Nodules

[Coligate123]

Hi I’m trying to get my head around my diagnosis which was NFLD cirrhosis and early noduality . I have been told to lose more weight another 2 stone and control diabetes which I have. I’m working hard now to lose more. I walk 10000 steps a day and do feel well. But now very depressed after the diagnosis. Would like to know if I can reverse this if I try hard . I’m 73 .

[Monicka]

Hi, my understanding is that liver is the most regenerative organ in your body. As soon as you stop feeding it with poisons like alcohol, drugs, sugar or bad fat it starts to heal itself. Hence most of the liver damages can be reversed or at least stop progressing. If you do changes to your lifestyle you can keep the situation under control. The liver might not heal back completely but it might remain in the same state and never progress further and become life threatening. Like diabetes, this is something you know about and you should try your best to keep it under control. But don’t be scared, like diabetes this is manageable. Keep strict and proper lifestyle. Watch your weight, watch what you eat and drink and exercsise and I think you should be Ok!

[Coligate123 in reply to Monicka]

Thank you Monica it’s just a roller coaster at the moment in my head but feels more positive with people like you helping me as it feels very lonely x

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear your news. Are you being dealt with by a hepatologist and how where you diagnosed? Are you scheduled to have further investigations of the nodules?

[Coligate123 in reply to Hidden]

Hi no no more about nodules just follow up scan in 6 months. I don’t know what early nodularity means and when I read that later re read mail panicked. but consultant didn’t mention in phone call just to continue losing weight quicker and monitor diabetes which I do .

[Hidden in reply to Coligate123]

Hi. I have no nodules only fatty liver and some fibrosis. I am surprised that your consultant did not mention the reason for the 6 monthly scans and what nodules can be. I am under a professor /hepatologist and he was quite open that my liver situation made me more at risk of getting liver cancer. Nodules can be early sign of that.

Here is some information: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

You may wish to contact your consultant if this information worries you. As with any medical problem - ask questions.

I was prescribed pioglitazone (off label) and that certainly helped me

Take care.

[Alterity]

I had around 6 nodules since I was diagnosed 20 years ago. Nothing they can do with the nodules except watch them very closely. I have MRI's every 6 months do make sure they are not going into tumors or cancerous tumors. Make sure you have a specialist not a general family dr. I have been dealing with a specials for all 20 years. Keep losing weight and listen to your body, but let them keep track of the nodules is only a benefit to you. This way if they start to change, they can catch it in time. Nodules can decrease in size or increase. Good luck.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Thank you for that .I wonder if it was because it says early nodularity it means something. It was a biopsy I’d had . Consultant said to keep losing weight and keep check on diabetes which I do . Then said he’d like to see me in 6 months with the nurse led stable cirrhosis clinic with ultrasound scan for HCC surveillance as well. That’s how it was worded.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Hi Again I’ve just reread my letter and it does say “ I have advised we will arrange a follow up in six months in the nurse led stable cirrhosis clinic for ultrasound scan for HCC surveillance as we “ what do you think?.

[Alterity in reply to Coligate123]

I think that is normal and be happy they are watching you closely every 6 months. If things change they will catch anything. I had one dr. that only saw me once a year which made me nervous. A lot can happen in a year. The last 10 years I have test every six months. My nodules have always stayed the same. I got as high as a stage 4 fibrosis, but since losing weight they say I'm between a 2 and a 3, but the nodules are stable.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Thank you so much for answering me I was feeling so low I must have stage 4 fence bridging was written. So if I go every six months they could do something about it that is good to hear . My only son died 25 years ago when he was 24 years of a liver cancer he never drank and ate healthy. Anyway I’m 73 and quite fit so hopefully I’ll be ok for a few more years if I do as I’m told.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Hi again would you tell me your age as I was wondering if you’re a lot younger than me it’s ok if not thank you

[Alterity in reply to Coligate123]

I just turned 65. I had fatty liver and did not know it in 1983. They found the Nash and the worst liver they had ever seen with the nodules in 2001. I have Doctors for the Nash for the last 20 years with the nodules. Just have the doctor watch them closely. You don't feel them so until the grow or change you should be ok. Let's hope they stay stable like mine have. I'm hoping for another 20 years. But I know it could change tomorrow, but I don't worry because I could get in the car and die 10 minutes from now. When God calls me home, nothing will stop it. I am in the research program so hopefully what they find with me will help others years from now. Good Luck.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Thanks for the reply I hope they find a cure in the research, I’d. Know there’s nothing out there yet .

[Alterity in reply to Coligate123]

Actually they are real close to having a pill that will help. Should be out later this year. Don't think it helps nodules, but it will the Fibrosis.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Great

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Hi again Alterity . I’m just in the middle of yet another anxiety attack. So I’ve been asked to go for a ultrasound scan , but that’s not the CT scan that I’m supposed to be having in six monthly s . Also I had a call rom someone fron my QMC hospital asking if I would be interested in doing a test thing like you are on I was surprised as I’m 73 as I told you before, anyway he said I am F4 well I asked him was I and yes he said I’d do well to do as consultant said lose mor weight and exercise. The thing is I’m panicking now as he confirms F4 . Even with. 4 mmHg You did give me hope before but I’m struggling can I get on top of it .

