Hi im 24 years old i was recently diagnosed with mild to moderate liver fibrosis and S3 fatty liver. I’ve struggled with alcohol and eating problems for the past 4/5 years I use to binge drink a lot that became more frequent as time went on. I recently last year August (2023) found out I had liver damage from the drinking and i started my sober journey I was then able to go 9 months no alcohol my eating habits got really bad and I gained weight and found out I had type 2 diabetes too. I then started to change my diet and exercise not always consistently but try to do 5 days a week of exercise and healthy eating I’ve lost a good amount of weight but I’ve been struggling with slipping up with alcohol and then getting back on track for a month or two and then slipping again I’m really struggling to stay on track but I want nothing more than to get healthy and beat this I really am worried I’m going to do more damage and I can’t shake this feeling of being doomed because of it. My recent fibroscan score was 11.0 kpa which the consultant said puts me in the mild to moderate category for fibrosis but when I google my results it says it’s a more severe stage I’m just confused and worried. Just wondering if anyone else has been through the same issues or are currently could really use some advice please, thank you
liver fibrosis : Hi im 24 years old i... - British Liver Trust
liver fibrosis
Hi You’ve already made huge progress by recognizing the problem and taking steps to improve your health. It’s understandable that staying on track is tough, especially with so many factors at play.
Since you mentioned both liver fibrosis and type 2 diabetes, you might want to look into how liver-related insulin resistance (sometimes called hepatogenic diabetes) could be affecting your metabolism. It’s not just about weight or blood sugar levels, but also how your liver processes energy. Have you had any discussions with your doctor about this connection?
Also, have you ever had your thyroid function checked? Sometimes, even mild thyroid dysfunction can contribute to metabolic issues, fatigue, and difficulty maintaining weight and blood sugar control. It might be worth discussing with your doctor.
In any case you’ve already taken important steps in the right direction. It’s about finding the right strategy that works for you.
hi thank you for the reply thank you for the kind words, no haven’t spoken to the dr about that I wasn’t aware of that type of problem..I got diagnosed with pcos last year too along with type 2 diabetes so they put it down to that as pcos came with the risk of diabetes. Yes I had my thyroid checked that was all normal which is good. I just hope it’s not too late for me and I’m able to get somewhat healthy again. Also when I first got diagnosed with diabetes my hbA1c level was 56 mmol/mol and in January this year it was 43 mmol/mol which is a good sign right?
That’s really great that your HbA1c has improved—it means your efforts are working! PCOS does increase the risk of diabetes, but since the liver plays a key role in blood sugar regulation, it’s good to keep an eye on both. Some studies suggest that fatty liver and fibrosis can also contribute to insulin resistance, independent of PCOS. So continuing with a liver-friendly approach (healthy diet, regular exercise, and minimizing alcohol) will likely help both your liver and diabetes.
Did they check your fasting insulin or C-peptide when diagnosing diabetes? Sometimes these can give a better picture of how your body is handling blood sugar and whether insulin resistance is a big factor.
Thank you 
ahh really I never actually knew that I just thought it could be because of the pcos..thanks for the information I’ll speak with my doctor about it when available. No they just did the hbA1c blood test and went off that with the pcos diagnosis at the same time :/ I also wasn’t referred for a fibroscan unit a year later after an ELF blood test was done and I spoke with a different doctor who referred me for one. Thanks for the information it’s much appreciated
Dear Cola25R
If you would find it useful to talk things over, our nurse-led helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm on 0800 652 7330 excluding bank holidays.
We also facilitate a range of virtual support groups for people in the UK living with a liver condition (and their families and carers). If you would find it helpful to speak to others with shared experience, you can register to join a group here:
britishlivertrust.org.uk/vi...
Best wishes,
British Liver Trust
Have you checked your cholesterol as well, that is a common cause of fatty liver and if you can get that under control it will help
Hi. You need to find out the cause of the Liver issues. KPA results mean a different diagnosis based on the cause. When you said you drank, how much were you drinking? 25yo is very young to get Liver issues unless you were drinking massive amounts. That said, its a good idea for you not to drink at all after a 11kpa score.
