Hi everyone!

[AMAgirl]

Hi everyone!

I have just been told I have NAFLD - no shock as I am very overweight. I also tested positive for Anti Mitochondrial Antibodies. I am absolutely terrified. I am wondering if it's possible to have AHA from just NAFLD, or if it's always something nasty like PBC?

Also, if you lose weight and the NAFLD gets better, why do you still have the AMAs?

I am looking for some positive advice so thanks in advance.

C xx

#ama #nafld #liver #pbc

[AyrshireK]

It's possible to have two issues going on at once. Tackle the fatty liver and that will reduce strain on the liver and if Primary Biliary Cholangitis is present too then there are medications to treat this.

Dealing with the fatty liver won't have any effect on the AMA but it will help to prevent your liver from getting worse.

There is information about NAFLD and about PBC on the British Liver Trust website.

You obviously need more tests to firm up the diagnosis but neither condition is too scary - both treatable.

Katie

[AMAgirl in reply to AyrshireK]

Thank you Katie - I'm so scared I can't stop crying. I appreciate your message

[QuietButBold in reply to AMAgirl]

Welcome to the group. Learning about new health information can feel rather shocking and a bit lonely (I believe those are really very natural reactions and appreciate that you were able to share your feelings with us - rest assured; you are not alone - many of us here really can say "I understand").

As Katie explained, there is more detail yet to be explored with the support of your healthcare professionals - before you and your Team will know how relevant the news might be and what the most appropriate plan of action would be (to support your liver health to the best of it's ability).

In the meantime, as and when you feel ready, I feel that (as liver health Patients) we too have some important things to do while the medical Team also work through their steps (some people may thrive on finding agency by giving themselves some pragmatic things to do amongst all the "hurry up and wait" being dependent on the actions and progress of other people):

- be kind to yourself (including how your own self-talk sounds to you - it is time for being supportive and motivational towards yourself - now is not the time for being harsh with yourself about what you used to do / are not doing perfectly - instead, just keep to (one step at a time) layering in a few sensible improvements, one at a time, until they become your new habits)

- make best use of all the support systems available to you - there is actually no medal available for "toughed it out solo" (i.e. please don't be shy about contacting e.g. local / national mental health support services and the British Liver Trust Helpline; as it really is "OK to not be OK")

- be kind to your body (in healthy ways which will support your liver's efforts to repair)

- try to reduce your day-to-day stress levels where you can (learning to say "no" is sometimes the important way to support saying "yes" to yourself)

- try to take breaks from worrying (legitimately time for a worthwhile distraction which you might enjoy)

- use free resources like the British Liver Trust, NHS Choices and your local Library Services to understand a bit more about supporting your liver health - through sensible food and understanding more about the nutrition your liver needs when it is working hard (...steering well clear of both faddy / crash diets and the heath shop "supplements")

- work towards finding ways of learning to pace yourself (liver health discovery and improvement journeys can be more "marathon" than "sprint")

Best eishes to you on your liver health journey.

[Nerico in reply to QuietButBold]

Couldn't have put it better, great advice.

[AMAgirl in reply to QuietButBold]

Thank you so much for this reply - bless you and Happy new year!

[Onesmallstep1969 in reply to AMAgirl]

Hi, Welcome to the group. You're in a caring place now. You will get better if you make good decisions for your body a daily habit. I believe that eating plants is so very helpful in liver disease generally. Eat the full range of colors, green, red, orange, purple. I also suffer from an autoimmune condition which has been stabilized to the point of normal/near normal antibodies. As Katie (who is a Godsend, by the way!) and QuiteButBold have said, learn to handle stress better. I would add that a daily stretch and a moment of reflection just for yourself before the day's duties start to tug at you really help to settle your system down. Give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back for coming here and starting your journey back to full health!