May 20225ft 7 at 234 pounds and 37 BMI. Started to not feel too great. After several investigations, seemed my liver was out of whack. Referred to a consultant and further tests showed elevated transaminases with u/s showing severe steatosis. Fibroscan commissioned by ‘senior Hepatologist’. Results showed 14.8, I was told this was F4 and likely cirrhosis (awful bedside manner from consultant with long uncomfortable gazes into my eyes etc). I was given a lecture on drink and obesity and told a biopsy was the next step.June 2022Something didn’t sit right with the first chaps so I got a second opinion (much more capable, pragmatic and experienced consultant), It turns out the first score was incorrect/inflated due to me non-fasting (wasn’t asked to). Advised biopsy was not required but a repeat Fibroscan was worthwhile. Upon re-doing, although was still high, the score was significantly lower at 12.5 / 386 and now regarded as F3 and below the Cirrhosis cut-off. In either case I was advised to lose weight and completely stop drinking to bring down my weight/BMI (target 25). I gave up drinking (very hard) and started the Mediterranean diet (not so hard), I carefully avoided any inflammatory foods also and embraced a totally new lifestyle and kept with it. I purchased a lumen device and ‘hacked’ my metobolism also, I think that really helped demystify things.Nov 20226 months later, I have lost 54 pounds, I am off all meds (blood pressure, gout and heartburn). As a result my bmi is down to 28 and I’ve never felt better. I saw my consultant for a follow up yesterday and repeated a Fibroscan. I’m happy to report it’s now 6.4 / 194 (F0/F1)! Given the huge reduction compared to last time, It was repeated a couple of times just to make sure it was accurate, it was.My consultant advised me that my NAFLD / NASH is now resolved with no further follow ups required. Although I was hoping for an improvement, I honestly wasn’t expecting such a massive difference. My message here is that NAFLD ABSOLUTELY is reversible AND furthermore, this can be done quickly too if you put your mind to it and undergo a radical lifestyle change and lose the excess pounds. Also, it is worth making sure you get the right consultant folks, certainly based on my experience, there’s a HUGE difference in them. Feel free to ping me for more details on any aspect of my story. Good luck out there and best wishes to you all on your journeys!
Resolved NAFLD / NASH in 6 months! - Living with Fatty...
Resolved NAFLD / NASH in 6 months!
Thats great! I too resolved mine in 7 months! My Dr is very proud of me and I am proud of myself!
Brilliant! 👍🏽
Hi There!
Congrats!
May i ask-what kind of a consultant are you referring to?
Also,
I am a wine lover
Were you able to have an occasional drink after getting numbers down or are youOFF all alcohol for life?
Just curious
DK
Congratulations to you!! Incredible what a new lifestyle and eating right does to our bodies, no more meds, get rid of disease and feel better. Keep it up for life 👍😄.
Great news. Although reversing F4 in 6 months is highly unlikely in my amature opinion. Might be that your first fibroscan (14.8 kpa) was false positive. Good luck.
thanks! Yes agree the first reading of 14.8 was certainly incorrect, but the second reading of 12.5 was indeed correct - best of luck also!
I see but even that it is highly unlikely. It is hard to say that one fibroscan is correct and other wrong (although there IRQ/median which should be less than 30% to more accurate result). Also even if result seems ok there is always a possibility of false positive. I read some studies that about 22% of fatty liver people in UK that had F2 on fibroscan had false positive result. The key question that real fibrosis status was diagnosed by biopsy (golden standard of course not always 100% accurate).
To sum up I still think the more likely was that you had false positive F3 fibroscan result rathen then your fibrosis was reduced from F3/F4 to F1/F0 in 6 months. But without biopsy at the start point we can never know for sure. Anyway is rather academic discussion.
I hear you…but remember Fibroscan only gives some clues, bloods and other markers like BMI say a lot also. I agree with you in so far as this makes an academic discussion but at the end of the day, action speaks louder than words - ie making BIG changes such as reducing BMI from 37 to 28, adopting complete dietary/lifestyle change with focus on exercise (removed a lot of visceral fat and flattened big belly), no alcohol and coming off all blood pressure, gout and heartburn meds - effectively reversing metabolic syndrome- these are drastic changes that demand drastic results. Also, as mentioned in a previous post, my hepatologist is very credible indeed and actively involved in defining standards for liver disease in the UK and specifically a Fibroscan expert - so I do take his opnion very seriously and (no offence honestly) I do take note of his interpretation over others. I too consider myself my knowledgeable in this topic as we inevitably all become but I must defer to a seasoned professional who is at the forefront of his specialism and seen it all). Fibroscan is not perfect but neither is an invasive biopsy, both have pros and cons. I understand the journey is different for everyone but from what I’ve been through in the past 6 months, I can tell you that hard work pays off and extreme measures are required to move the needle!
