How does eating before a Fibroscan affect the results? I’m worried the results I got today are too good to be true. Please help reassure me.

[alienpunker]

I got a Fibroscan at the Love Your Liver Roadshow this morning and while having it done, after a few measurements had been taken, the practitioner asked me if I’d eaten this morning. I said I’d eaten something small about 5 hours beforehand but that was it and she carried on taking measurements.

My KPA ended up being 2.9 and my CAP was 186. I was really shocked by these results because I was convinced I had cirrhosis. I’m now worried that these results could be artificially decreased due to me having something to eat in the morning or specifically due to me being chronically constipated (I usually only have 3 bowel movements a week and had my last one 2 days ago). Like maybe some of my full/constipated bowel was blocking my liver and this caused the low results?

I’m also on my period (2nd day) - could this have affected my results? Maybe my swollen uterus could have pushed my bowels upwards to block my liver?

I’ve been so scared for the past few months and these results just feel too good to be true. I was diagnosed with NAFLD in March 2024 but noticed I had red palms in December 2024 which can be a symptom of cirrhosis. Because of this I started massively restricting my diet so much I dropped to a BMI of 16.8. Could someone reassure me regarding the above?

[JHutton1994]

'Because of this I started massively restricting my diet so much I dropped to a BMI of 16.8.'

You're worrying about the wrong numbers. A BMI below 18.5 is massively unhealthy, you need to get that sorted.

[alienpunker in reply to JHutton1994]

Oh I’m going to try! I was just too terrified to eat anything hence the weight loss. I just want to be sure that the results are accurate so I feel safe to eat more things.

[Sunnyskies33]

My fibroscan instructions are 3 hour fast. So you are well within that.

[Readlots]

Hey Alie, I’d say take the win and don’t overthink it. Your post sounds like the issue is more to do with anxiety than liver problems. The British Liver Trust has helpful pages on health anxiety. Their nurse helpline may be able to answer your questions. I have regular fibroscans and they have never been affected by the things you’ve raised. Everyone should eat healthily but that does not mean overly restricting your diet and losing too much weight too quickly. Please take the fibroscan result as a good sign, relax and enjoy.

[alienpunker in reply to Readlots]

Thank you so much for the words of reassurance.