Some progress: started last August with... - Living with Fatty...

Living with Fatty Liver and NASH

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Some progress

Realy profile image
31 Replies

started last August with a fibroscan result fibrosis with steatosis. Dr said loose the weight and retest in a year in the meantime I went on a diet lost 50 pounds Got my A1c down from 6.9 yo 5.5 LDL down to 56 total cholesterol down to 120. ALT AST low Normal. Had Fibro test/ Acti test done 6 months after all these levels and weight loss test resulted Minimal Fibrosis and no activity, than in March recent blood test had Fib 4 index result of 0.73 As this is showing a good range as well. I have a follow up fibroscan in August. The only thing I wished I had done was the Fibro test/ Acti test the same time as the initial fibroscan to correlate against it. My fib 4 at that time was also within a normal range. So I’ll never know if the intial fibroscan was not accurate. I look at this whole process as the Dr did me a favor and got me to take my health seriously. I hope to continue with a healthier lifestyle and wish all of the people on this forum all the success and healthy progress. As a side note my sonogram of abdomin in December showed minimal streatosis the Gastro Dr said keep doing what your doing.

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Realy
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31 Replies
nash2 profile image
nash2Partner

You are luckier than most. Generally our docs don't pay any attention until we get WAY down the road to being sick

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to nash2

yes I do like my Dr and he made it clear diet and exercise and getting blood sugar under control was the way to tackle it. I still wish I would have had the Fibro test/ acti test done at the same time as original fibroscan. 6 month later I did the blood test and he said it was a good test to use as well. Follow up in august with him and another fibroscan. He told me the best thing I dis was get the weight off he said I gave myself a good head start. And to be honest he was very genuine about his responses he said you listened to what I said I could tell he fealt good about my progress as well.

goldencody profile image
goldencody in reply to Realy

You mention you wish you had the fibro test/ acti test. Why and what kind of test is that? I had ultra sounds mri's blood work up, fibroscan followed by a liver biospy. Did my doctor miss a test?

PWS1 profile image
PWS1 in reply to goldencody

Those are blood tests for fibrosis that at least in my case, were used to cross check two very different fibroscan readings.

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to PWS1

how did the 2 tests work out between results. And did you do around same time

PWS1 profile image
PWS1 in reply to Realy

I had a fibroscan F3, then one a year later F0-1. PA checked against the blood test which was the same good result. PA said that some techs are better fibroscanners than others, do you can get very different results.

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to PWS1

I’m just hoping the fibrosis/ Acti test is accurate and that I am truly now F-1-F2. And I’ll keep eating better and drop a few more to help lower that .

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to PWS1

which blood test did you get?

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to PWS1

in that year between fibroscans and than the blood test did you loose weight and make changes that gave you the better results ?

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to goldencody

I had the fibrosis/acti test 6 months after intial fibroscan and after the weight loss. This blood test measures some levels that show level of fibrosis and any inflammatory activity. The blood test showed my numbers improved after the 6 months of eating better and getting sugar under control. I just wish I had it the same time as the fibroscan as to see if the fibroscan was accurate at that time .I am due for retest on fibroscan in august. I would like a MRI as well.

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to nash2

would the necroinflamation marker be the one used in these blood test to see the activity in the fibrosis.

Dasil7 profile image
Dasil7

awesome! What kind of diet/lifestyle are you following?

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to Dasil7

a typical day for me would be 2 eggs bacon cheese on a bagel than a additional bagel with cream cheese and bacon or melted cheese and butter coffee and juhce, and sometimes throw a 3rd bagel in. Than lunch maybe McDonald’s 2 Big Macs fries soda. And occasionally a slice of pizza on top of it. Than afternoon couple 20 0z cokes candy bars or 2 Yoo hoos and crum cake . Than eat whatever the wife made for dinner. Than maybe 7 ice cream sandwiches or big bowel ice cream. Around 9-10 pm 3 English muffins toasted cream cheese and jelly or ruts crackers with cream cheese jelly and big glass of OJ wash it down. And Continuis snacking all day. I gave that all up and watch what I eat keep calories down 2000 or less. I was reply out of control with eating.

Dasil7 profile image
Dasil7 in reply to Realy

Quite a change going from that to a liver friendly diet. Congrats on making the change.

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to Dasil7

yeah my diet was terrible. Probably 5-10 thousand calories a day 🤷‍♂️

Dasil7 profile image
Dasil7 in reply to Realy

Did you just switch to the usual stuff? Vegetables, fish, other lean proteins, nuts, seeds, olive oil?

