Liver problems Questions? - Liver & Pancreas Disorders Message Board

MomtoMany · 10-08-2003, 05:28 PM

Hi I am a 27 yr old mother of 4, last april I was finaly diagnosed with a gluten allergy after a biopsy of my small intestin during the tests they also found that I have a fatty liver. My regular doc showed consern but the GI he refered me to did not, after he diagnosed me with the allergy he said to just stay away from gluten as much as possible and that was it. I am on two meds for a hiatial hurnia and a raw stomach that were found at the time of the biopsy as well.
Anyway, I have now been on this new gluten free diet since, and i was starting to feel better for awhile but recently things have gotten worse and quick. I am retaining water bad, and bloated all the time. my side and back hurt alot and I get head aches, I can't sleep I am always fatigued. I have put on 15 pounds in the matter of two weeks, and all my clothes are tight. I am strict on my diet , not very active, due to the fatigue, and I snack on small meals after noon, and normaly have a regular dinner. I recently cut soda out of my diet do to the swelling, and cut back on salt. Due to my gluten free diet some of the few things I can snack on are meat and cheese so I know I am eating fatty food, and that will be hard to stop, it would leave me with fruits and veggies only :-( I went and saw my regualr doc today, they weighed me in at 169 I am 5'4" i was at 155 a couple weeks ago. My sister dosen't understand why I can weigh the same as her, and fit in a smaller size but I do. My doc ordered another ultrasound on my liver and some other blood and urine tests. Now all these same tests were done 6 months ago and were fine. Could my fatty liver of gotten worse since? I had every test done I can think of but a biopsy. My gi wouldn't even consider my liver a problem befor I dought he would find it one now. I want to feel better and all I can do right now is sit on my bum, and feel bad. I am very sick and swollen. I go back to my regular doc in two weeks to discus the results and try and decide what to do next. I asked him about meds for the swelling and a diet pill for appetite surpressent and energy but he wouldn't discuss any of that till after the tests are done. I have a history of bladder and kidney infections, I had 1 gallbladder attack w/ my 4th pregnancy. I have had problems looseing weight for about 6 years now. Any one have any insight, info, how long it took them to feel better, how to loose the weight??? anything please?
thanks so much

paborn · 10-08-2003, 07:33 PM

How did they determine that you have fatty liver? Also can you tell us what your ALT and AST readings are?

MomtoMany · 10-09-2003, 08:36 AM

Ok here are the results of my test done 8 months ago, I won't have the new test results for 2 weeks. I have been bloated for a few days now and drinking only water, and not haveing any salt hasen't stopped the bloating I look 6 months pregnant. Since last night my right side has been hurting and my back and chest. sometimes the pain gets to a really bad stabbing pain and then subsides.
any way here are the results
EXAM: Abdomen Ultrasound DATE OF EXAM: Feb 11 2003

CLINICAL HISTORY:
Right upper quadrant pain.

FINDINGS:
Sonographic evaluation of the abdomen was performed and is compared to the prior examination of 02/01/02 (gallbladder attack at 7 months pregnancy with 4th child) Increased echogenicity of the hepatic parenchyma suggests a mild to moderate degree of diffuse fatty infiltration. Focal sparing is seen in the region adjacent to the gallbladder fossa. No definite focal hepatic mass or lesion is seen, and the liver is otherwise homogeneous and unremarkable inappearance. The gallbladder is normal in appearance and is free of stones. No intra-or extahepatic bile duct dialation is seen. The pancrease, spleen, kidneys, aorta and IVC are unremarkable in appearance. There is no evidence of splenomegaly.

IMPRESSION: 1. Mild to Moderate diffuse fatty infiltration of the liver. Focal sparing is seen in the region of the gallbladder fossa. The liver is otherwise homogeneous and unremarkable in appearance. No evidence of cholelithiasis or bile duct dilatation. Remainder of examination is otherwise unremarkable. No evidence of splenomegaly.

LABS DONE: 02/05/03

"TEST NAME" "RESULTS" "UNIT OF MEASURE" "REF RANGE"

AST 19 U/L 2-35
ALT 24 U/L 2-40

I willpost the current results when I have them.
Thanks again.

forreal · 10-23-2003, 01:46 AM

Hi, sorry you aren't well. I have been in your shoes with your symptoms and elevated liver enzymes, and I also have Celiacs disease. Avoid gluten like the plague. Join a message board for celiacs because there is a bunch of hidden gluten that you probably aren't aware of and it's critical you avoid it. Stay away from salt. Exercise. cut out the fat/cheese will harm your liver. Eat low fat meat ie chicken. Red meat is hard on the liver. Get the book called The liver cleansing diet by Cabot. By diet alone, your liver should recover, but it will take some time. Avoid alcohol and the atkins diet...rather do a safer version of Atkins and try the South Beach diet if you need to lose weight....IMHO