New Member & Here to Support

[Dynomike]

Hello Everyone,

I am 38 & was 272lbs April 17th this year and informed after an ultrasound I have a enlarged liver with no hardening and hepatic Steatosis , they said I most likely have NASH. Unknown what stage no biopsy ( the gold standard for diagnosis) I had a high Alt 74 AST 72 so my Primary Doctor wanted me to see a GI.

I’m now at 205Lbs with diet& exercise ( no sugar, carbs bread rice pasta , dairy , fried foods- ONLY veggies, egg white veggie omelets, olive oil , avocado, low sodium nuts , wild caught Salmon , no sodium homemade veggie chili , beans , lots of black coffee , water , green tea and sometimes strawberries , Blue Berries or few cherries for my diet) from 1200-1400 calories a day,

I do cardio for a good hour at least 4 times a week on the elliptical or brisk walk for 1.5 hours, I find drinking 1 or 2 cups of hot green tea at night suppressed hunger urges. I only bought organic foods at my local farmers market avoiding added chemicals.

I feel a lot better loosing all the weight but every now and then my right side has very mild discomfort this happens when getting up after sleep as well.

I completed a Fibrosure test Aug 9th & test received a .46 with all other levels good , ALT 12 & AST 16 is now in a normal level

Not sure how good that is for the Fibrosure or were I stand with Nash ? hoping to reverse to normal levels if possible if the .46 is a bad read. I heard the test is 84 percent accurate.

Just seeing if anyone has information or guidance on the Fibrosure test ? Any other tests I should request? Also any questions to ask the GI ?

Going back to the GI on the 17th. I have learned a lot on this site and grateful that it exists. Hoping they can find a cure for Nash , my doctors seem not to care to much like most of your doctors I read about. It’s stressful not knowing what stage you might be at , I am afraid to eat any kind of food that’s considered a comfort food incase that strongly effects any type of negative progression. ( this thinking kept me on track with my diet as it scares me) Wishing the best for everyone’s health & happiness

[Moonsta]

To me your ast and alt look pretty good! I'd say you've done an excellent job! Congratulations!!

[Dynomike in reply to Moonsta]

Thank you Moonsta ,It was not easy but well worth it. After 3 weeks of diet and exercise I felt on track mentally & have not looked back. Hope all is well with you.

[kensimmons]

Sounds to me like you are a heckuva success story, congratulations! And you did it all yourself with discipline, double congratulations! Inpirational!

The only thing I would say (and I am NOT a doctor) that I might adjust is increasing the calorie intake just a tad because I have read online that the 1200 - 1400 amount you are talking about is too small for a 200lb man to get the vitamins and nutrients he needs. I would google "Amount of Calories for an active man" or "minimum calories per day 205 lbs male" and see what comes up, I think you may want to add just a tad. I am NOT a doctor and if what you are doing is what your doctor suggested, totally ignore what I just wrote please! And remember now that you have lost 70lbs, your metabolism will slow to account for that, making future weight loss tougher. (Just from what I have read online). A dietician might be very helpful if you don't want to bother your doctor about this. Some dieticians specialize in the heart and liver, the suggested diets for both seem to be virtually identical.

NHS Says -

nhs.uk/common-health-questi...

Harvard Says -

health.harvard.edu/staying-...

Others -

eatright.org/health/wellnes....

verywellfit.com/average-cal...

Once again, congratulations, great work!

[Dynomike in reply to kensimmons]

Hello Kensimmons,Thank you for your reply any suggestions are helpful. Right now I am on track with my calorie intake . I will add more calories as I plan to weight train / resistance training hoping to progress burning off more fat.

You are right about needing to do more when your body gets to a certain point.

I am about there so that’s why at this point sticking with diet eating right but adding more intense exercise & good calories to get to the next level.

Wishing you good health & happiness kensimmons I appreciate you.

[kensimmons in reply to Dynomike]

And I appreciate you as well. Please stay in touch, you are a motivator for us all!

[geneticnash]

Congrats - you are doing a fabulous job! Impressive results, so keep doing what you are doing!

[Dynomike in reply to geneticnash]

Hello Geneticnash,I will continue thank you for the kind reply. I hope all is well with you and wishing you the best!!

[NYLassie]

I am not too keen re the Fibrosure test, nor is the research director at my hepatologist's office. My Fibrosure test 3 years ago came back great. It was some time back, and I can't recall the details. But it showed no fibrosus. Then a Fibroscan and a CT with contrast showed stage 3 Fibrosis a few days later. I was shocked. It sounds like you are doing very well with your current plan. A number of studies have indicated that proper nutrition and exercise (particularly exercise) reduces fat in the liver significantly, regarless of weight loss, by the way.

[Dynomike]

Hello NYLassie,Thank you for informing. That’s so crazy how fast the results change and the tests not being accurate. I hope all is well with you and wish only the best for your health.

My GI visit today was not detailed on my results until I asked questions,I don’t think he would have said much else if I didn’t ask. But basically he informed from my Fib 4 results that I now have just a fatty liver with no fibrosis. ( I had 0.46 score) He wanted to do another ultrasound in 6 months.

I informed I had a enlarged liver from my last ultrasound reading and just recently since entering the month of August my right side was having mild discomfort pains.

GI said to do a Ultrasound in 3 months and complete Nash liver blood work & that my mild pain could be from the liver reducing back to size? Not sure how accurate that is, to me it sounded strange. I felt like he kinda wrote me off as if I didn’t say anything those topics would not have been discussed. I feel he didn’t take it very serious.

I want to do a few tests to see if they match up for peace of mind like. Fibroscan , MRE, I’m thinking to get a second opinion from another GI as well.

The other thing is I asked about food, Is it ok to have comfort meals once a weak in moderation as long as I keep up my diet and exercise ? Will just one comfort meal have a negative impact on liver progressing ?

He informed I was able to and just continue my diet & Exercise.

With the answer I’m still not confident this is true and because the fib 4 test is only 84 % accurate . It just stinks not knowing 100% we’re exactly you stand with what stage you could be at.

I think I’ll just continue my dieting and exercising for another few months , do those other tests & get a 2nd opinion.

I hope everyone reading this has a great day I wish you all great health & Happiness.