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to Dasil7

just went low fat, low carbs. Low sugar. My recent bloods are now AST 16, ALT 17 LDL 56, A1C was 6.9 now 5.5 triglycerides 87, total cholesterol 120 . I believe having a intial hIgh BMI, Obese, and Metabolic syndrome was my issue. Eating cleaner and cutting those three things plus being very active helped me.

Samson4 profile image
Samson4

What was your original fibroscan results?

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to Samson4

13.0 KPA cap 325 Dr said steatosis / fibrosis. Fib 4 was 0.80 at time. So I wasn’t sure of accuracy of fibroscan. Ultrasound showed fatty liver. Did what he prescribed weight loss and wants repeat of fibroscan in august. 6 months eating better with weight loss all bloods normal now no longer pre diabetic. Fibrosis /acti test has me now at F1-F2 minimal fibrosis and no inflamtion activity.Fib 4 0.73. Also ultrasound in December shows minimal steatosis. Dr said keep doing what your doing and that I gave my self a good head start by loosing the weight .and initially he said don’t worry about the numbers loose the weight and you’ll see a change.

Samson4 profile image
Samson4 in reply to Realy

Is the fib 4 your platelets, ast and alt figured out on calculator? If so mine was 1.05. My fibroscan was 12.2 kpa and cap was 336. 6 months later my kpa was 12.8 and cap was 278. So confusing. My fibrosis was worse and fatty liver was better by fibroscan. I don't know what to think. I did have a biopsy though originally that said I had stage 3-4 fibrosis. Just hard to know if it is improving.

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to Samson4

also I think Nash2 might have information as to see how the fibrosis is going. I believe the blood tests like Liverfast, Fibrosure and fibrosis / actitest show the necroinflamtion wich I believe is the fibrosis activity

ThyroidDeb profile image
ThyroidDeb

Good for you!!!! 👏🚴🏃‍♀️ Wonderfull hard work....

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to ThyroidDeb

thank you, yes I went right to work from that initial fibroscan. The only thing is the Dr never said what else he used besides the machines scoring. I did however put the work in dropped some weight and cleaned up some blood levels. A ultrasound was done in December showing minimal steatosis, initial fibroscan had me at 325cap score wich I believe is S3. Than I did fibrosis/acti test in February as well as Fib 4, results F1-F2 minamal fibrosis and no active inflammation. Also Fib4 0.73 well under the 1.30 range. So I continue the healthier lifestyle and hope they get even better. My only hang up is the initial Fibrosacn as to how accurate that was. Either way I’m getting healthier.

Realy profile image
Realy

yes fib4 ast alt platelets age, and yes this is all so confusing. Seems like tests are all over the place with results

Kjun54321 profile image
Kjun54321

Proud of you! I know it’s hard to lose weight and change eating lifestyle. This is my problem right now. Good job on your success and don’t give up. You’re an inspiration!

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to Kjun54321

believe me I know how hard it is, this also plays on your mental health as well. One day at a time though. 🙏

nash2 profile image
nash2Partner

I don't know if you said your age, but a weakness of Fib-4 is that is less useful for younger people because it includes age in the calculation. It really needs an adjustment for age but that wasn't the way they originally did the study. A competently done Fibroscan is much better but it struggles in the F1-F2 range. Testing can drive you crazy because everything has an error range.

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to nash2

I’m 55 when I did my fibroscan in august my Fib 4 did not correlate with fibroscan. So I did what dr recommended and 6 months later the blood test fibrosis / acti test showed improvement as well did Fib 4. Repeat of fibroscan this upcoming august. I just wish I did the fibrosis / acti test when I did fibrosacn to realy know if the fibroscan was truly accurate .

Bloomwithgrace profile image
Bloomwithgrace

Awesome!! My son has lost 70 pounds since January and it takes a strong commitment to weight loss. You are doing great and so happy for you!! Prayers for your continued success!! My son cut back on calories and started fasting during our church's time of fasting and prayer. He had an alcohol issue that created his cirrhosis. The fasting and prayer for him was to help him with any strongholds that were making it difficult to treat his liver disease. He also uses BCAA's twice a day prescribed my his Hepatologist at Vanderbilt. It's amazing what weight loss can do to improve your overall health.He weighed 330 pounds and is down to 260 now. He is watching calories and trying to lose more.

Realy profile image
Realy in reply to Bloomwithgrace

that’s great news! Keep up the good work. I’m just hoping I keep going the right direction.

Realy profile image
Realy

had another sonogram may1 and my liver is now normal size as well as normal parenchyma no more fatty infiltration. Hoping to reduce some fibrosis as well . February blood test had me at F-1. F2. The never ending battle

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