Fatty Liver?

[keepcominback]

Hi, 32 days sober, here with a recent ultrasound and nurse calling to say doctor says I have a fatty liver. This is a new md, and I had stopped drinking when I saw him. He asked me if I drank alcohol, I said no.

I was not completely honest with him. I didn't want him to know about my dark secret, yet now I have a problem, which is that I went for an ultrasound for stomach pain, and liver trouble is discovered.

What should I do? (I know I am going today to talk to him, and get honest, so he doesn't think it is non alcoholic fatty liver, versus, alcoholic fatty liver, did some research last night.)

Any other advice? Treatment? Past Experiences yourself with this issue?

Do I need to ask for a cat scan, or biopsy, or referral to a liver specialist?

I am scared, as to the severity of it.

[ClosetExtrovert]

That is scary. I have no idea about the medical aspects of a fatty liver. Does it just clear up after you stop drinking?
Good luck! And, yeah, be honest! And assume the best. xxoxoxo

[Cubile75]

Relax... if it is alcoholic fatty liver, it should go away when the alcohol does Other things can cause it... diet being a big one. But chance are it's from drinking.

Yea, tell your physician... He's on your side. Plus you don't want him out there chasing wild geese... especially when it means more tests, more$$, more angst.

Mark

[keepcominback]

Just worried that I went for ultrasound with already 30 days of sobriety, so if fatty liver is supposed to clear up after stopping drinking, why is it still showing fatty after 30 days of no drinking, yikes, must be bad is the fear.

I am going to just walk through it, best I can. Be honest, and I am also very overweight, so that may be key, also, not the best diet, don't exercise, so yeah, real lifestyle changes needed here, not just quitting the drinking! One day at a time! Thanks!

Keep the suggestions coming!

[Cubile75]

Overweight is the other big cause of fatty liver.... whatever the cause, it'll take more than 30 days!!

Talk with your physician... no alcohol, healthy diet, exercise (as approved by your doctor!!) will help a bunch. Your liver will take care of itself if you take care of yourself!!

Mark

[smacked]

That is scary, of course. I would be perfectly honest about your drinking.. Doctors can only operate on the info they're given, and if he's given the wrong info, you may be treated the wrong way medically.. and you kinda need your liver to live, ya know? I hope it's something that will get better.

[caleb76]

I think it takes a few months for the liver to recover from drinking. Unless you are starting to have cirrhosis. That doesn't go away. I hope the best for you!

Oh yeah, be honest with your doctor!

[CarolD]

Keep.....
We can suggest ...guess and surmise
but not one of us knows for certain.

I'm really glad you are seeing your doctor
and are going to be honest...

Well done on your sober time

[Sugah]

It took more than a year for mine to return to normal.

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[barb dwyer]

Any other advice?

yes.

I think you are being given what we *in the recovery game* call a "wake up call".

Going back and being honest is only going to save your life, hon.

See-
With alcohol,
it doesnt matter
how long you drank,
even that much it doesn't matter
how much or what it was...

it doesn't matter because the damage is happening NOW.

Women (it says in the big book)
don't have to wait twenty years
for the damage to show up.

Nobody really knows why.

But
the amount *I* drank
might now have even been possible for YOU to drink
what matters
is what your body did with it.
And that seems to be a ... 'as it happens' basis.

Go back.
Be honest.
Follow directions.

[keepcominback]

Hi, and thank you to everyone.

I went, and talked with the doctor. Bloodwork shows that I am having many indicators that it is more the obesity that is the problem, as a result of my diet, and no exercise.

5'6 300 lbs. I know...not pretty, but I "carry it well", LOL

Anyway, high cholesterol, high bad fats, borderline diabetic, not good...and I told him that I drank alcoholically during my life, since a teen, and I am 43, so do the math, also not good...

He seems most convinced that the fatty liver is just that I have fat all over, and so the diet, and exercise is most important, since he knows that I don't drink alcohol anymore.

So...will go again for repeat bloodwork in 3 months...funny all liver blood readings were normal, with a fatty liver, go figure...

Anyway, Thanks again, I was surprised how easy it was to talk with him, and how much time he did take with me, and honesty is just the best way to work through something.

My sponsor warned me, to keep in mind that although instructions are now to lose weight, change diet, exercise, etc., that my number one priority is the cessation of drinking.

