So my partner has had his letter telling his ultrasound result. It says that there is 24mm irregular area withing the left lobe of his liver. It also says that this could be nothing more than focal fat or a cancer. He now is going to have an urgent MRI. I am so scared now. After reading about liver cancer and cirrhosis there doesn't seem to be much they can do as the liver is decompensated. and treatment could affect mortality.
My partner is STILL drinking 2 to 3 bottles of wine every day. he wont get help as he thinks he will be able to stop but I know he cant. He is now saying that if it is cancer , when he starts to feel bad he will end his life himself. Nightmare !!
What do any of you think. ? Have any of you had the same and its turned out to be a fat deposit, or should I be preparing myself mentally that this sounds like it will be cancer and the doctor is just being tactful in his letter saying it could be a fat deposit.? Thank you in advance
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pussycat66
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I doubt very much whether the consultant is managing you in writing (and on the record) just to be tactful.
Indeed the typical location for focal hepatosteatosis (isolated fatty mass) is the medial segment of the left lobe.
Yes there are different things it could be as seen on ultrasound - metastasis, abscesses, hemangioma and of course focal fat.
Localised accumulated fat is more commonly seen in ALD where as in NAFLD, you are more likely to see diffuse fatty infiltration.
Obviously, at this stage no one knows. Living with liver disease always means living with some uncertainty especially during the diagnostic process. The MRI will address this uncertainty and... even if it's another type of mass it could still be benign.
If not there are excellent treatment protocols.
It goes without saying that his alcohol consumption is causing enormous harm and may compromise future care.
There's not much more to say on that as you know this and you are the worried and no doubt exhausted partner.
Do keep us posted and know that you've a very real support group right here.
If you would find it useful to talk things over, our nurse-led helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm on 0800 652 7330 (excluding bank holidays)
He need to address the alcohol immediately. Don’t leave it another day. Contact AA or a treatment centre for support.
Harder questions need to be asked or your GP about what exactly the results are and what exactly does that mean and is. Needs to be seen by hepatology possibly.
yes I have tried to encourage him to go to AA or rehab but he says he can do it himself. He stops drinking for a couple days then back on it again. He knows the consequences so it is his choice. I dont drink much but I have totally given up drinking to support him but he still cant stop.
We will ask questions when we get to actually see a consultant. so far all we have are letters from the hospital with results so we feel a bit in limbo. Thank you for your response
Well hopefully the realisation will come to him that he can’t do it on his own ( that’s not working ). Well done you for supporting him. That’s fantastic. I suppose all you guys can do is keep persisting. I find if you ring and email most days if somethings seriously urgent it works even though it’s frustrating having to do it.
Diffuse fatty liver is the most common form of fatty liver disease. You may see it described as hepatic steatosis and it's due to the abnormal build up of lipids (particularly triglycerides) within the liver cells.
Excessive fat in the liver can be the result of an imbalance between fat storage and fat disposal. This can be from a fatty meal or from excess glucose, fructose or alcohol and so on.
Various metabolic diseases seriously aggrevate this failure to process fats and sugars properly. Similarly, some toxic agents can cause a vicious cycle of inflammation and fatty deposits but this process is less well understood.
Diffuse fatty infiltration can be graded according to severity (although to be honest it's a fairly subjective interpretation) most often it's simply described as mild, moderate or severe. It's quite easy to see but can obscure other changes on some scans.
Left unchecked it can cause inflammation, liver enlargement and eventually fibrosis.
Simple fatty liver disease generally doesn't cause the more serious complications - it is NASH where there is also inflammation - where we are most likely to see cell death and fibrosis.
Simple fatty liver disease is considered completely reversible.
Poor you. What a nightmare situation for you…I do hope you are ok. Sadly, I was similar to your partner, drank too much for too long and landed up in hospital with acute on chronic liver failure, triggered by a deep rooted infection. They diagnosed cirrhosis whilst I was there….and there my life changed. I stopped drinking. That was 2.5 years ago. I’m now living a normal life, working in a demanding job, my clinical picture has improved out of all recognition - no varices, normal bloods and no medication. As Chris says being diagnosed with cirrhosis means a lot of uncertainty and whilst I feel great…I’m always a bit worried before my six monthly consultant appointment…what will my ultrasound and bloods show. I know I’m telling you something you already know, but if he carries on drinking that quantity daily (and I used to do that kind of amount) then he’s no chance of recovery. He can’t stop…nor could I. I’d convinced myself I could…and then after I’d been through a medical detox…I realised I couldn’t. I was psychologically and physically addicted. At first I needed support from Turning Point to remain abstinent. Now I don’t need support to remain without alcohol, I haven’t really missed it (strangely) and haven’t touched a drop since March 21. I feel absolutely free and much, much healthier. So it is possible and it is possible for him too. I’d been told by all my close family to stop drinking for years, it wasn’t till I decided to stop that I did. You can only watch I’m afraid - something has to shift for him to make it happen. In the meantime, you have to look after yourself, talk to your GP about getting some support and use this forum. Do nice things for yourself and don’t give up. There are many who have posted on here who have come through similar situations to both you and your partner. Take care and keep us posted.
Pussycat66 - I was and still am (to a much lesser degree now) in your position. Aeotea2012 is right, there is nothing you can do, only your partner can change things. My partner continued to drink after being diagnosed with a decompensated liver, ended up in hospital for 6 weeks, came out started drinking again, ascites then burst his umbilical hernia, he had an op for that, came out, drank again and it was only after his 3rd stint in hospital, did the fear of another hospital stay, trigger a decision on his part to stop drinking.
Of course, intellectually he understood but addiction is an awful affliction that is hard to break.
The only thing you can do is be there and most importantly take care of yourself.
16 months after diagnosis, we now live a better life and try to plan enjoyable things, but as he’s seriously damaged his health, activities are more restricted. Nothing is certain, and he’s very vulnerable to infection but the most important thing is I have the love of my life back. He is present and we try to make the most of what we have together.
Wishing you and your partner every strength to get through it. It’s tough but doable. X
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This morning's liver ultrasound....YAY!
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