Mild Scarring: Hello, everyone, I've... - British Liver Trust

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Mild Scarring

Rbbooks profile image
19 Replies

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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Rbbooks
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19 Replies
Aotea2012 profile image
Aotea2012

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.

Rbbooks profile image
Rbbooks in reply toAotea2012

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!

Randolph

PadoJoe profile image
PadoJoe in reply toRbbooks

Prayer nothing relives worry and stress better than prayer and reading God's promises he made to you.

Rbbooks profile image
Rbbooks in reply toPadoJoe

Thank you, and I do. How are you?

YummyBear profile image
YummyBear in reply toAotea2012

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'.

Dogbot profile image
Dogbot

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 👍💕💕.

Stay safe All

Dogbot 🐶🌈Dave

Rbbooks profile image
Rbbooks in reply toDogbot

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!

Randolph

Rbbooks profile image
Rbbooks

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!

Randolph

J4ck1369 profile image
J4ck1369

Hi & welcome!

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 👍

Rbbooks profile image
Rbbooks in reply toJ4ck1369

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.

Randolph

Onesmallstep1969 profile image
Onesmallstep1969 in reply toJ4ck1369

Wow. Was your initial diagnosis cirrhosis given that you had less than a 50% chance of survival?

J4ck1369 profile image
J4ck1369 in reply toOnesmallstep1969

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.

Readlots profile image
Readlots

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

Rbbooks profile image
Rbbooks in reply toReadlots

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 !

Randolph

Readlots profile image
Readlots in reply toRbbooks

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 😊

Rbbooks profile image
Rbbooks in reply toReadlots

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.

Randolph

PadoJoe profile image
PadoJoe

What did you learn at your g.i. screening?

Rbbooks profile image
Rbbooks in reply toPadoJoe

Appointment for july, that's about it.

PadoJoe profile image
PadoJoe in reply toRbbooks

Ok, from what I saw in your original post I thought it had already taken place. Don't let the anxiety get to you reach out if you just need to talk.

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