6-7 months

[ToughToes]

First, I should be upfront and say I have not yet, if ever, been diagnosed with cirrhosis. My most recent ultrasoubd if my liver, in December 2023, only said "The liver is normal in size and homogeneous. There is a mild increase in echogenicity consistent with stage 1 steatosis. There has been no change since the prior examinations of January 14, 2020 and June 10, 2021." However, I had a gastroscopy and colonoscopy done on July 12, and besides findings of a hiatal hernia, Barrett's Esophagus and diverticulosis--all of which had been seen in previous scopes--thw Dr also wrote "portal gsstropathy". I'd never heard of this before, so I googled it and saw that it's usually related to cirrhosis.

The question I have is this: does it not seem like 6-7 months is an extremely rapid time frame for my liver to go from a mildly fatty liver to cirrhosis? I know that none of you are doctors, but you've all had some experience with liver disease, so I wanted to get your impressions. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Terry

[ToughToes]

Is there something wrong with the way I post questions? Lol

[lonmallin50]

That does seem quick do you no the cause of the fatty liver

[ToughToes in reply to lonmallin50]

Not exactly. But, most likely due to a high fat diet and regular beer.

[AyrshireK]

Unless you've had a period of acute liver failure it's unlikely your mild degree of liver damage has become cirrhosis in such a short time period.If indeed this is portal hypertensive gastropathy you'd expect a change in portal veinous flow to show on your ultrasound.

I answered you previously in pointing out that it is possible to have non-cirrhotic portal hypertension.

Katie

[ToughToes in reply to AyrshireK]

Ok, thanks veey much Katie.

[ToughToes in reply to AyrshireK]

What would acute liver failure look like? Just curious.

[AyrshireK in reply to ToughToes]

Acute liver failure is loss of liver function that occurs quickly — in days or weeks — usually in a person who has no preexisting liver disease. It's most commonly caused by a hepatitis virus or drugs, such as acetaminophen. Acute liver failure is less common than chronic liver failure, which develops more slowly.

Signs and symptoms of acute liver failure may include:

Yellowing of your skin and eyeballs (jaundice)

Pain in your upper right abdomen

A swollen belly (ascites)

Nausea

Vomiting

A general sense of feeling unwell (malaise)

Disorientation or confusion

Sleepiness

Breath may have a musty or sweet odor

Tremors

[ToughToes in reply to AyrshireK]

Nope to any of that.

[AyrshireK in reply to ToughToes]

Therefore you haven't suffered acute liver failure and it's unlikely you have progressed to cirrhosis in a matter of months.

[ToughToes in reply to AyrshireK]

That's what I would think, yet tge GI doc still suspects portal gastropathy. Strange.

[Doddiedog in reply to AyrshireK]

Sorry to butt in! I was told to calm down with my drinking last May, I said I'd still drink at weekends but stop during the week. It says on my notes for my assessment 'nil of note' for May. In August I was in hospital with decompensated cirrhosis. I've not drank since, and strictly followed their diet and it's still decompensated and I've my transplant assessment next month.

I've often wondered if there are many out there that got it as quickly as I did. I never have had much luck. But such is life, I'm inappropriately joking my way through it a day at a time 😂

Heather