New to fatty liver with tons of questions

[kbova]

Hello, I was recently diagnosed with fatty liver disease. It took a while to figure out what was the cause but basically I've had intermittent very light pain on my right side for almost 10 years (31yrs old now) and it always seemed around holidays or when on vacation but always went away. I never thought much about it and honestly thought it was just gas (TMI, sorry). Fast forward to about 8 months ago, I started getting really bad pains in my back right after a fishing trip which included a good amount of beer drinking and cigarettes. I thought maybe I just over did it and took it easy for couple weeks. A few weeks later the pain started back up almost immediately after eating spicy wings and a beer. I thought maybe I had an ulcer or something since I've had acid reflux since I was 18. I've been taking omeprazole almost everyday for the past 10 years. I eventually had an upper endoscopy done and results came back fine. Then we thought maybe it was my gallbladder so I had an ultrasound done and found out it was fatty liver disease. The nurse that notified me about it made it seem like it was nothing to worry about and that I only needed to exercise and diet. I weighed 220lbs at 6'1"ft so I didn't take it too seriously and kinda dieted and worked out but then the pain got much worse. That's when I realized how serious it was and that I really needed to change. So about 2 months ago I started a very strict diet and started running and lifting 2-3 times a week. I seemed to be on the right track and decided to stop taking my omeprazole because I read that it can cause liver issues. About a week after not taking it, I got the worst sharp stabbing like pains in my chest and it was not heartburn, I would know. I thought I was having a heart attack and collapsed at work and was having stroke like symptoms. My speech was slurred and body was all tense. I went to the hospital and they ran multiple tests. Everything came back fine and said I had a panic attack and the sharp pains were from not taking my omeprazole. Since then, I have been even more strict with my diet and exercise and back on omeprazole. I've lost 28lbs and now at 193lbs. I do feel better overall but still very tired all the time and sometimes I get dizzy and have a hard time completing sentences or forgetting things. Sorry for the long story. I have so many questions and glad I found this place to be able to chat with others with similar symptoms. I'll post my questions separately so people don't have to read through this gigantic wall of text. Thanks, Kevin

[nash2 Partner]

Hi Kevin

From here, knowledge is your best friend. Medicine often minimizes NAFLD and NASH until it becomes quite serious. We have a lot of information available and the people here have had every kind of experience so get acquainted, but most importantly learn about the issues and don't get sucked into the rabbit hole that Dr Google has become. Here is a link that can get you started.

fattyliverfoundation.org/ba...

Wayne

[kbova in reply to nash2]

Hey Wayne, thanks for your reply. I wish I would have found this site a few months ago. I feel like I could have prevented more damage possibly. Also thanks for the link. I think the more information I learn can only lead to progress.

[Sweetpea04]

I had ALL those symptoms as well. All the test came back fine, but, I have a fatty liver so my doctor did a blood test to see if I had cirrhosis of the liver, and sure enough, I do. Now, I'm really scared because I only drank wine, but did have a couple glasses every night, never during the day. The doctors kept telling me 80% of the people have a fatty liver it was no big deal just cut back fatty foods and try to lose weight. I quit drinking wine and alcohol completely, only been a few weeks, I feel somewhat better but think more needs to be done. I have an appointment with a gastroencrinologist and praying he can help me at least understand what exactly I need to do to remedy this or at least not be in pain all the time. I am 70 soon, so not a young chick anymore but overall, I'm in pretty good shape and want this off the books. Any advise out there for me?

[Flamingogirl in reply to Sweetpea04]

What was the blood test they did to diagnose cirrhosis?

[one2one in reply to Sweetpea04]

Hi, I’m in the same age bracket as yourself. 12 months ago having a health check it was flagged up on my bloods that I had low white platelets count. I was referred to gastro’s I had a basic liver scan which showed some scarring of the liver. He said it really needs a more in-depth scan to really get all the information needed so I then had an MRI done in August 2019. I received notification of results as liver cirrhosis sept 2019.

As you say it tends to knock you of your perch .....

it’s a long run but I’ve gone from feeling anxious 😟 depressed ☹️, nausea and unable to eat, and lethargy when all I did was spend most off my time in bed 🛌.

I changed my diet to mainly Mediterranean, love it. Although eating more than I ever did over 12 months I’ve lost two stone in weight, and now feeling so much better.