Without meaning to diminish how well you've done (and you've done really well), F4 to F1 in that space of time seems really unlikely. What's probably happened is that your fibroscan overestimated your scarring due to a combination of you not fasting and the inflammation, then when you got the inflammation under control, lost weight and you were putting less pressure on your liver, the repeat fibroscan gave a more accurate reading. Too many people get a false diagnosis of cirrhosis because of an inaccurate fibroscan. I guess, in a way, that's a good thing though because it means a fibroscan is very unlikely to 'miss' advanced scarring.
thank you! Actually the reduction was from F3 not F4. I totally appreciate the alternative view and seems you have built up some good knowledge, however I’m going to go with what my consultant has explained (btw he is one of the UKs top authorities on NAFLD and has contributed to the government guidelines and is a advocate of Fibroscan). The way it was explained to me is that the liver is a remarkable organ and under the right conditions, and for some people (unknown why), damage can indeed be totally reversed. Also worth mentioning that he was not interpreting the Fibroscan results in isolation but rather together with other markers and scans. My post was to highlight / re-iterate a few (perhaps obvious) things re NAFLD through my lense, i.e.:
- Fasting is key before a Fibroscan! This has been proven
- Find the best consultant you can afford! They are NOT all the same.
- get a second opinion if possible
- adopt a radical lifestyle change like your life depended on it. Make it your mission, It can and does make a massive difference, the more extreme, the better the results - The Mediterranean diet can work a treat! Look into novel ways to track (the lumen worked a treat for me as I am very metric driven).
- Bring your BMI down! Yes not 100% accurate but a great indicator for how much fat your carrying around!
What is a lumen device?
Very interesting! Thank you
hi - yes it has worked very well indeed for me. Basically it’s a breathalyser type gadget and helps explain what your body is doing at any given time, ie what mode it’s in whether fat burning or carbs. Not the cheapest of devices but you can trial and see how you get on - I loved it!
I had the biopsy, wasn't that bad. Worst was lying down for 2 hours and sitting for 4 or so. My fibroscan had me a f4 cirrhosis but I had no symptoms an ultrasound got this all started, for something different. I went for second opinion also. Hepatologist doesn't give or like fibroscans, too many things can cause false readings he said, just being fat. Biopsy showed Stage 1 fibrosis zone 3 mild fat no inflammation. No treatment just diet and exercise testing yearly with ultrasound and blood. I have regular blood work every 3 months with primary care. I went to nutritionist I use a combo diet of a diabetic and the liver foundation diet, lost 75 pounds and I am 70 years old. Good luck to you, so far great blood readings for me, my first yearly testing is in April.
Congratulations! In reading your posts and comments from others here is my takeaway. Your rebuttles to others questioning your results and conclusions were excellent. A major lifestyle change has resulted in a major change in your liver health and is supported well by your Hepatologist and other tests.
We all need a consult with a Hepatologist who understands a Fibroscan and views as one useful tool. Unfortunately my provider is Kaiser Permanente and serves millions of patients across the U.S. Approximately nine million alone in California where I live. I am 72 y.o. male with a diagnosis of NAFLD in 1986 via bloodwork & biopsy. In 2020 I had my only Fibroscan. Previously liver panels done for many years with slightly elevated, abnormal, ALT & AST. As result of Fibroscan am now diagnosed as Stage 1 NASH. I asked Kaiser for referral to Hepatologist . Request was denied. Further I will be referred to a Hepatologist if and when my condition becomes CRITICAL.
Your posts have made me realize my HMO is unwilling to take fatty liver disease and NASH seriously. How many other HMO’S have this same attitude? A very frightening possibility for millions of fatty liver patients.
I will no longer fight with my provider. It’s time for all patients, fatty liver and NASH, who have HMO providers to do everything they can to find the funds to pay for the right Hepatologist, or be able to pay for the increased expense of a PPO. Not sure which approach makes more sense.
Again, thank you for your posts! They are very informative and enlightening.
Best Wishes,
Troutwhisperer
Thank you for your kind words Troutwhisperer 
- I wish you the best of luck in navigating your health via your health system, it must be very frustrating indeed. I can’t recommend enough the value in meeting with a seasoned Hepatologist, one who really understands their specialism and is not just ‘doing their job’. speaking from my own experience, the trouble I found when we research our own health via the internet is that we run the risk of regurgitating what we’ve read and before you know it we are overwhelmed with the detail and much of it is skewed. In my case finding someone experienced enough to understand the whole topic front to back and also as a domain expert and advisor to the government, kept things real for me and motivated me to pull it off. One thing he said that fascinated me is that the liver cells responsible for scarring the liver are the very same cells that can then do the opposite and ‘mop up’ the scar tissue - amazing organ! - all the best in your journey and if you or anyone would like to message me then you are very welcome to do so!
