Diagnosis cirrhosis

[Tonbolt275]

After 3 years of suffering and a diabetes diagnosis which I turned around in 10 weeks o am now told I have fatty liver / cirrhosis. I am reaching out for help and advice as atm I feel abandoned by the NHS.

[Yellowsydney]

Hi, the British liver trust website has information and advice about fatty liver disease, they have diet and exercise advice, fatty liver is associated with diabetes.britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

[Tonbolt275 in reply to Yellowsydney]

They told me to come on here and ask questions

[wp69]

Here if you want to chat 53 year old guy , just been through it.

[Tonbolt275]

I am 67 took my doctor 3 years to diagnose my condition 6mts ago I was told I had diabetes. In 10weekd with diet and exercise I got down to 1 point of normal .so classed as pre diabetes. Then the bomb shell diagnosis cirrhosis Light headed , pain in my back and sides radom shooting pains in legs .arms and neck. My doctor is refusing to refur me to a dietitian and basically abandoned Me said see you again in Feb 24

[AnxiousPete in reply to Tonbolt275]

A GP is unable to diagnose cirrhosis it needs to come from specialist diagnostic tests. You should question on what basis this 'diagnosis' has been made and you are entitled under NICE NHS guidelines to be referred to a gastroenterology / hepatology team to undergo full liver panel blood tests and a fibroscan. If Cirrhosis is suspected further tests may be rquired such as CT Ultrasound biopsy. Do not let this go - push for this referral ASAP

[Tonbolt275 in reply to AnxiousPete]

I have had the test with a liver nurse but has been giving me advise that contradicts her previous chat . I have never seen a consultant. Just told to have tests again I Feb 24

[AnxiousPete in reply to Tonbolt275]

You are entitled to be referred to a consultant for a defininitive diagnosis. If cirrhosis is confirmed you will probably need to have a gastroscopy to check for varices which are a common symptom of portal hypertension and it is very important that this is checked out. Ruptured varices can be life threatening. I am very perturbed by this apparently poor level of NHS support and believe you should challenge this. If you've had a fibroscan carried out by a liver nurse you should have been provided with a kpa and CAP score which indicates relative severity of the disease ? I certainly would not want to wait 5 months without further information bit good luck with everything.

[Tonbolt275 in reply to AnxiousPete]

I have had all of above but don't understand most of it . I have been asking for a dietitian now for 3mts . The doctors have come back to me this week saying they can no longer refur to dietitians even though 3 different doctors an a liver nurse have said they have referred me.

[AnxiousPete in reply to Tonbolt275]

If you don't understand most of it then that's what a consultant and hepatology team are for. I would press for a consultant appointment. There is no liver dietician available in my hospital but the BLT advice on diet is pretty much all a specislist dietician will tell you. Apart from the decaf coffee you sound to be doing everything you can to help yourself in relatiin to diet and lifestyle. I presume then you have also had the diagnostic tests for autoimmune conditions that cause fibrosis / cirrhosis and that your diagnosis resulted from NARLD ? Hope you continue to make good progress.

[2022minks]

Yes as above please go back and try to get referred, or get a second opinion or change your doctors as fatty liver disease at Cirrhosis stage can still be reversed and with life changes it can result in you not having a shortened life span once diagnosed at decompensated stage. The British Liver trust have downloadable booklets and you can always talk to one of the nurses on the helpline. Don't wait get researching. Cut out any alcohol and follow a healthy diet we are all here to help where we can xx

[Tonbolt275]

I have never drunk or smoked .overweight yes but plan to be 4st lighter by new year and 6st by June next year. I don't add salt or sugar to anything very lean meat turkey and chicken no processed food no dairy 1lt of oat milk a day decaf coffee and tea . Cycle every day. It a pedal assist bike but down to modes now so mid range help.

[AnxiousPete in reply to Tonbolt275]

Caffeinated coffee is recommended for liver disease - 3 cups a day I read recently.

[Tonbolt275 in reply to AnxiousPete]

Yes I was told that yesterday by the liver Trust nurse .This is my predicament so much misleading information I was told decaf somewhere elese

[AnxiousPete in reply to Tonbolt275]

Need to be careful about sources. I trust the most recent peer-reviewed research articles . That's where I first read about the positive effects of coffee.

[Tonbolt275 in reply to AnxiousPete]

""""While some research has suggested coffee (but not other caffeine-containing beverages) could have benefits for people with liver disease due to alcohol use, most medical professionals advise that patients with cirrhosis avoid caffeinated beverages, including coffee, tea, and soft drinks."""" This is posted on Very Health.

[AnxiousPete in reply to Tonbolt275]

My hepatology team advises coffee and I was told this by the liver nurse who did my fibroscan.

[Tonbolt275]

I don't understand what peer- reviews are ??

[AnxiousPete in reply to Tonbolt275]

Peer review is when other specialist academic researchers blindly review the research and deem it to have been carried out correctly and effectively. It is standard practice before the research can be published in academic / scientific journals. If you meant verywellhealth.com this is an American source and I would take advice from the British Liver Trust over this, but I agree there is a lot of contradictory advice out there.