Help Pat

[Alterity in reply to Coligate123]

I was told I was an F4 in Oct of 2018. Then I went through a very stressful move and career change and really became sick. The man that meant the world to me, turned his back on me and I just wanted to end it all. Then in June of last year, I said he wasn't going to kill me and I'm not going to let the NASH kill me. I went on the Optavia Weight loss plan and lost 22 pounds in a month and 48 pounds in 2.5 months. The first month the dr. check on me and said you look great. I felt great she said keep going, but when I lost the 48 in 2.5 months she said you are losing to fast and I think in my mine I should not be losing. I'm now a 2-3F on my last scan. I stopped losing in Sept. after losing the 48. I'm now trying to lose again and I'm a coach for Optavia. I'm 199 as of this morning. I will be getting a new biopsy, fibers can and more in June for the study I'm in. They asked me if I was alright if they kept the results too for their records, they would have to charge my insurance something. I said I'd rather you have them too. If my liver turns on me for any reason you have my records and I could get a living liver. The Dr. agreed with me. I had a video chat with her yesterday. She has loved my positive attitude through all this and she said I have some patient that don't believe they will live, she told me she would bring me in on some of her consultations to prove to people you can live. I found out 20 years ago and weight 283 and they said it was the worst liver they had ever seen. So there is hope. Ultra sounds don't always give the real answer. If you haven't had an MRI I suggest one of those. Good luck.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Thank you for that reply . It’s not easy do you think I can get to a lower F number if I lose mor weight etc even though I’m 73 .Pat

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Hi again I think I need a different ideas I’m starting to get heartburn. Pat

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Consultant suggested I have one every six months after biopsy diagnosis. So do you think that’s normal? . I do feel positive sometimes but this new heartburn make me less so I’m diabetic but well controlled. Pat

[Alterity]

What do you weigh? Heartburn comes with eating wrong and the acid coming back up from the liver. The bile gases which could lead to ulcers in your stomach or esophagus. I use to have a lot of that. 73 does not mean your life is over yet. Eat right, eat to live and have fun with your life. You could live to be 93 or more. Listen to your body.

[Coligate123]

I did weigh Just over 12 stone a year ago I lost one stone up till seeing the consultant by then he said you haven’t lost enough so I’m going to try and lose another two sone and exercise which I do he said I must lose more and faster so now cutting all fats and sugars BMI 28/ maybe 29 but not sure I’m 5ft 3 inch. Pat

[Alterity]

I'm only 5'1. Yes and be happy they are checking you out every 6 months. They are keeping track of what is going on. My nodules are stable and have been for years, but they still check me. Good luck.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Thank you x

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Hi again. How did you find out 20 years ago and what . Pat

[Alterity in reply to Coligate123]

I went in for gastic by pass surgery. They did all the test before hand and said I was perfectly healthy. They see a lot of heavy set people, but when they opened me up, the aborted the surgery saying it was the worst liver the doctor had ever seen. I then went to a specialist which gave me 6 years to live and said I hope they find a cure before then. I then transferred to OSU where they have watched me ever since. I moved to Columbus 3 years ago so I could be on the research program. I had lived 1.5 hours from the hospital previously. My dr. have been great. I go every 6 months for my regular visits and every 3 months for the research. If I have questions or problems I e-mail them on My chart and they answer. Now all my drs are at OSU. because the liver does affect your heart too and all parts of your body. I take vitimans to help my immune system. I had to argue with the heart dr because he tried to give me statins to help my heart, by liver rejected them and he tried other pill and I said listen, your putting pills into my body which are going through my liver. Your killing my liver even more to save my heart. If my liver dies, so does my heart. NO MEDS. I don't take anything unless it goes through my kidneys, pain killers included. I've had back surgery and both hips replaced and they first gave me meds that went through my liver and it caused me to go into heart attack symptoms, it proved my point, but took me over a year to get back to normal. Now I keep away from Meds. I learned that 5 years ago. I take a water pill and that is it.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Blimey! Did you not have any bad liver symptoms like I didn’t although I was am diabetic but controlled with metformin. How can one be in such a bad liver state and no know I’m amazed. Pat

[Alterity in reply to Coligate123]

No symptoms most people don’t. Then they die if heart attacks. Never do autopsy if they did they would if known they really died of Nash. Not all but heavier set people. When your liver starts shutting done other organs shut down too When your tired. Go to bed. Your liver functions better at rest. Try to kept stress away as much as possible. I use to have days where I could not put one foot in front of the other. Not so much any more.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

I did used to drop to sleep all the time up a couple of years ago but not now I’ve cut sugar completely out for diabetes but now this so fats have to be gone as well I do get a pain that I thought was pulled muscle upper right side but know now must be liver forgot to tell consultant that so that’s another thing . Pat

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

Hi Hope you can help and to ask do you get like I have started sometimes pain in the liver area .x

[Alterity in reply to Coligate123]

I do get sharp pains into my right side once in a while, but nothing like I use to. My liver was so swollen into my rib cage, but since losing the weight and the research pill I only feel the pain once in a while. The swelling is way down.

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

I seam to get it more now that I’m cutting down on food and sometimes it’s not the and heartburn comes if I eat something oaty muesli it goes but try to just eat fruit and veg fish and it comes on . Pat

[Coligate123 in reply to Alterity]

It’s looks like you’ve done so well. I hope I can be like you .x