It is 2020 We should see clearly now - Living with Fatty...

Living with Fatty Liver and NASH

8,366 members2,189 posts

It is 2020 We should see clearly now

nash2 profile image
nash2Partner
3 Replies

A lot of people write about the past year as each one ends. We will see lots of retrospectives citing problems and triumphs, observations about what was and what might have been.

Those are helpful to many but since I'm not young and I am a cirrhosis patient, tomorrow is what matters to me. I'm pleased to be among the un-dead but a brighter future is what interests me more than the past. I sometimes steal things from Kipling

If you can dream and not make dreams your master

If you think and not make thoughts your aim

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

and treat those two imposters just the same

Yours is the earth and everything that's in it.

The community served by the foundation, my community, is that of the unwell and those soon to be unwell. It is those who currently struggle with chronic and progressive disease and more importantly those who are not yet ill. Liver disease is one of the problems that is anathema to physicians. With no treatments available the argument is that raising alarm may do more harm than good and waiting for symptoms to treat becomes the default.

This new year, 2020, may be a contentious one. It is possible that the FDA may approve the first drug to treat advanced fibrosis due to NASH. This would be very good news as it confirms the potential to actually treat liver disease. Blue skies ahead perhaps, but like most things, it is important to read the fine print.

We are very happy to see this progress, but I worry that expectations will get too high in the patient community. So many people are desperate for some kind of help that news of progress could bring more hope than is justified. I'm not suggesting that this is not really good news, but perspective is critical.

Seeing clearly, that is the goal served by knowledge, so what should you understand about the potential new therapy? Think of a toddler learning to walk. These are the first few steps in that journey. There will be many small steps before we have truly effective treatments. The current class of drugs have limited goals. This is a very complex problem and there will not be a silver bullet to save your life.

As we wait for the science and approval system to mature it is important, if you are a patient or may become one (all of you actually), to understand that the state of the art today is measured against diet and exercise. The very best drug in the near term hopes to be as good for you as eating a healthy diet.

This is important. As you look to the future of therapy remember that you could achieve the same results by making food your medicine. The medical details of liver chemistry are vastly complex. Most docs don't really understand it and as a patient you cannot. However, you can have a strategy. When you eat, choose a menu that causes your liver to do as little work as possible. We have a lot of information on the website so here is a link that can get you started.

fattyliverfoundation.org/na...

You can think of it simply, as don't eat anything white.

Broadly speaking that means limit salt, sugar, refined flour and starchy vegetables. Increase your unsaturated fats and lower the saturated fats. Learn to like non-starchy vegetables and get some exercise.

Easy Peasy and it doesn't cost thousands of dollars a pill.

Wayne Eskridge

fattyliverfoundation.org/

Written by
nash2 profile image
nash2
Partner
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
3 Replies
one2one profile image
one2one

True every word. I also am one of the elder generation, and feel grateful to have got this far in life unscathed by illness until now. Having changed my diet, and slowly working up my exercise levels again , I can say I feel good about myself once more .

Thanks 🙏 chrissie x

Bluegirl52 profile image
Bluegirl52

I want to thank you, Wayne for your words of wisdom. As someone who has struggled with a heart problem since I was 22, I am indeed thankful to have reached the age of 67. I was stunned to find that I have what appears to be cirrhosis from my heart failure. Since they saw some fat on my ultrasound, I was thrilled to find this site. Even though Duke believes my cirrhosis is due to my heart, I’m following your plan. I can’t have all the testing Fibroscan/biopsy because of my heart issues. Anyway, I feel better knowing that I’m also on this diet in case I have a fatty liver also. The weight loss has helped my heart failure and I’ truly grateful that you started this forum!! You give me much hope and inspiration!

nash2 profile image
nash2Partner in reply toBluegirl52

Thanks Blue

I appreciate your support.

Wayne

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

The sky is falling -- we are doomed -- well maybe not

It is unsettling when the political warfare that has gripped our country in recent years spills out...
nash2 profile image
Partner

Stayin Alive with liver disease, how do we do that?

I haven't written about diet in some time and things have improved a bit for some people, but we...
nash2 profile image
Partner

Collagen and fibrosis, do you know how that works?

Remember from prior posts, that fibrosis forms first as long strings that associate over time and...
nash2 profile image
Partner

One of the groups most at risk of liver disease is long haul truckers. We have joined with the HTAA to help educate them about health risks

We are working with the Healthy Trucking Association of America, (HTAA) to help educate and support...
nash2 profile image
Partner

Latest data on Resmetirom is published, FDA approval is expected in March

Today marks a significant milestone for Madrigal's NASH/MASH program and a major step forward...
nash2 profile image
Partner