Hi there I was diagnosed with NAFLD about a year or so ago. Saw a Gastro Consultant back in September and told him I'd lost almost a stone in weight as the GP had put me on Orlistat for 3 months. I need to lise about 4 stone or so. December I was really busy and had a works Xmas party and ate and drank a bit more than I should. I had stopped the Orlistat start of December. I have 2 children aged 10 and 13, they both have autism and adhd so it's been tough to eat super healthy. My Husvand does shift work and we both work full time so exercise has been tricky too. Over Christmas I felt a few flickering pain in my belly button area , but didn't know what it was. Then this week at work had pain in right abdomen and feeling of unwell. Decided to go to A+E. All bloods were normal but they did a CT scan as they thought it was kidney stones. Unfortunately it showed an enlarged liver with a lot of fat. Doctor said he had spoken to liver team and I'm to have an mri on the 25th. He said it looked cirrhosis. I'm absolutely terrified. I won't take the paracetamol as scared of making it worse and working on eating clean, no processed food. I never drink a lot but now nothing, but I'm terrified. I hardly slept a wink last night and when my Husband got back this am from work I cried and said I don't want to lose him or our children. He told me not to be silly but I'm so scared. I can't think of anything else. It's been a really stressful time getting the kids diagnosed and I just feel so down about everything.
I'm so scared: Hi there I was diagnosed... - British Liver Trust
I'm so scared
Hi. I'm very sorry for everything you are going through. It is good that further testing is being done. I would recommend a couple things. First, as hard as it is...try not to imagine the worst ahead of getting a diagnosis and more information. Worry isn't going to help. Even if it does show cirrhosis level scarring ...and it may not...there are many people living a very long time with compensated cirrhosis. And if after a long time their liver does start to fail, there is some help for that in many cases. Second, call the nurse hotline at the British Liver Trust and read the diet recommendations and follow them or whatever diet your team recommends for your current condition. Your liver needs the stress taken off it. Sometimes when the liver is inflamed it is hard for testing to be definitive. For example a fibroscan can overestimate scarring when the liver is inflamed. Baby your liver with low stress eating to help get the inflammation down. Wishing you all the best and hoping some of the people here with lots of knowledge respond.
Thanks for your message and kind words. It's hard not to feel stressed and worried about it. Have been eating clean and drinking lemon and ginger tea which seems good. I'm just so hoping I can sort out whatever it is. Thanks so much.
As a side note, a lot of people who come on here were initially told they may have cirrhosis and once the liver inflammation calms down, it turns out they had a lesser level of fibrosis which is reversible. Even people with cirrhosis here have seen marked improvements in their liver function and fibroscans with losing weight, healthy diet and exercise (if and when doctor recommends based on current condition). I totally assumed the worst (based on googling) and it wasn't so that's why I hope you can put a little bit of the fear aside...I know it is hard!
Thanks so much for your kind words. You have really given me hope. I just hope this is tge case with me as he said in ED your liver is enlarged with lots of fat and looks very cirrhotic. Tonight I'm feeling much better, even my headache has gone. I've cooked cod loin, carrots, broccoli and had chick peas too for protein. I'm not having chicken at present as he said not to. Do you know anything about coffee, does it have to black? I've read about it. Thanks for your help.
There is a thread about coffee in another group about living with fatty liver. It said that what matters most is using a drip filter. If using a little cream or milk makes you drink more coffee, I'd do that (and I do). I have my first cup to the way I like it and then have it darker when I refill. I think the thread said even decaf helps if made using drip filter.
Thanks that's helpful much appreciated. Have also been drinking lemon and ginger tea as that's supposed to be good too
It doesnt' have to be fancy coffee, nor black coffee. British Liver Trust has a specific FAQ page all about coffee and the liver and previously had details of some studies into it. (My hubby who was seen by liver specialist dieticians for his then cirrhosis was advised to drink at least one cup full a day).
britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...
