Advise please

[Pinkhealth61]

Where do I start 🙈i apologise now for the length of this but I am at my wits end.

I will try & keep it brief.

I have Bronchiectasis I believe through Covid diagnosed 2022. Under control

Dystolic dysfunction - mild.

Under Active Thyroid since 2006 under control.

And now NAFLD.

I currently take Levothyroxine, and I am HRT as I had a hysterectomy in 2010, and it does help. I am also on Paroxatine for depression & anxiety but I am well at this moment and have been for a long time, but advised I have to take this for life. I would like to add that I am a stable & logical, fairly bright individual, because as I write this I am thinking anyone reading this will think I am bonkers 😊.

So what I would like to find out is with everything I have and now the NAFLD does anyone have any experience of the same as me, and if there is any advise, on how to improve my overall health, with possibly the benefit of supplements/ complementary therapies, as I do eat healthy and do as much exercise as I can , I am overweight and have tried to lose weight through every thing possible , I need to lose around 2 Stone to bring my BMI level down.

Finally, the reason I have placed my questions in the Liver section is because I have read if I can improve my NAFLD it will help my weight and my overall health. I did also have Jaudice and was quite poorly when I was around 10 years old, not sure if that makes any difference.

I have tried my GP but not really got anywhere, Any advise appreciated. 🙏

[Roy1955]

You got this the wrong way around!Loosing weight will help your health and can reverse the NAFLD.

You said you eat healthy but you must be eating more calories than you need, even "healthy" food is bad if you eat too much of it.

[Readlots in reply to Roy1955]

Not necessarily, it’s really hard for some women to lose weight with an underactive thyroid and needing HRT. Calorie deficit doesn’t work for everyone.

[Roy1955 in reply to Readlots]

An expert would disagree with that.You don't see many fat people in areas of the world suffering from famine.

I am obese.

I find it hard to lose weight because I like eating nice things.

[Pinkhealth61 in reply to Roy1955]

Hi I have tried every diet going and have been told that having an under active thyroid does cause problems for women who are trying to weight , and I do eat healthy and the right foods ..

[Pinkhealth61 in reply to Pinkhealth61]

Apologies (lose weight)

[PutneyGirl]

Not that dissimilar.I have drunk a couple of glasses of wine a night all my adult life, never more than three. About 30-35 units a week.

I have thyroid disease since about 1991 and recently v high cholesterol was diagnosed.

I also have osteoporosis, for which I take teriparatide daily by injection.

Since covid I had also put on a couple of stone and crept into the obese category.

In July, I had already decided to deal with the weight. A couple of weeks later I had a blood test for my osteoporosis and it flagged GGT 54, ALT 45 and ALP 198. They ran more bloods which flagged the cholesterol was very high at 7.8. They also referred for an urgent ultrasound which indicated a "moderately fatty liver". They then recommended a fibroscan which happily diagnosed a very mildly fatty liver due to NAFLD. Readings: 4.6 and 239.

My initial diet was no alcohol and to cut down on portion size. Once the cholesterol result came in it was time.for a complete rethink. I am eating three meals a day but no: sugar, no wheat (except for one small portion of wholewheat pasta a fortnight), no refined carbs, and red meat once a week only. Lots more fruit, veg and pulses.

I have lost 21lb, my cholesterol is now 5.6 with the LDL/HDL ratios excellent. I feel fantastic with no more aches and.pains and all my little but niggle patches of eczema have cleared up. The bloat has gone.

The only remaining fly in the ointment is that the ALP is still high. It has been recommended I have an isotope bone scan to rule out Pagets and this is in late November. It's most likely the teriparatide making new bone which is fab. It will give a baseline for arthritis which I suspect I have a bit.

I am 63 BTW.

Good luck. It's all about diet/what goes in for many things. FWIW I haven't had a conversation about any of this with my GP. I have insurance and have done the scans privately although the NHS would have done them. Which surprised me somewhat.

If you can run to it I'd recommend a consultation with an endocrinologist who also operates as a physician with an interest in metabolics. Also worth keeping an eye on and supplementing vitamin D and I am a cheer-leader for turmeric.

Good luck.

[Pinkhealth61 in reply to PutneyGirl]

Thank you , much appreciated useful information 🙏and juggling to much is part of the issue , good luck to you too moving forward s .. I am 62 BTW

[Readlots]

Hi, it might be worth asking for a referral to a dietician. You’re juggling lots of different conditions and lots of medication causes weight gain. Personally I found yoga and meditation helpful, it was excercise which didn’t exacerbate my fatigue. There is lots of information about recovering from Covid on the NHS recommended mycovidrecovrry.com including diet, breathing and excercise. I hope this helps.

[Pinkhealth61 in reply to Readlots]

Thank you for the information 🙏

[Oldbits]

Hi, i ve not got any experience of NAFLAD, but you dont sound 'bonkers' as you put it. You have lot going on, as someone else said a dietician would be able to help give you a balanced diet to suit your needs. With all people with liver disease its generally eat healthy small portions and exercise. If the cause of the liver disease can be dealt with then general health improves a lot. Wish you well

[Pinkhealth61 in reply to Oldbits]

Thank you 🙏 for the advise wish you well too.

[Yellowsydney]

Hi, the British liver trust website has a section on NAFLD which you may find informative, they have diet and exercise advice. They also have a specialist liver nurse helpline you can phone.Good luck

Hilary

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

[Pinkhealth61 in reply to Yellowsydney]

Thank you for the advise I will do that , I was also seeing if anyone else on here had similar experiences, best wishes to you too.

[BritishLiverTrust8 Moderator British Liver Trust]

Dear Pinkhealth61

We facilitate a range of virtual support groups for people living with a liver condition (and their families and carers) including a NAFLD group.

If you would find it helpful to speak to others with shared experience, you can register to join a group here:

britishlivertrust.org.uk/vi...

With regards to the complementary therapies question, the British Liver Trust does not recommend the use of any homoeopathic or herbal remedies for those with any liver problems as these may damage the liver and lead to severe illness.

For more information on this subject please visit the following page on our website:

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Best wishes

British Liver Trust