Fatty Liver - Liver & Pancreas Disorders Message Board

Nicky927 · 09-24-2008, 09:41 AM

I recently found out I have fatty liver. I'm very scared this could turn into something worse later on and I want to take care of it now and do whats best for a person with a compromised liver early on in life. I am 24 years old, female, 120lbs & 5'2", and I don't drink much at all (only on occasions) and no liver problems run in my family but high cholestrol does. My cholestrol levels aren't too high (just above normal for the bad one and the good one is ok), I try to eat well and eat a lot of organics (I do eat out here and there), but I don't get to exercise much since I work 40 hours a week. I also take Birth control (Cyclessa) and Xyzal & a Nasacort AQ for allergies and sometimes Motrin or Tylenol for headaches and body aches (maybe once or twice a week).

I found out I have this disease because I had been having gastrointestinal problems for weeks, it started out fairly quick (almost like flu) and my family doc thought it was gastroenteritis. My symptoms were diarrhea/loose stools, gassy stomach, nausea with no vomiting, dizziness (which I'm not sure if this could have been caused by my allergies & sinusitis) weight loss (from 128 to 120 in a week) and later on a slight discomfort under my right rib area. I was referred to a GI doc from my family doc who thought it could be my gallbladder causing this discomfort. I had a CT abdominal/pelvic scan and 2 abdominal ultrasounds, 2 stool sample tests (for occult blood, parasites and bacterial, etc), urine samples, and blood work done to see what could be causing my symptoms. At first they thought I had a 'birth mark' on my liver, but I had to go for a second ultrasound. In the end the CT and ultrasounds show I have fatty liver (not a bad case though) and my gallbladder, pancreas, spleen all checked out ok. Most of my symptoms have subsided, and my doc says it still be gastroenteritis or IBS, since I still have loose stools and stomach upset/gassy stomach here and there. My GI doc told me to take probiotics (Align capsules), and eat yogurt once daily. But its good we found my liver problem in the process of all this. Could my gastrointestinal symptoms that still occur be caused from my liver though?

Just wondering what medications I should stay away from (especially the things I'm currently taking?), What pain relivers are safe since I get headaches here and there (from stress at work or aches from standing 8 hours). or what medications/suppliments will help me, is milk thistle ok to take? Will Fish Oil help with cholesterol? What type of foods I should stay away from and what are good? Anything I should ask my doctors that I may have missed, how often should I check on my liver (have bloodwork or other testing to see if its gotten worse or better) they never told me anything about liver enzyme levels, should I be concerned? Doc's don't seem to explain much unless you know the right questions to ask when they're telling you your diagnosis, and I was so nervous I didn't ask much other than is this life threatening and what did he mean by 'fatty liver' and about having a child (since I don't have one yet). Since then I've searched online, but other people's experiences and information are very helpful!

gcbpgh · 09-24-2008, 10:44 PM

Welcome to the world of fatty livers......I was told that I had one about 10 years ago, very casually and no other advice or warning. Wish I would have been wiser.... You are very smart to start to understand yours now......here is what I understand now, no sugar, lots of vegetables, leafy green ones, low protein, and stay away from dairy(protein)......I did not do that when I got very sick this past year and my ammonia levels soared......which can cause problems with toxins in the blood and can affect the brain......if you take care of this through diet and excercise you will do well......only whole wheat, no processed foods (crackers, white bread, instant cereals etc) you can go on line to look for low protein diets. Your liver can't process the sugar so you need to switch to sugar free but you will get use to it.......and then find a better doctor.......find one in your area that you like, check them out on line make sure they have a fellowship so you are not being treated by someone who doesn't care about their patients and is not educated. And always be your own advocate.....good luck
gcb in pgh

Nicky927 · 09-25-2008, 03:17 PM

Thank you for your response and advice. I didn't know about the sugar thing! Ugh, that's going to be a hard one for me. I like to drink Iced tea/Green tea and eat candy or someother type of snack here and there at work to keep me going till I can take a break. I don't eat much dairy besides yogurt and maybe a glass of milk or meats besides fish and chicken. I also wonder about the toxins in the blood, I wonder if that could that be causing my dizziness? Hmm..

gcbpgh · 10-02-2008, 10:06 PM

Yes, when your liver is fatty, it scars as mine has, when you don't start to take care of it by cutting down on fat, you can go into cirrhosis, which I did, then your liver cannot process certain toxins (protein) which then build up your ammonia level...that was my first clue....I am not orange in color, I have no other real symptoms except a rash and overwhelming fatigue. The fatigue I have had for years and the doctors just dismissed me....one day in December I was working and 2 days later I thought I had bronchitis or the flu and was sleeping 20 hours a day.....3 months later I was still sleeping, my coordination was very bad and I was dizzy. I looked like a drunk when I walked....It still didn't help until June when they found the high ammonia count on blood work at a doctors appt. then they redid the blood work, I was then put on medicine to remove the ammonia from my blood. Told to go on a low protein diet. found it on line....I was eating lots of dairy to replace my sugar....and that is the hardest part......the medicine helped, I felt like I slept the winter and spring away......changing your diet you can do, you have no choice.....I wanted to live more than eat.....so its salads, fruits, only cooked oatmeal, no instant anything, there is something in all instant foods that are bad for liver people, little protein, no white bread just wheat, little if no dairy, if you eat peanut butter its just a spoonful measured, sugar free jelly, one week without sugar and the sugar free food taste wonderful because your taste buds change......and when you have a treat like a piece of birthday cake, it will actually taste too sweet......so you have that to look forward to feeling. Plus you will feel better. That's all I have for you, its everything I have experienced. Good luck and you can do it.
gcb in pgh