Prior to my illness I was walking 3-5 miles a day. Swimming 🏊‍♂️ and a little gym work 3 times a week, walking my dog. And spending several hours in my garden.

I’m no where near that goal yet, but working hard towards it. Walking my dog now. Having a potter around the garden weather permitting 🌦haha.

And I have an appointment tomorrow to discuss a swimming rota with my local spa centre.

So sweetpea one step at a time take care chrissie x👌

[kbova]

A little Update-

I continued dieting and working out and I've lost 20 more lbs and I'm almost at my ideal weight. I was feeling better everyday so much so that my symptoms were nearly gone. Then the holidays came... I ended up drinking a decent amount of alcohol and went off my diet but all seemed well until last week. I started getting pain again and started getting dizzy again. Ah dangit, so back on my diet and finally quitting smoking and I'm already starting to feel better.

[Mili123]

Hi everybody! I am new here. I'm happy to find a group of people to share with. I'm 43 years old.

I was diagnosed with NASH in November 2019 after regular blood test (which apparently came back fine) and an ultrasound. The only thing the doctor said to me was: try to reduce your fat consumption. That's it.

Now, I'm a little bit scared that my condition can be worse than what he thinks it is. Especially with all the symptoms I have despite my efforts of eating clean and by stoping the occasional drink.

I have pain in my chest and back, joint pain, diarrhea (sorry), nausea, fatigue, I also easily bruises, and I get tired especially fast after a little exercise (last summer, I used to walk and run 4 times a week at least and began to have great endurance, but this fall, I began to be so drained after just a little walk, I felt I had to reduce my activities for a while or thought I would collapse). But it got worse and I stopped for a couple of months. I had days where it was so painful, I had problems to step out of bed. Before my diagnosis, I even had trouble sitting for a while in a straight chair because i was so weak. I thought my body was giving up on me.

Today, I'm afraid that my condition is worst than NASH and that my doctor just overlooked it... I'm not sure what the follow-up will be. He didn't discuss anything about it with me yet (I'm suppose to see him again in February or March).

I also was feeling better before the holidays, but I began to feel worst those last couple of days.

Excuse me for my english, since it's my second language...

[one2one in reply to Mili123]

Hiya, It’s difficult for you when you first get a diagnosis, but try not to get worried about it to much at this early point. I was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis (non alcoholic)in September 2019. I thought the worst as we all do, and we all have the same sorts of symptoms. Mine was anxiety, nauseous, lethargic to the point of staying in my bed for far longer than I was up easily bruised. And I too was a healthy elderly person who swam 3times a week plus a little gym work, walking 3-5 miles a day, walking my dog, and gardening. It takes time to work your way back, small steps and you will surprise yourself. I started with diet, mainly Mediterranean . I am now at the stage where I am walking my dog again, done little tasks in my garden, and I’m in the process of starting to swim again. I can also do chores in the house cooking hoovering changing beds etc, most certainly couldn’t do that much 6 months ago.

So as I say slowly but surely.

Have you been referred to see a gastroenterologist !!. They are the ones who have the knowledge, and lots of answers to all the questions you have. Plus of course you have us to let off steam to if you want to haha. Good luck and best wishes chrissie.

[Mili123 in reply to one2one]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I must admit I feel a little bite alone in this new reality. And weirdly, I'm feeling a little bit ashamed when I tell people what I have. And, of course, they often don't understand. They say things like, hey, no big deal! A little bit of (insert food or drink) won't hurt you this once! And some don't understand that I am often tired. I'm happy to have found this place. I'll try to have a reference to see a gastroenterologist when I'll see my family doctor. Again, thank you!

[one2one in reply to Mili123]

Good on you mili, and just like some—- the reactions you get in response. Don’t feel ashamed or let it upset you, it’s an illness that lots of people just don’t understand. Stick with your new found friends on the forum, who will always be there for you. Read their reviews and tips (plenty of them) 🤣. Respond to some of them, and get involved, you will learn so much as do we all. Carry on one day at a time, you’re doing okay 👌. Chrissie.

[poakman1986]

Kevin, what type of diet were you specifically on? How are you now? I was just told I have non alcoholic fatty liver and find so much about the diet is contradicting. One site says do this, the next says don't do that...