Hello, everyone, I've been lurking here since last year. I want to thank you for your inspiring stories and wealth of positive information you exchange and for being brave enough to share your struggles and losses. I am 43 from usa, just diagnosed with mild scarring of my liver through mre. I am not really shocked but I am worried. I drank too much, had bad diet, on and off psych drugs since age of 21. I have not drank in 15 months. Stopped drinking in January of 2022 due to severe anxiety flare up. Took blood test to check for thyroid issue. Results were high liver enzymes and many other things off. Alt was 352 ast 181. My enzymes have improved since then. Trying to eat better. Last April took ultrasound, result was fatty liver, they never told me what level. I was never confident that it was just fatty liver. I guess I'm just seeking support, as I'm scared. My friend's husband just died last week from arld. I know the difficult symptoms of advanced liver problems. It's hard not to think about the severe symptoms. I have a screening for g.i. doctor next week. All advice is welcome. Thanks for reading this.
Randolph
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Welcome. The key things you’ve done - giving up alcohol and improving your diet will immeasurably help your liver and health. It’s great that your bloods are improving and is a sign that these two things are helping. Keep doing what you are doing and you’ll be fine. Mild scarring is not the end of the world and if you remain on course there should be no deterioration in your liver function. Fortunately, the liver is very resilient and can handle a lot of damage. I have cirrhosis caused by alcohol. I’ve done what you’ve done and given up alcohol completely and now follow an advised diet. (Low salt, high protein) My bloods are normal and I take no medication. I feel very well and my scans are showing a damaged but stable liver. Keep going, try not to worry too much and do the things your health care professionals advise.
Thank you for your encouragement Aotea and the welcome. I still need to improve my diet. I was exercising more last year but in January I got a skin cancer screening referral from doctor that threw me into more of a depression. I spent a lot of time outside exercising and getting sun burns. Another thing to be concerned about. I try to walk indoors 10 thousand steps. Your progress has been great, keep doing it too. How did you manage to stay positive despite your diagnosis? Not worrying is hard for me but I'll try. Thank you for the advice!
Good to read your liver situation. At least you know the reason for your condition and can improve on it as the liver can be very forgiving. My condition is NAFLD (non alcoholic fatty liver disease) which developed to Cirrhosis for which was found by pure chance. I will never know why this happened as I was not overweight (63kg) nor poorly, although I am diabetic which is controlled with meds. I am monitored 3 times yearly, 2 x ultrasounds and 1 x Endoscopy. It's a case 'watch and wait'.
Mild scarring does what it says on the tin I am F2 8.8 kpa mild scarring, basically got some pebbles in my jelly.I wish I could play you the video of the consultant we met on thursdays BLT zoom
Stop worrying, I should not comment on bloods but ALT greater than AST is better.
Do not drink, do not add any more pebbles.
Enjoy life, F2 can become F0, stop worrying.
There is no cure, just living well and never touching alcohol again
Thanks for your positive comments IRO. I'm sure your meeting with BLT consultant was encouraging, what did you enjoy about it? How has your liver journey been? How do you stay positive? I will continue my abstinence no matter what happens. I appreciate your advice!
I will not repeat my story here, if you search you will find it.
ELF test 10.8, GP booked me an appointement with a surgeon for reasons that have never been explained, 3 months wait, mental breakdown, psychotic episode led to suicide attempt, hospital, then repeat, this time I was sectioned.
I did however get the mistake rectifed an immediate appointment with a liver consultant.
Hi glad you have joined us sometimes just writing down your thoughts and problems helps you, WELL DONE for giving up the booze I know how difficult that is. It will help your mental and physical health, it’s important to feel good to help you mentally, keep up the good work 👍💕💕.
Thanks Dave! I agree, letting out your feelings and worries can help. It was a choice I made before I knew how terrible my bloods were, after my results I had more reason to stop drinking. My mental and physical health has not been too good the last few months. I don't feel completely miserable but I don't feel that well either. I'm glad your transplant experience went well, congratulations! You keep doing good work too! Thanks for your positive words!
Last year I was given a less than 50% change of survival. Deranged bloods, billirubin of 358 and kidneys starting to fail. 11 months on i am fibroscan F0 and on no meds, bloods practically normal. I just did everything the drs told me. Gave up alcohol on 3rd May, eating healthily and I try to jog about 10k a week (over 3/4 days). Just to say your liver is remarkable. Just look after it, try and exercise and definitely stay off the booze. I never saw a dietician but just try to eat sensibly, low salt and fruit & veg. I do though enjoy chocolate sometimes now which I never touched before! Just be sensible and you should be fine. Good luck. Shaz 👍
Thanks for the comment! I'm happy you're doing better!I will continue my abstinence from alcohol, I started on low salt last year. I need to improve with carbs. My LFTs have improved.
Alcoholic hepititis. I was extremely sick & they said if there wasnt enough healthy liver left to regenerate then prognosis was very poor as you have to wait at least 6 months to be listed for a transplant. I hadnt told my adult kids I was poorly but they advised me to ask them to visit me. I was n bits as you can imagine. I was receiving drips etc but they had to stop for a while because I got pneumonia and the had to treat that before they could continue with other treatment.. That was May 2022.
Hi, welcome to the group. Well done for the changes you’ve made. Getting a diagnosis is always a blow and waiting for that first consultants appointment is scary - no wonder you’re feeling scared, particularly when you’ve already been through skin cancer. We don’t all stay positive all the time, we have our low periods, the thing is not to beat yourself up about it, and know that you’ll have good times too. You’ll get through this
Thank you Readlots! I already had an idea the damage was done. I just thought it was worse. Well my screening for skin cancer hasn't been set up yet, that is just another thing to worry about. I no what you mean about staying positive and low periods. Yesterday was rough. Hope you are well !
Hi Randolph, as the song says “Life is a rollercoaster, you just got a ride it”. Sometimes it’s shit and it’s OK to acknowledge that. Then you get out in the garden and make it look tidy, read a good book, have a chat with a friend and you realise that it’s actually OK and you keep going.
I’m doing OK thank you. Blood tests next week - I hate those, but doing OK. Made a pond out of a tin bath today with a little fountain 😊
Hello! I hope your blood tests are ok. It's been hard the last 15 months. I've tried to distract myself but it always seems to hang over my head. The feeling everything is about to cave in on you is constant. I got multiple family members going through severe health issues on top of my own. I'm happy you are doing ok. I hope your blood results are positive, all these tests stress me out too. Your fountain project sounds nice, I'm glad you keep yourself busy, it is good therapy.
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