My Doctor says I have a Fatty Liver

[on-ramp]

So I go in and have an ultrasound and some blood work.

Doctor looks at the ultra-sound and says my liver has been infiltrated with fat. It's not enlarged or anything, but fatty.


I really dont have any other symptoms, but it was a shock to me, given I've been pretty much healthy all my life. I'm not at all overweight, 185, about 5 10...

So now I need to go back to check for cholestoral, Hypetitis C, and perhaps type 2 diabetes.

I'm only 33, life sucks getting old - when you're young you never have to worry about all this crap, doctor visits, blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound...blah....

anyway, I had to share, maybe some similar experiences on the board? I have to tell you i'm freaking out at the doctor's today.... not a good day.

thanks in advance.

[Rot 911]

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. But from reading this website it does not appear that you will keel over tomorrow. http://www.healthscout.com/ency/1/578/main.html

[Drago]

Not to worry. It's from excessive alcohol consumption.

Just quit drinking and all will be fine.

Isn't that the std. answer for doctors...kind of like the computer help desk guy saying "have you tried rebooting?".

Edit: OK, sorry for the insensitivty above. I had the same thing diagnosed when I was about your age. Same thing...see a hemotologist for additional blood work. They never found anything wrong with me. Told me to cut back on the booze as that can be a contributing factor.

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by Drago
Not to worry. It's from excessive alcohol consumption.

Just quit drinking and all will be fine.

Isn't that the std. answer for doctors...kind of like the computer help desk guy saying "have you tried rebooting?".

that's what worries me.

I rarely drink, we're talking about 1 glass of wine every 2 months! and that's not an exxageration...

maybe it's too much ice cream and "fatty" foods.

[Nathans_Dad]

Some people are more prone to fatty liver than others. If you look at all comers (not necessarily on-ramp, since I don't know his history), the common causes are alcohol and obesity. There really isn't a "cure" for fatty liver, I generally recommend alcohol cessation, weight loss, low fat diet and exercise.

The good news is that very few patients will ever see significant consequences from fatty liver. A small percentage may go on to develop permanent liver damage, but that is a small percentage and there is no way to tell who will progress, as far as I know. There actually is a study going on at BAMC here in San Antonio that does liver biopsies and then follows patients over time to see who develops significant damage and who doesn't.

[Drago]

Originally posted by on-ramp
I'm only 33, life sucks getting old - when you're young you never have to worry about all this crap, doctor visits, blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound...blah....

Yep, it all started to go downhill at 30 or so.

It could be worse, you could have neuropathy (I'm not a diabetic), plantar fascitis and high blood pressure.

You don't want to see my medical bill$.

[lendaddy]

Could be worse, I have a fatty body.

[on-ramp]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Could be worse, I have a fatty body.

thanks for the laugh, i needed that.

[WolfeMacleod]

Doctor told me I had a fatty liver a couple years ago, when I went in because I suspected nickle poisoning.

She said "You need to cut down on your alcohol consumption and quit drinking"

I said "that's funny, because I don't drink"

I just bought a bottle of Scotch recently. It'll last me several years.

[WaA420]

I'm 31 and about three months ago I got the same news about my fatty liver, high blood pressure, and being pre-diabetic. So after trying to figure out what I was going to do with the short time I had left I went down and bought a glucose tester and a blood pressure tester. Then started testing regularly, and I'm fine and so are you. I wouldn't worry about the fat in your liver, my doctor was more worried about the fat on my a$$.

The liver is way overrated as an organ anyway.

[Tobra]

May be genetic. You also are going to want to think about things besides booze, tylenol, lipitor are also things you should avoid.

In 100% of the people I have seen with plantar fasciitis, they have improved with physical therapy to reduce tightness in Achilles Tendon.

[Moneyguy1]

Wow.At 33 things start going downhill. That was the Nixon years for me!!

I must be dead.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
Wow.At 33 things start going downhill. That was the Nixon years for me!!

I must be dead.

Is this when I should cue the Monty Python "bring out your dead" skit?

Here's the "Lumberjack Song" instead.

[Dottore]

My friend has T-shirt that says; "The Liver Is Evil And Must Be Punished".

But seriously, the liver is one of the most resilient organs in the body. Treat it well for a good while and it should be right as rain again.

[Drago]

Originally posted by Tobra
In 100% of the people I have seen with plantar fasciitis, they have improved with physical therapy to reduce tightness in Achilles Tendon.

Over a year in PT with no improvement. I guess I fall into that 0% bracket.

I was actually on the table for PF surgery when I mentioned to my Dr. yet again that I'd been having shoot pains, pins and needles pains and numbness in my feet.

That's when he decided to cancel the surgery I'd been waiting 4 months to have and suggested I see a neurologist first.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Nothing quite like neuropathy in the feet. Feels like I'm wearing a sock of pain all day, everyday.

[alf]

Originally posted by on-ramp
Doctor looks at the ultra-sound and says my liver has been infiltrated with fat.

Is that sort of like fois gras ?

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
Hmm, I consider myself to be getting fat, and I'm 6' at 175. Got that belly spare tire going on.

-Wayne

Unless your arms and legs look like wet pipe cleaners you're a long long long way from fat.

[azasadny]

on-ramp,

Be careful and avoid any medication that could possibly adversely affect your liver (Zocor, most anti-cholesterol meds, Acetaminophen, etc...). When I tried Zocor, my liver enzymes became elevated and that's not good. Monitor your liver through regular medical exams and lab tests (liver panel, etc...) and avoid alcohol.

[dhoward]

Originally posted by Mark Wilson
The liver is way overrated as an organ anyway.

I'd rather be a good liver than have one....