Katie
Thanks that's really helpful information
There is lots of information on the BLT page about diets for fatty liver and how to treat it yourself with healthy diet and exercise. britishlivertrust.org.uk/do...
I was Diagnosed with none alcoholic Cirrhosis February 2024. I can relate to your worry it took me over 6 months to come to terms with it.
Read everything there is to read about it on British Liver Trust. Don’t google
There is a lot of useful information and a lot you can learn and do to help yourself.
Cut out fizzy pop. salt. cut down on fats. Stop drinking alcohol. Walk more.
Hope you get good support from Liver Team family and friends. X
Thanks for your message. I was drinking quite a bit of diet coke before. Have got some lemon and ginger herbal tea. Just eating plain now with as much veg as I can eat! Im scared to tell my family till I know what's what. It will do my parents in as my Dad's got blood cancer and recently had sepsis from a blocked bile duct with a gallstone. My Mum also has fatty liver disease but I think hers improved a bit. My pains seem to be subsiding though I felt quite light headed earlier but have eaten now and it's gone off. What you can and can't eat seems a minefield. Doctor in ED said no to chicken. Thanks for your advice. Sadly I had already googled which wasn't a good move as it sounds so scary.
Hi sorry you are going through this I've been told that you don't get pain from your liver but the areas around it.
Try and stay positive for you and your family because nalfd can be reversed if you catch it soon enough it won't go completely but you have a really good chance of taking back control
Unfortunately my mum didn't get help and she left it for years and years as she was to frightened to go to the doctors we lost her 5yrs ago for the same reason.
Please take all the help you can get from the doctors it's scary all this I should know
Good luck xx
Thanks so much for your reply. My Husband keeps telling me you are not to blame. It's been a terrible year and I'm sure stress doesn't help. My Dad had Chemo all summer for blood cancer and then in November got rushed to hospital with sepsis from a gallstone and blocked bile duct. Then my 2 kids have both been diagnosed with Autism and adhd. One we had to pay for privately, so I provably didn't have so much time to look after myself properly and it was Christmas time so did indulge a bit more. Now this. I'm really hoping it's not my worst fears don't know how I would tell my parents or family or friends and I'm so scared of leaving my kids. Today I'm feeling a bit better in myself. Felt not good this morning but I'm not sleeping with the worry and eating things like porridge oats, no sugar, scrambled egg, no milk, spinach and grilled tomatoes. Been eating some nuts too and lots of fruit. Now my heads improved a bit as I felt quite light headed earlier but I didn't eat for 2 previous days. I need to ask someone about my Lansoprazole I take for gastro esophageal reflux as it could affect my liver so not taking at present. Last night I cried and sobbed when I went to bed. My Husband was at work, but this morning I told him it's my fault for not making time for myself.
I’m on lansoprazole and Beetablockers as I have esophagel varices.
Why no chicken ????? Lean Protein is good for your Diet
You must eat regularly at least 4 small portions a day
Ask your GP about joining weight watchers or Slimming world
Good luck for a healthy future
X
Hi there in the past I did slimming world and weight watchers and although it works the cooking is insane which wouldn't work now if I'm supposed to be eating very specific things. TheConsultant said at the moment my liver was really struggling so no chicken or red meat. When on slimming world I used to cook spaghetti bolognaise, lasagne, make curries but I don't think this was actually helping me as it's fat even though it was less than 5% mince. Many years ago I did weight watchers it worked then but I'm peri menopausal now and nothing seems to work that's why she gave the orlistat. Do you know anything about coffee benefits keep reading it, does it have to be black coffee? I'm going to give it my all to turn it round, no alcohol, no fats and few cards and when my pain is completely gone I'm rejoining the gym, one I can get to before work even though I've got the kids. I think part of my downfall was putting myself last all the time with no time for me, getting stressed, terrible 6 months with my Dad and kids diagnoses with specia needs.was eating all wrong things and having a few too many drinks I suspect too. It's no excuse I know but it feels impossible when my Husband does shift work and is a bus driver so works all hours. Thanks for your advice
Ps doctor said as liver is struggling do not have any red meat or chicken. Trying to get protein from chick peas and nuts instead.
