Do you think you’ve adapted?

[BU2B]

It has been six years since being diagnosed with NASH induced cirrhosis and gastroparesis; my question is one of adaption. My condition is currently compensated yet I’ve had 12 bandings in the last year, so I know while it may not be rapidly getting worse it’s not improving or going away either.

There are times I still get pretty sick but the duration has been greatly diminished. I still never know if a glass of anything cold is going to set off a bout of nausea but I honestly think I feel better.

It took about 4 years for everyone to get just the right mix of meds and I generally have gotten better at walking the diametrically opposed diets for liver vs gastroparesis- But my question is how much of how I feel is related to my body and mind just adapting to the reality of the situation?

Has anyone else ran across this? Have you found that even though your condition is slowly deteriorating you ‘feel’ better the longer you have to deal with your medical condition and/or symptoms overall?

If so; for you, how much does each of the following account for that ‘feeling’?

A) - Endurance over time reduces severity of noticeable symptoms- your body basically adapting to the situation, much like how your condition snuck up on you.

B) - The right diagnosis or diagnosis’s combined with open and honest discussions with your medical team combined with the proper medications and amounts.

C) - Mental attitude of gratitude and the realization things could always be worse. For a lot of people their faith serves the same purpose.

If you’ve been dealing with NASH/cirrhosis or multiple morbidities - what percentage would you place on each of the three listed statements above?

For me; I’ve been thinking about it and the breakdown is as follows :

A) - 40% B) - 40% C) - 20%

[nash2 Partner]

Well, lots of questions. Adaptation and accommodation are the natural responses we have if we are able to get off the train of constantly increasing distress. That is both a mental and physical response that happens over time. All of the elements you mentioned are part of the process but the mix probably varies for everyone. An important fact about the liver is that if you stop whatever was causing the damage it will improve over time but that takes a year or two for most people. We have trouble maintaining healthy practices over time so the path usually isn't a smooth one. In my case it took about 18 months for me to go from a scary F4 to a more manageable high F2 but everyone is different.

[Livmar in reply to nash2]

Hi Nash2, what exactly did you do to get from an F4 to an F2? I currently am an F4 with portal hypertension, varices and enlarged spleen(15.1) cm. Thanks so much !

[nash2 Partner in reply to Livmar]

Hi Liv

A better diet and more exercise. Here is a link to our approach to food and there is a lot of info on the website

fattyliverfoundation.org/li...

Wayne

[Livmar in reply to nash2]

Hi Wayne, thanks so much for the info and your commitment to help others. Many blessings.