ABabs, great to hear how well of a lifestyle change you made you in 6 months. My story is similar to yours, a year ago I was feeling horrible pain in my liver area and gallbladder, tired, you name it. I was at 240 pounds I’m 5’11 so over weight for sure bmi was in the 30s or so and on blood pressure meds for like 7 years. My Gastro/ Hep doctor after blood work and many scans said let’s do biopsy just to make sure. Because I was showing F2 on bloodwork. I did the biopsy which showed no evidence of fibrosis but had mild to severe fatty liver which I suspected. 10 months later I lost 60 through diet and exercise and I mean exercise like 6 days a week. I am 180 pounds down to a 26 bmi and all my liver blood work are normal, fibrosure say no more fatty liver F.0 and Fibroscan last week showed 4.6 Kpa and Cap 200. After much evaluation I don’t know if had Fibrosis or if I did it was minimal. But one this is for sure I did have a Fatty liver and through much hard work, I believe that it’s gone according to my recent scans and blood work. Everyone is different and not everyone can lose that amount of weight so quickly due to medical conditions or disabilities. But if you really give it your all you can reverse fatty liver and scarring. I no longer take high blood pressure meds and feel and look so much better. Now I would be foolish to assume I’m in the clear, I will continue my diet and exercise as long as God gives me a breath in my lungs. But at 52 I’m probably in the best shape of my life, it was a wake up call for me as it has been for many on this site. I hope your story and mine will encourage others, that fatty liver is not a death sentence as long as we try do modify our lives to make change, be patient cause it takes time to reverse all the damage we have done to our bodies over the years. nash2 has provided a wealth of info on this site and he too has lived with this for many years. Wish everyone fighting this battle the best of luck.
Hi Latingut70 - great story and yes so many similarities, same weight (before and after), same age too what I’m learning is that the liver is like a ‘black box’ there’s lots going on in there but we don’t really need to fully understand it either not get caught up in trying to be hepatologists - the theme, regardless of the cause, is the same, lose the fat to an extreme and give up the booze! At least for a while. Agree not everyone can or doesn’t want to - but if someone can do it, they certainly should - all the way! Best of luck in your journey!
I have high liver enzymes, but the doc never told me what to do. I did have a liver biopsy, and I think it showed some scarring. Not good, and I worry every day. Can you tell me what foods you ate and what are inflammatory foods you avoided?? Thanks so much!!
hi Addieann - would be good worthwhile to get a 1:1 with a hepatologist to interpret everything for you etc. Meanwhile here’s what worked for me with the diet/lifestyle:
Basically I adopted the Mediterranean diet with some tweaks.
- Lots of fish (grilled and steamed only)
- reduced red meat (once per 2 weeks)
- Lots of nuts
- Lots of vegetables
- Lots of fruit
- A lot of olive oil (half a small cup per day)
- Organic chicken and line caught fish only
Avoided booze, bread, rice and potatoes and anything fried - No junk food at all
A typical breakfast would alternate:
Day 1: Steamed Salmon, 3 boiled eggs, feta cheese and olives
Day 2: yogurt, blueberries and raspberries, pumpkin seed sprinkle, honey, small amount of oats
Lunch would be from lots of fruit, mixed nuts, cheese, chicken broth, tuna and mackerel.
Dinner, emphasis on fish and chicken (organic), grilled veggies and large salad.
Snacks - dried fruit (figs), dates, mixed nuts and pumpkin seeds (no added salt)
Drinks - lots of water (mainly still but some sparkling), lots of green tea and lots of coffee (espresso) about 2-3 of each per day.
This is what worked for me, also geared towards settling some of the heartburn issues I faced once I gave up the meds. In general I eat 3 meals a day with no fasting. Also I don’t really track calories on a micro level. This approach has worked very well for me and coupled the Lumen device and with with getting 12,500 steps a day, has resulted in a consistent 2 pounds a week weight loss.
Let me know if any questions.
Good luck in your journey.
This is so helpful. Thank you so much. Were you able to use insurance to get your Lumen device? I've been wanting one of these and thinking it would be very helpful. Do you still continue to use it or did you reach a point where you just know how and what to eat based on the Lumen feedback? Did you need a doctors prescription? I'm going to follow all of your advice.
hi - yes, I still use it every day! Mainly because I’m super curious as to what my metabolism is doing and I want to be able to catch and reverse any trends either way. I didn’t even think about going through insurance but I doubt they would cover? If I recall there was some sort of free trial period so might be worth looking into -Also, I have a $100 referal code I could fwd you if that helps.
At the end of the day, for me, it was about discipline, focus and moving towards a new lifestyle…I bought a dog to ensure I got the steps in, I bought several used gym equipment (cycle, rower and treadmill), filled up the fridge with lots of fish, eggs and feta cheese with lots and lots of fruit and veg (no rice nor bread) . Giving up booze for 6 months was hard. In a strange sort of way I embraced it, I made it a zero tolerance policy and I even went out of my way to get my wife the finer stuff since she was still drinking. For the first time ever I was able to go on holiday, and come back the same weight as things were so easy to follow…Also, there’s something about anti-inflammatory eating, I found that I became very conscious of avoiding processed carbs and added sugars. By going organic where possible and avoiding any rubbish foods, I feel I was able to point things in the right direction in this regards.
Wishing you the best, feel free to reach out on anything.
I have never heard of a Lumen device. I googled it and am very impressed with how it works. Thankyou
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