To be honest I don’t do Gyms. I prefer to walk. Consultant told me to up my cardio. Yes coffee apparently is good I take it black and white no sugar. I eat porridge made with oat milk. Chopped up blueberries. Plenty of water. I have surveillance checks bloods and scan every 6 months for early signs of liver cancer so my Liver Team are really on the ball and are at the end of the phone if I need anything. X
Stress will not help and plenty of protein is good for you plus keep your bowels moving it helps remove toxins advice from my consultant...
Good luck xx
Aw bless you, you’re having such an awful time. You need to let it out and crying is a release valve. If you have a browse on here you’ll find lots of people who have been where you are and have turned things around. Your liver is incredibly resilient and can repair itself given the right conditions. My Mum lived to the normal age of 75 with an autoimmune liver disease. She didn’t drink, she ate healthily and she went for a walk every day. A bit of fresh air can help you decompress and with everything you’ve got going on you need some me time.
On Lanzoprazole - Mum was diagnosed it with cirrhosis so carry on with that. My consultant has said it’s OK to take 1 paracetamol. Like you I try to avoid it, but sometimes you need it if the pain is bad.
Have you told work what’s going on? It can be a tricky decision because of stigma, but if you’ve got a supportive manager or HR they might be able to take the pressure off at work.
It might also be worth telling school that you’re having tests do that they can support the kids. They may be picking up on your distress and I don’t think hiding things from kids always does them any favours. You just have to explain what’s going on in a way that they can understand and doesn’t freak them out. The SENCo at school might be able to help support you either that. I’m sure others will have different views and you know your own kids best.
You obviously have a fantastic family around you who love you. You will get through this - lots of us have and you’ll soon be supporting others with your own positive story.
my nephew had it. Cleaned up his diet. It’s gone now. You’ll be ok. I’ll pray for you. God bless.
Hi there, worrying waiting to find out what's going on regarding your liver, sounds like you have a very hectic life but you do need to take time to look out for yourself. Maybe joining a weight group will help motivate your weight loss and stick to a healthier eating plan, but also gives you a place to go for a few hours a week meet friends, I go to slim world and find it really helps, also any health issues they will help you to work around what's best to eat. As mentioned here download the liver trust nutrition booklet. I only say join a group as will help motivate xx
Hi there thanks so much for your help. I did try slimming world years ago but the cooking of recipes got on top of me and when my Husband whose a bus driver works till 1am on late shift I would have to take my kids to tge group. I was always made to feel awkward as nobody else had kids there. I found it very clicky and I was trying to cook for the family which often meant I was cooking red meat, chicken was fine but it got really hard to keep up with it especially with 2 kids who have additional learning needs. My Husband is helping me. He said the way forward is clean eating, basic, simple and quick to cook. No fancy recipes but the foods I should be eating. Pain in my side is getting better although was there a bit last night, but I'm not so tired now and am going to talk to my manager this week about my workload as its massive and it's not fair when others are sitting around doing nothing. I need to offload some stress.
I understand about it being hard to get alone time. When my boys were young my husband traveled for work. Now when I am snowed in, I put on a 30 day weight loss yoga video on a TV subscription channel (Prime) and I roll out my mat and do it with the instructor. Each class is different and I write down which each of the 30 focus on. Yesterday's class was digestive organs! It felt so good. There are lots of classes on the same channels I watch series on. Maybe you can find one you like and get a yoga mat! Your husband sounds great by the way! Very supportive.
Thanks I will look at this it's really helpful. I really just need to make time for me. I'm also going to tackle my manager about stress from work, I working nhs. Thanks for your support. It's hard to explain to people that you often feel trapped in your own house.
so confused and scared 
Sorry for long post but I'm Worried sick any advice welcome raised billyrubin scared of liver damage
Please help what does it mean if enzymes are too high due to alcohol
Coarse liver on ultrasound - scared to death
I'm scared :(
