Help finding a Nutritionist and considering intermittent fasting.

[Spiderlass]

Hello Fam!

Hope this message finds you well.

I was wondering if any of you know of a good dietician or nutritionist who has experience or expertise helping those with liver disease.

I am diagnosed with stage 1 cirrhosis, aswel as having type 2 diabetes and hypothyroidism. I am looking to work with someone who can help me give me and my liver the best possible chance to survive through brilliant nutrition, and aid further in my weight loss journey. So far I've gone from 95kg to 71kg, and am very proactive in my journey. My liver has shrunk back down to it's normal size and is showing hardly any inflammation, so I'm doing something right!

I have an appointment with my consultant in March, who I will talk to at length about all this. If there are any questions you think I should put forward please say.

Also if there are any specialists you know of that I could contact, please share.

As always thank you to this wonderful, open and honest community. I don't know where I would be with you

Spiderlass

[Aotea2012]

I would speak to your consultant and ask them what they suggest. The combination of liver disease and diabetes needs specialist input and your consultant is best placed to advise. Ask them about a referral to a dietician. Given your appointment is in March I’d wait to get their view before you rush out to go to a private specialist.

[Spiderlass in reply to Aotea2012]

I made sure to do this, and came out with some really useful information. Thank you for your advise.

[Kristian]

You've lost 24 kg on your own. It doesn't look like you need to be doing anything faddy like intermittent fasting. Yes, thats all it is, just another diet fad. Just another way of providing a calorie deficiet. But saying calorie deficiet doesn't sell diet books anymore.

Getting some diet advice is a good idea, so do raise it at your next clinic. But I suspect they'll probably be pretty happy with what you've done so far. Not sure where you are in respect to your advisable BMI, if you are within those guidelines you probably don't need to do much more anyway.

[Spiderlass in reply to Kristian]

Hey Kristian. I've done my best but now I need to get on the band wagon again to get to my goal weight by the end of the year. Only then will I get another fibroscan, and hopefully it'll be under 20 kpa. Thank you for your reply. Onward with the hard work. Take care now x

[Marydel63]

Hi I have been intermittently fasting (IF)since January 22,2023 . I have lost 8 stone, I have diabetes also hypothyroidism. I started and continue to use an App to continue my IF journey and am in contact with my endocrinologist as my insulin needs to be adjusted. When I first started the IF it was tough but now it is just a way of life . Plus any weight loss no matter how much is good for the Liver. I have gotten different reactions from my other healthcare people thinking it was not a good thing. Even when I told my nutritionist that I was going to do it she was against it. My IF is low carb also.

[DaveQ67]

hi,

Well done on the weight loss. I too spent ages trying to find a nutritionist for a pretty simple question. I received no difinitive answer. From anyone.

In the end my doctor from the liver team gave me the answer. It seems nobody really knows 100%, I was told try it as long as it’s not alcohol.

All I wanted to know was can I take whey protein for training. I also intermittent fast and no issues. Just lots of protein when eating.

On a side note, can anyone recommend a vitamin for dry skin? Seems to be the only cirrhosis symptom I have.

Thanks

[Spiderlass in reply to DaveQ67]

Thanks Dave. That is pretty much the same reply I get from most healthcare professionals when I ask about IF. I'll try it and see how my body adjusts. Just need to find the right way to start. Take care. Hope you sort out your dry skin. I struggle too.

[BritishLiverTrust8 Moderator British Liver Trust]

Dear Spiderlass

In addition to the helpful suggestions from members of the forum, here is a link to some information on our website about diet, which you may find helpful

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Best wishes

British Liver Trust