Hi it was alcohol related and I would drink a lot in one sitting like 12/13 cans of beer or a full bottle of vodka about 4 times a week
If there are 750ml bottles, that is a lot; that would be 112 units a week. Still, given your age, I'm surprised you are at the Fibrosis stage already. The diabetes may be a cofactor.
Have you thought about finding some support? Some swear by AA, like my sister. Others prefer SMART recovery. You are young and can turn this around. The Fibrosis can disspate over time, but you have to stop drinking.
Yeah it was a lot in one sitting to drink. I was very surprised myself when I found out about it I didn’t know it could happen this quick. Yeah the nurse I saw recently gave me a bunch of places I can contact I just need to find the courage to actually do it. I’m hoping I’ve still got time to fix this I’m very determined to stay on track now
My uncle drinks 2-3 bottles of red wine a day and has done so for like nearly 4 decades; he is still alive at 66yo. I don't know how! That's literally 30 units a day.
Wow that is a lot! Hope he is well as can be
I know ! He had a blood test about 10 years ago and all Liver numbers etc were normal, Im baffled. But, my aunty died about 7 years ago and she drank not far off 2 bottles a night of red. She got bladder cancer and ended up in hospital where they eventually found Liver cancer too, she didnt leave the hospital. I think its a fair suspicion that the wine caused my Aunties death.
I’m sorry for your loss.. it seems that way doesn’t it bless her. Hope all is well with you and your family 
Fantastic effort on the weight management front (as PCOS is notorious for many women finding that a particularly challenging factor to influence).
Thrilled to hear your body has demonstrated its response via the lowered blood sugar results. One word of caution though - it sounds obvious, but enthusiasm can cloud judgement - beware of comparing "apples and pears". By that I mean, one of your clinical condition teams might conduct a non-fasting blood test and give you a set of results. Then, some months later, a different clinical team repeat and report your results ...but that was from a fasting test. You can see why it is worth, in your own notebook, making a clear margin note for each blood testing - whether it was "fasting" or not - so you can remind yourself whether your comparison is for blood tests under like-for-like conditions.
Because you are balancing the interrelated feedback cycles of the three conditions: liver disease fatty & fibrosis, type 2 diabetes, plus PCOS - I would ask both your GP and liver team for referral to an NHS Dietitian. I saw both routes, as, depending upon how your area's primary care network is involved in commissioning of services - they sometimes make you first work through less helpful "tier 1" and "tier 2" weight management / diabetes prevention services before you are allowed to access the "tier 3" services everyone knows you actually need. That all takes time with referrals / waiting lists / weeks or months of programme participation.
In the meantime, there are still loads more things you can incrementally improve, yourself, to offer yourself the best progress available to you.
- stop using Dr Google (really, don't torture yourself),
- pay super-close attention to the guidance each of your three main strands of Clinicians give to you,
- get your dietary information and wellbeing support from each of the British Liver Trust, Diabetes UK, Thr British Heart Foundation and Verity.
- if you are concerned about fertility issues, don't worry in silence - clearly tell every GP with whom you have contact (read the specialisms in the bios for the GPs in your practice - in case an appointment with another one might be the most female health specialism experienced),
- optimise your exercise (all three health conditions will reward you for that effort),
- try and get yourself some proper help to better support you with your relationship with alcohol (your GP Practice or local Mind information line should know which alcohol support services are available in your area,
- don't underestimate the impact of tiredness and stress on all three of your conditions - prioritise yourself in support of both good sleep habits and activities in support of your emotional and mental health wellbeing (the Mind information service is another source of good ideas for addressing that side of your lived experience too),
- if you are confused by something said or written by liver-related clinicians - do ask them about your puzzlement (or the excellent British Liver Trust nurse-led Helpline) as your GP may not know quite enough on these topics,
- consider participation in one or more of the monthly British Liver Trust virtual forums (there are quite a number of different ones):
britishlivertrust.org.uk/vi...
