Newly diagnosed with fatty liver

[liverlove]

I was diagnosed with fatty liver a year ago via ultrasound,told to lose weight and should cure itself..

. I didn't really take the diagnosis seriously and continued to drink alcohol and eat unhealthily.

Recently I have become extremely tired,finding it hard to go to work,could sleep forever.My gp started me on an antidepressant a few weeks ago. I was also referred to a liver specialist at the QE in Birmingham.I had another ultrasound on Friday and returned to the QE today.My lft's haven't improved,I have reduced alcohol greatly and the next step is a liver biopsy.

How stupid I have been basically ignoring early warnings. The specialist told me to try and lose weight and exercise. This is difficult due to the chronic fatigue I feel at the moment.Saying that I have just returned from a 15 minute stroll. I have to turn my life around.I was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in July this year and am taking metformin,the liver specialist told me today that I may have to have insulin.

Just wanted to share, a bit shell shocked at the moment. Just discovered British liver trust website,a great source of information.

[Hidden]

Hi

There go many of us! My advice is NO alchol, not only will it slow things down you will not be taken seriously untill you are drink free for at least 6 months

Chronic fatigue from personal experience is difficult to get around, but just keep doing what you can, that gets easier as you feel better.

I have been where you are and it may be hard but you can beat it, just look after your liver!

[liverlove in reply to Hidden]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.I am setting out to achieve a healthy,alcohol free lifestyle from now on.

[Hidden]

Dear liverlove,

I think that david5354 has offered you some very good advice, and I just wanted to let you know that I would be more than happy to have a chat with you on the Helpline.

Therefore please feel free to call me on 0800 652 7330, and perhaps I'll be able to make some more suggestions to you, and answer any further questions that you may have.

In the meantime, 'Good Luck' with your new regime - you can do it!

All good wishes to you,

Sarah Tattersall

Patient Enquiry Officer

British Liver Trust

[elle-boop]

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about your health problems! It's easy to ignore a warning as none of us find it hard to overhaul our life habits. It can sometimes take a bit of a scare to wake us up. The best thing you can do is to view this as an opportunity for transformation and remember that every week that goes by you will be healthier than the week before if you stick to a healthy eating pattern and some daily gentle exercise. Your liver is as important as your heart to your life and it needs some tlc to recover. I try to view my liver as a friend who is working hard to help me live and achieve my goals, that way I find it easier to love myself and look after my health. If you look after your liver it will look after you!!!

You are in a good position because you can do something positive to reverse your situation, don't leave it until your liver is more damaged or you will have alot less control over your life. I say this only because I was born with an auto-immune condition that has damaged my liver to the point that I will need a transplant and I have lost some of my choices and freedom because of it, I would not like to see anyone else go through the same thing if they can avoid it.

There is alot of information out there to help you on your quest for a healthier body and you are not alone in this so keep up your motivation and get as much information as you can. In the meantime if you need to rest then rest. Your liver needs to have it's full repair cycle to heal. The repair cycle starts at about 9pm normally and doesn't finish until about 9am in the morning. Try to get to bed early and don't eat alot late at night so that your liver can have all the time it needs to repair instead of digesting food at the same time. Do avoid alcohol and refined sugar at all costs as these are poison to the body and convert to substances that cause liver damage. If you need support feel free to leave me a msg and I can share some of my findings with you, it might help!

Take care and good luck, Elle x

[liverlove in reply to elle-boop]

Hi Elle,

I have found your comment so very helpful. At the moment I have good and bad days. There is lots of info to take on board.I have spoken to the Liver Trust and that was helpful as well.

Thank you once again for your sound advice,I really appreciate it. My Doctor has signed me off work for another month so I am going to use this time to turn things around.x

[Scottiedottie]

Sounds like me without the alcohol. I've been following low carb high fat diet andlost 23lbs since diabetes diagnosis 7 weeks ago. Also exercising more