Advice and questions

[Witsend39]

Hi all,

I hope you yourself are all doing OK.

I am posting to ask for advice on waiting test results.

Initially my bloods show high level of ferritin.

I have been generally unwell the past year but just thought it due to work and life stresses.

A little history, I have travelled to SE Asia regularly and went for adventures off grid, so sometimes toilet situations were unsanitary and I ventured out to eat at street markets etc. I did have Hep C Vaccination before travelling in November 24.

I also have a history of heavy drinking in my early 20s for approx 10 years.

Lastly due to sciatica in the past year I have been heavily self medicating with cocodomel to manage pain .

Sadly my GP has now indicated that due to blood results and taken into account my lifestyle choices that it may be likely I have liver disease/ one of hepatitis diseases.

I should get my latest blood results back in the next few days. I will be going for ultrasound next week.

My question is, if someone has had a similar experience due to lifestyle, when you were diagnosed, what kind of support can be offered?

Also can someone advice how long I can expect to wait to hear about my ultrasound results?

How many more tests would you also expect to have?

My family have been giving me tough love and not TLC, because that's the kind of family we are. Very honest with each other and I think it's because they are protective and have told me for years I need to slow down.

I'm not in a relationship or have kids and 39 years, so I feel a bit alone in my worries right now. But also I am angry with myself. I am not looking for any validation here, but I feel coming here may give me some reassurances that it's not as terrible as I think it is. I am just worried about what the world would judge me as this would be caused by my hand.

[Fibro2021]

It's understandable to feel worried, but liver disease is often multifactorial—meaning multiple factors can contribute to it, like arrows hitting the same target. High ferritin levels may indicate inflammation, but they also require further investigation for conditions like hemochromatosis. Additional tests, such as iron levels and transferrin saturation, might be necessary to rule this out.

As for your US, the waiting time can vary depending on the healthcare system, but you could ask your doctor how long results typically take. If your ferritin is high, your doctor might also order liver function tests, viral hepatitis screening, and possibly more imaging or genetic tests if needed.

You’re taking the right steps by seeking information and support. Try not to be too hard on yourself—what matters most is what you do moving forward.

[Sunnyskies33]

If blood tests indicate possible liver issues, I'd want a fibroscan. The ultrasound can shed some info but it would be followed by a fibroscan if any issues. Since you mention high ferritin they will likely check your iron levels to be sure you don't have Hemochromatosis. If your liver is inflamed, it may be best to wait until it has calmed down for a fibroscan in order to get accurate results. In the meantime know that any fibrosis short of cirrhosis can often be improved or even corrected by healthy diet, zero alcohol and exercise. The British liver trust has a lot of information on how to do this. Best of luck! Try not not worry but do make any necessary changes.

[QuietButBold]

Welcome.

"Worry gives a small thing a big shadow."—Swedish Proverb.

While "wise worry" definitely has its value (and the proactive, pragmatic and perseverance responses to wise worry may be harnessed towards improved outcomes), by contrast; the "what ifs" game can be a bit like the roulette of walking down a street filled with floodwater - and not being aware that some sewer system covers are now missing ...which can take you to unnecessarily darker places pretty swiftly!

In our community here: you will likely observe encouragement of each other in the pursuit of and sharing timely facts. The quest for improved liver health support objectives include: aiming towards learning how to minimise the pesky "what ifs" and promoting the swift and prudent deployment of safe and suitable responses to addressing a "wise worry".

From your post; I am not sure you / your GP are quite yet in command of all the necessary facts to devise the optimal liver health treatment plan (tailored to your personalised requirements). That is no criticism, as it is not uncommon for a somewhat interactive range of testing / results review cycles to be necessary to hone a good plan.

However, timelines is usually important for all liver disease patients, the referral to an Hepatology Clinic at Hospital (for e.g. Fibroscan and more specialist blood testing etc.), full and frank disclosure with all healthcare professionals encountered, and building up liver-friendly habits are each important steps.

(Facts are your friend - as they inform balance of risk considerations in devising and refining your treatment plan and monitoring schedule).