If I freak out and try to change everything at once, I could wind up drinking, so she said keep not drinking, and the rest will fall into place. I did feel overwhelmed when I left the doctor's office, not good, with the drastic changes needed before me and the realization of just how bad of shape I am in.

I had the thought of going into this restaurant up ahead on my drive, and just drinking, and eating. Weird, very weird that came up for me. Never even been in the place....just a yet desire, that will not be happening, hopefully, old behavior when upset would be to run to nearest food and drink, you know?

[CarolD]

(((Keep))
I'm so pleased you were brave and now you can begin
to make better choices on your diet/exercise plan.

Let your sponsor guide you thru the AA Steps
Let your doctor guide you thru the exercise and diet.

[soidog]

Yeah I was going to say too, its good to be honest with your doctor. I wouldn't feel embarrassed about admitting to being dishonest earlier. Most doctors (if they are good and experienced) are used to people telling little fibs now and then. Hell, your doc probably already knows you drank if he/she is a good one.

[dgillz]

Yes, women lack a certain enzyme that men have that helps metabolize alcohol.

NIAAA Publications

As a result a woman can be "at deaths door" from 5 years of drinking while a man can drink 20 years and just begin to feel it. (the are of course generalizations and not true for everyone).

The big book recognized this 75 years ago but we have the science behind it now.

[Sikkisirus]

And of course there are great herbal things like Milk Thistle which contribute to the livers health. Its a wonderful organ - look after it, it can only take so much abuse. I know we all know this but doesn't hurt to be reminded

[yeahgr8]

Originally Posted by keepcominback

Hi, and thank you to everyone.

I went, and talked with the doctor. Bloodwork shows that I am having many indicators that it is more the obesity that is the problem, as a result of my diet, and no exercise.

5'6 300 lbs. I know...not pretty, but I "carry it well", LOL

Anyway, high cholesterol, high bad fats, borderline diabetic, not good...and I told him that I drank alcoholically during my life, since a teen, and I am 43, so do the math, also not good...

He seems most convinced that the fatty liver is just that I have fat all over, and so the diet, and exercise is most important, since he knows that I don't drink alcohol anymore.

So...will go again for repeat bloodwork in 3 months...funny all liver blood readings were normal, with a fatty liver, go figure...

Anyway, Thanks again, I was surprised how easy it was to talk with him, and how much time he did take with me, and honesty is just the best way to work through something.

My sponsor warned me, to keep in mind that although instructions are now to lose weight, change diet, exercise, etc., that my number one priority is the cessation of drinking.

If I freak out and try to change everything at once, I could wind up drinking, so she said keep not drinking, and the rest will fall into place. I did feel overwhelmed when I left the doctor's office, not good, with the drastic changes needed before me and the realization of just how bad of shape I am in.

I had the thought of going into this restaurant up ahead on my drive, and just drinking, and eating. Weird, very weird that came up for me. Never even been in the place....just a yet desire, that will not be happening, hopefully, old behavior when upset would be to run to nearest food and drink, you know?

Great post! Your sponsor is defo spot on, stop the drinking and work on yourself...the rest WILL slot into place...you will become more interested in the other stuff, e.g. physical side of things. The effect of ceasing to intake alcohol will have a huuuuge impact on your body so that is the absolute best thing you can do for yourself:-)

It sounds a bit odd but you are in a great position to make an impact on your weight too, little by little, simply changing your diet slightly, things like using olive oil instead of saturated fat oil, healthy margerine instead of butter, swapping from full fat milk to semi-skimmed etc, will drop the pounds and you will be able to see results in a shorter space of time than say if you were 10 lbs overweight and trying to lose that;-)

It always makes me laugh about the liver readings, i had the same thing, fatty blood cells through the roof (star trek high), the doc rang me 3 times on the day he got the results from my blood test in a panic, nice!!!! he said you are going (not might, could) to have a stroke or heart attack soon...i'm like wtf?! Straight onto meds that day! I said yeeah but what about my liver, he basically said **** the liver you idiot thats the last thing to go...funny how we all associate the health problems of alcoholism with just the liver!? And its the only organ that regenerates...forget the heart, brain, kidneys, pancreas etc...hows our liver lol!

Anyways have been sober almost 4 months now, going to AA working on myself, dropped 28 lbs...off the meds...blood test tomorrow....should be ok i think...fingers crossed;-)

Go for it!

Oh yeah just remembered, the readings on my fatty blood cells were so high that when he saw me a few days after the meds he wished me good luck and shook my hand...now thats scary;-)