Fatty liver showed up on scan

[KLL85]

Hi there

This is my first time posting and I’m feeling a bit terrified.

Back in June I was taken to A&E due to upper right quadrant pain. They did an ultrasound scan and found gallstones. Nothing else was mentioned but today I went to my GP and she told me that fatty liver had been diagnosed on the ultrasound and my liver was enlarged and I needed a FIB4 blood test to confirm if I had fibrosis or not. I was totally floored as this hadn’t been raised at all and my LFT was normal on the blood tests that I had in A&E seven weeks ago.

I’m now petrified of what I’m going to find out from these blood tests. I’ve done the Google doom search and have some of the symptoms of cirrhosis so worried I’m going to find out I have that at 39 years old. I only drink alcohol moderately, often going weeks without any at all, but am overweight and diet is hit and miss.

All the numbers and test results are so confusing and as someone who suffers extremely badly with anxiety and spiralled and got myself in to a bit of a state.

I know nobody can tell me what the blood tests will show, but is it likely I could have severe fibrosis with a normal LFT seven weeks ago?

Any words of support would be greatly appreciated.

[Orangutan_lover]

hi, I have anxiety and I have ARLD , and yes I’ve done the Doctor google doom thing and been told not to do it, but it’s hard not to, on google they will always but the worst case scenario on and before you know it you have it, cause I’ve done it.

Your Dr has made you aware of the condition and what they are going to do for you, please try and stay positive I know it’s hard but please try, in the morning you could call the British liver trust nurses and see if they can help you and it might help you feel a bit more relaxed by talking to them

I may not of helped much, but my thoughts are with you

[PeppyPo]

Hya

I am in same boat. Fatty liver showed up on ultersound also enlarged spleen.. they sent me for a Fibroscan and result came back really high. Nurse told me results or not good then told me could be 6 months before could see a liver specialist. Due to waiting list . I'm 33 I'm terrified I have cirrhosis. Feel like I'm in Limbo so scared and worried

[Aotea2012]

Try not to worry too much. Easier said than done I know. Fatty liver is incredibly common. I read somewhere not so long ago that about a quarter of the adult population have it to some degree. The liver is an incredible organ and highly regenerative and the good news is that fatty liver is fully reversible with lifestyle changes. These are a good balanced diet, recommended safe levels of alcohol consumption and daily exercise. Your LFTs are normal…which is great too. They won’t have changed dramatically in 7 weeks. They may find some fibrosis when investigating but again this is reversible. Cirrhosis (which I have) takes many years to develop and even at this late stage - and you are a long way from that - the liver has some capacity to improve. There are many stories on here which attest to this and mine is one of them. Treat this as a bit of a message from your liver that it needs a bit of attention and if you make the lifestyle adjustments and look after it then it will look after you for many more years to come.

[Yellowsydney]

If you do have fatty liver at least you are aware of it and can make changes to your diet and increase your exercise to reverse it, it is good it's diagnosed early. I had absolutely no idea anything was wrong with my liver until I vomited up nearly all the blood in my body by which time it was too late to do anything except transplant. I hadn't drunk alcohol for over 30 years and had no idea that liver cirrhosis could be caused by anything else.The British liver trust website has lots of information and advice.

Hilary xx

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

[jbrking]

firstly don’t panic. I was diagnosed with a fatty mix liver aged 38 and I’m 56 now. With diet and exercise you can make this better. Fatty liver is nothing to do with alcohol. Also quite common to have fatty liver and gallstones. Please look at your diet as this is the best thing you can do. Need a very low fat diet.

[AnxiousPete]

Sorry to hear this but I can relate 100% being a highly health anxious person myself. When I was diagnosed with dual aetiology cirrhosis 18 months ago. (Mine was caused ny 30+ years of obesity and some excessive alcohol). I felt my world had collapsed but found the support on here very helpful. Firstly a diagnosis of fibrosis or cirrhosis is not a death sentence despite the widely held fears that we have before gaining the knowledge shared by wonderful people on this forum and our NHS teams. It's not clear if you have had 'full liver panel' blood tests which are more detailed than standard LFTs which can be normal(ish) even with some liver impairment. These tests will be used in conjunction with other diagnostics to assess your condition and diagnosis. I don't know about FIB4 as it is not used universally in the NHS. Initially after my cirrhosis showed up on a CT scan for something completely differen I was referred to a consultant who ordered full liver bloods and I had a fibroscan that had a stiffness score of 14 kpa (max is 75) and a 266 CAP (measure of fattiness max 400) After 15 months of healthy diet exercise no alcohol and weight loss they could not detect any fat on my last scan and kpa was reduced. Fibrosis is reversible if the causes are removed. Cirrhotic scarring is permanent but can be halted and the liver is amazing at compensating for any dsmage. I know there is a lot to take in but try not to scare yourself further on Google. There is lots of information help and support available from the BLT but I know right now the anxiety can dominate your thoughts. I would try to focus on some lifestyle changes that will help whatever diagnosis you get. I don't do vigorous exercise but I am 65 and now do 13k steps walking each day and I feel fitter than I was in my mid 30s. I also managed to lose about 35lbs since diagnosis but since peak Covid lockdown I have shed 90lbs. My consultant says if I keep up the abstinence and lifestyle changes I will die WITH cirrhosis not BECAUSE of it. Take care - Pete