To be brutally honest; what may feel a little unnerving (wise worry - frustrating / confusing) at the outset: is the dawning realisation that while there is good science supporting much good guidance and support available (cue the British Liver Trust website and their Nurse-led Helpline), liver disease treatment is not a "one size fits all" prescriptive process - instead it relies upon everyone's clear communication and the professional adjudication on the balance of probability applicable to an individual patient.

(This may be where your family's tradition of tough love not TLC may stand you in good stead).

There can also be rather a lot of "hurry up and wait" stages built into the liver health journey. This is where it becomes so very important to, in the meantime, do as much as you possibly can - safely and sensibly - under a medical proven direction - to boost your liver health choices and adoption of good habits.

Now is the time to ensure your GP, Hepatology Consultant, Pharmacist etc. really do understand (refresh their recall if necessary) all about your lifestyle, travel history, complete prescription medication and medical history, adverse reactions, over the counter / recreationally consumed items (including things for pain management and supplements), an overview of your extended genetic family medical history (it can help inform the balance of likelihood of how your body might respond to lifestyle factors and medical treatment).

Do share with your healthcare professionals your "worry beads" - as good liver health is about treating all of you (as your liver gets involved in at least 500 functions in support of the demands upon your body, plus it interacts with numerous of your body's systems - it may even impact what your brain experiences).

There is also much you may achieve yourself to support your liver while waiting for medical intervention. However, now is not the time for being beguiled / influenced by magazine articles, advertisements, or social media trends - if in doubt: you are by far safer consulting the British Liver Trust.

Generalised examples of what strategies might be helpful:

- follow a Mediterranean Diet,

- avoid alcohol (get professional advice and support if your body is accustomed to a lot of alcohol),

- boost exercise (indoors and outdoors),

- coffee is good (but work on reducing fat and sugar),

- aim for healthy and steady weight management (but not "crash" dieting),

- ask your GP if you need to work towards gradually lowering / changing your pain medication dosage,

- let your other healthcare professionals know that you are working on improving your liver health e.g. Dentist (keep up to date with dental checkups / treatment appointments, ditto the dental hygienist,

- check with your GP about keeping up to date with immunisation boosters such as re: COVID-19 and flu,

- avoid (really important) "Dr Google" - work with your healthcare facts and leave frightening fiction to enjoying a movie!

- find plenty of healthy ways to relax, reduce stress and have fun,

- don't keep your new healthy habits a secret (it is good to dispel stigma and challenge assumptions by sharing your progress - as the most unexpected people might prove supportive - consider that together: alcohol, viral hepatitis, and the impact of people being overweight are the major causes of liver disease - and yet other people may have arrived at a liver disease diagnosis due to: a genetic situation, medication toxicity, the knock-on impact of another chronic disease, a physical liver injury, or cancer treatment ...the list goes on ...and that is a lot of different types of people who might be knowledgeable and helpful.

In addition to medical matters, I feel "wellbeing", in the pragmatic sense, is the watchword for supporting good liver health (the combination of: the physical body, emotions, mental outlook, motivation, perseverance, the "heart, mind, body and soul" each play their respective role). So too; does our time spent investing in our connections with other people.

About that last point ...I maybe ought to admit to having neglected last aspect for myself for a while (it got a bit lost in all the initial whirlwind of blood tests, scans, medical appointments, learning more about the liver etc.). Having recognised that gap; I am now working on it! My calendar now includes joining in with a new shared interest group next month. At first glance: nothing obviously to do with "health" or "liver disease" at all - more about getting out and about to meet new people and have fun.

However, I don't believe anybody's calendar should only be filled with medical appointments (whether physical health / mental health) - even when you are working through an important medical challenge.

Best wishes for your liver health journey.

[Witsend39 in reply to QuietButBold]

Thank you for your reply. I am going to keep coming to your response as I think each time will give me encouragement to take a step back and assess. I have been dreadfully emotional this last week as I am trying to get a grasp on realities instead of falling down the rabbit hole, like Alice.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, it has soothed my anxiety somewhat.

I will keep coming back to read again to ground me.

[Witsend39]

Thank you for your reply. I am going to keep coming to your response as I think each time will give me encouragement to take a step back and assess. I have been dreadfully emotional this last week as I am trying to get a grasp on realities instead of falling down the rabbit hole, like Alice.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, it has soothed my anxiety somewhat.

I will keep coming back to read again to ground me.