appear. Realx you can beat this.

[Yellowsydney]

Hi, sounds a familiar story, many many type 2 diabetics are diagnosed with nafld. Personally mine was not diagnosed until I was vomiting up blood. The British liver trust have a very helpful section on their website with diet and exercise advice.britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Hilary

[Kristian]

Hi Misty,

From a platelets perspective, its pretty common for the levels to be a bit lower than normal. If you have portal hypertension your spleen will likely be a bit bigger so it will gobble up a few more blood cells than a normal spleen would. Also, as you liver has a role in blood cell production, you may produce a few less too. So seeing a reduction in platelets and or heamaglobin isn't that unusual and they just tend to monitor it at follow up clinics rather than arrange any specific treatments. If either goes very low, then they may have a think about potential meds or they may just say be a bit more careful as you bruise easier, lol. I think mine tended to hover around the hundred mark and they weren't too bothered about that.

Diet wise, you'll probably have advice that relates to your diabetes, or will be getting some soon if I read one of your responses to Katie right. You'll probably find that what you get told for your diabetes will probably transfer across for your liver health pretty well too, particularly with it being well compensated.

If you are looking to lose a bit of weight then, as others have said, avoid the fads. Keto, fasting etc etc. They're not going to get you anything better than just eating sensibly will. Losing weight just needs to be a daily deficeit in the calories you take in compared to the calories you use. So as long as you use more calories than you take in, you will lose weight. Its just the rate at which it happens that changes. But eating relatively normally and relatively healthy will allow you to lose the weight and, more importantly, sustain it.

The easiest way to get a quick boost to your calorie usage is going for a short walk. Its easy in intensity and 30 mins uses around 250 calories, an hour around 500. Thats what I tend to do. So if you want a little treat, walk to the shop to get it, lol.

If your liver disease does progress, then you may get more specific instructions later on. But, for now, I'm sure the advice your dietician will give you will suffice. Even though they may specialise in diabetes, if you tell them about your cirrhosis, I'm sure they'll be able to take that into account.

Good luck.

[MistyMoments in reply to Kristian]

Thank you for your reply. I forgot to say that I have lots of tests initially and very good reports as it was done in the private sector but the transferral back into the NHS for this what is classed as chronic condition had taken much longer. But the report showed that my spleen was normal a year ago. When I got the diagnosis, there was a question in my blood results about celiac but had a repeat test and that was okay. Just hoping that the changes I have made since diagnosis have helped certainly liver reading are good and lost some weight will keep going. 😊 Thank you once again reading many postings on here I’ve had similar experiences thank you and Katie for replying and everyone else for sharing their experiences.

[vinylcollector in reply to Kristian]

Eat protein and cut out sugar and salt fats. Too much protein can cause problems. Eat Green bananas and high-fibre fruit veg cut out processed food. Walking is good. Avoid Google's diet, which can do Liver damage. You need to rest and avoid caffeinated beverages. Keep warm on cold days and cool on hot days. Clear your bowels at least 1-3 times daily to clear the gut of impurities that can get to the brain.

[MistyMoments]

All this advice certainly gives me food for thought. I have not had any alcohol for 10 months I did have a few glasses of 0% processco at Christmas not the much and to be honest wasn’t that great, I have read about benefits of drinking coffee for the liver but again read it should be black as dairy added seemly undoes the benefit of the coffee. The Ozempic does curb appetite so I was doing fasting from evening till lunch but after the posts here will not be doing that. I’m not doing Keto nor very low carbs I’ve always limited fruit as I think my first bit of damage to my liver may have been juicing retreat lost 28lbs in 4 weeks but later was told that too much fructose can damage the liver. So limit myself on fruit. I do eat veg but can get bunged up have cut back on carbs a bit but have a some with every meal. Like many people on here have aches and pains in my joints have had 2 back operations and recently partial knee but because of the liver diagnosis have been advised against taking any painkillers so feeling bit fed up with chronic pain. Im trying to keep upbeat till my test results I think the cold weather doesn’t help the aches.. I teach mindfulness , stress reduction and resilience I think 5 courses of antibiotics recently although helpful in reducing current issues haven’t quite got my mojo back but I’m sure it will come back. I do helpful meditations breathing and gentle exercise. I’ll let everyone know when my results through. Roll on spring and summer yesterday I was experiencing sunshine and snow simultaneously lol it was clothes on layers off all day. Wishing everyone well. 😊🙏⭐️