- if it hasn't already been included - also get your vitamin D level checked by blood test too (if it is low, your GP may recommend a very high dose prescription supplement for 6 months, followed by a self maintenance lower dose over the counter (non-prescription) version thereafter) - many people are aware of vitamin D's roje in calcium / skeletal / muscular maintenance - but some may not realise the role also played in the immune system,
- avoid getting suckered into unregulated vitamin / nutritional / detox supplements etc. (it is a different matter if a Doctor has suggested a particular one suitable for you personally.
- if, despite all good efforts, you are still wrangling your insulin resistance - it may be helpful to be aware of this national team based in Cambridge (this team has extra PCOS-involved awareness too):
cuh.nhs.uk/our-services/dia...
- if you think the Hepatology Doctor you see may be junior in their career, you might be able to tactfully ask them about a conversation (them or you) with the Professor associated with their wider team - as PCOS / Liver / Diabetes interactions might be more that senior clinician's domain of knowledge and expertise.
Start small and, incrementally, keep layering in good new habits. One step forward at a time. Keep a list in the back of your notebook of each lifestyle change you have managed to make. This serves two purposes:
1) on a difficult day; you can look through that list to remind yourself of just how far you have come - to aid a kickstart to your motivation, and
2) you can demonstrate your self-determined progress to, frankly, any clinician with a pulse - when you are lobbying for support / referral etc. Show people the evidence of your best endeavours - dispelling any concerns about potential stigma.
Here is a really little starter step to share (as long as you don't have a tree nut allergy!): with PCOS healthy dietary influence in mind - reasonably priced walnut pieces (e.g. Aldi in the home baking area) - can be added to e.g. cereal / porridge / salads / a clip-lock snack box ready in your bag - to gain the beneficial effects of walnuts on lipid profile in those people with the metabolic syndrome, reduced post-meal insulin levels and helpfully influences androgens (hormones - link through to SHBG circulation etc. nhs.uk/conditions/polycysti... ).
By the way, just 30 g / 1 oz / 1/4 cup (i.e. a small closed handful) is the portion size.
Best wishes.
Thank you so much for the information it’s very appreciated. I’ll definitely get onto those things!
The pleasure centers in your brain are turned on by carbohydrates. That's why you're swinging between the alcohol and the food. If you can go two weeks without refined carbs (white bread, rice, desserts etc) or alcohol, the cravings start to dampen. You can then try to rewire your brain to another pleasure like music or taking care of your pet or playing a sport. It's not your fault. You're wired for pleasure from birth. It helps to have a handy "sweet" ready such as strawberries or blueberries or apples or coffee/tea or even stevia-sweetened drinks or candy to help to redirect your pleasure centers.
Thank you for the reply. Yeah after 2 weeks it does get easier but recently the longer I go the harder it seems to be. :/ I’ve also tried music and stuff which helps to be honest. I do tend to drink a lot of coffee on my good days and Coke Zero and I’m trying to eat more fruit and vegetables daily to help recover, those do tend to help for abit
Well done you are doing so well and keep up with improving your livers health, you can really turn things around. I think you are so young to go thru this but from recent reports the covid epidemic has really highlighted how young people's body and mind health has been effected, so believe in yourself you can improve your outlook and grab as much help to get yourself on a more positive path, sending you much love and sparkle xx
Liver fibrosis is a serious condition that occurs when excessive scar tissue builds up in the liver due to chronic inflammation. It can be caused by various factors, including alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Early detection and lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, can help slow its progression and even allow for some degree of reversal in the early stages. Recently, I came across an option to canadadrugsdirect.com/produ..., which may be beneficial for those looking to improve their overall metabolic health. Maintaining a healthy weight and managing blood sugar levels can play a key role in liver health, making it an option worth considering.
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