[Misc] Non alcoholic fatty liver

[jcdenton08]

Just been diagnosed with this, which comes as a bit of a surprise. I do drink regularly, but my diet isn’t the worst. After a series of blood tests, was referred for an ultrasound and called yesterday with the results. There is a patch they want to examine so I’ve been referred for a precautionary MRI scan, and if that’s all clear I have to go back in 4-6 months for another look.

Been prescribed atorvastatin (20mg) daily. Would love to know people’s experiences? Am already minimising alcohol intake, taking daily Omega 3 capsules. Is there anything else I can be doing to manage this and hopefully see an improvement?

Anyone else suffer from this condition? I’m 37 for reference…

Thanks!

 

[French Seagull]

I also had this problem. NAFL.
Like you I cut down on Alcohol (i wasn't excessive) they say several consecutive dry days help, so I totally avoid Mon, Tues, Weds and Thurs, normally, minimum. (That reduced to zero any snacks)
I could improve my diet and we introduced some veggie days and more fish.
The big thing was increasing exercise and shedding a little weight.
We took up a few hour walk at the weekend, slowly increasing it. You don't have to go mad but it definitely helped.
I didn't take anything for it, other than high blood pressure tablets (now okay) I still am careful and much better. My main symptom was tiredness. My ferritin was high. Which I managed to slowly reduce. It took over a year.
I hope this helps, message direct if you wish.
I expect that you have seen this https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/

 

[chip]

This is something I do know about, reduce your risk factors and follow the guidance given. Atorvastatin does exactly what it should do, so take it. Probiotics will do next to nothing. This isn't the alcohol rather your diet/lifestyle.

 

[jcdenton08]

I also had this problem. NAFL.
Like you I cut down on Alcohol (i wasn't excessive) they say several consecutive dry days help, so I totally avoid Mon, Tues, Weds and Thurs, normally, minimum. (That reduced to zero any snacks)
I could improve my diet and we introduced some veggie days and more fish.
The big thing was increasing exercise and shedding a little weight.
We took up a few hour walk at the weekend, slowly increasing it. You don't have to go mad but it definitely helped.
I didn't take anything for it, other than high blood pressure tablets (now okay) I still am careful and much better. My main symptom was tiredness. My ferritin was high. Which I managed to slowly reduce. It took over a year.
I hope this helps, message direct if you wish.
I expect that you have seen this https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/

Thank you very much! Yeah, more exercise is definitely a must for me as I went from being very active playing football, then 5-a-side where I got all my exercise basically. With that came some weight gain. Will definitely get more walking in - maybe up to Seaford Head tomorrow before the football. My ferritin is also very high - though this is falling with every blood test. Thanks for the reply

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Milk Thistle Extract and Artichoke Extract have both been shown to improve liver health. Both natural, can't hurt to try.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Just been diagnosed with this, which comes as a bit of a surprise. I do drink regularly, but my diet isn’t the worst. After a series of blood tests, was referred for an ultrasound and called yesterday with the results. There is a patch they want to examine so I’ve been referred for a precautionary MRI scan, and if that’s all clear I have to go back in 4-6 months for another look.

Been prescribed atorvastatin (20mg) daily. Would love to know people’s experiences? Am already minimising alcohol intake, taking daily Omega 3 capsules. Is there anything else I can be doing to manage this and hopefully see an improvement?

Anyone else suffer from this condition? I’m 37 for reference…

Thanks!

I'm on ato 20 mg a day. It has no side effects for me. Even the 'brown polystyrene filler shit' effect has passed with time. I was miss-diagnosed with hypercholesterolaemia (the silly arse GP got my HDL and LDL mixed up) but I insisted he put me on statins anyway. Because I'm worth it.

You may have familial hypercholesterolaemia. If so, good it was spotted. Ask about this. What is you blood lipid data if I may be so nosey (PM me if you prefer).

I switched to a fish and plant based diet 25 years ago, but move to chicken and meat much more in recent years.

I indulge with evening primrose oil, one 75 mg enteric coated aspirin a week, and drink only the finest red, red wines (and a couple of pints of cider at the football). My BP has crept up a bit lately (140:85) but at my age, and with my massive plateful of shite to deal with, I'm not bovvered.

Good luck!

 

[Lord Charles]

I was prescribed this for slightly raised cholesterol. I've made small changes to my diet and alcohol intake, and take more exercise. One of the known side effects is excessive flatulence, it's good to have something else to blame it on now.

 

[jcdenton08]

I'm on ato 20 mg a day. It has no side effects for me. Even the 'brown polystyrene filler shit' effect has passed with time. I was miss-diagnosed with hypercholesterolaemia (the silly arse GP got my HDL and LDL mixed up) but I insisted he put me on statins anyway. Because I'm worth it.

You may have familial hypercholesterolaemia. If so, good it was spotted. Ask about this. What is you blood lipid data if I may be so nosey (PM me if you prefer).

I switched to a fish and plant based diet 25 years ago, but move to chicken and meat much more in recent years.

I indulge with evening primrose oil, one 75 mg enteric coated aspirin a week, and drink only the finest red, red wines (and a couple of mints of cider at the football). My BP has crept up a bit lately (140:85) but at my age, and with my massive plateful of shite to deal with, I'm not bovvered.

Good luck!

DM’d - my late father had high cholesterol from a similar age and eventually passed with multiple organ failure having had a cancerous kidney removed a decade prior.

 

[French Seagull]

Thank you very much! Yeah, more exercise is definitely a must for me as I went from being very active playing football, then 5-a-side where I got all my exercise basically. With that came some weight gain. Will definitely get more walking in - maybe up to Seaford Head tomorrow before the football. My ferritin is also very high - though this is falling with every blood test. Thanks for the reply

If you can find someone to walk with it can make it more fun, perhaps take some pictures to share with friends or borrow a friends dog!
I was told turmeric was good (it can bind with excess iron and help remove it) it can be added to many things.
Giving blood regularly helps, as to make new blood, the body uses iron.
Your ferritin is reducing, so your improving. It takes a while though to improve your liver, but it will.
This problem can be hereditary, my dad had a worse problem when I suggested he had a check!
He actually had haemochromatosis, which he had no idea he had.
Keep up the good work, your improving

 

[jcdenton08]

If you can find someone to walk with it can make it more fun, perhaps take some pictures to share with friends or borrow a friends dog!
I was told turmeric was good (it can bind with excess iron and help remove it) it can be added to many things.
Giving blood regularly helps, as to make new blood, the body uses iron.
Your ferritin is reducing, so your improving. It takes a while though to improve your liver, but it will.
This problem can be hereditary, my dad had a worse problem when I suggested he had a check!
He actually had haemochromatosis, which he had no idea he had.
Keep up the good work, your improving

Thanks mate!!

 

[Machiavelli]

Just been diagnosed with this, which comes as a bit of a surprise. I do drink regularly, but my diet isn’t the worst. After a series of blood tests, was referred for an ultrasound and called yesterday with the results. There is a patch they want to examine so I’ve been referred for a precautionary MRI scan, and if that’s all clear I have to go back in 4-6 months for another look.

Been prescribed atorvastatin (20mg) daily. Would love to know people’s experiences? Am already minimising alcohol intake, taking daily Omega 3 capsules. Is there anything else I can be doing to manage this and hopefully see an improvement?

Anyone else suffer from this condition? I’m 37 for reference…

Thanks!

I also have (had?) one of those. Drank every day through my 20s and 30s, sometimes a lot. Leads to raised cholesterol. This can be sorted by statins, etc (Pravastatin and Ezetemibe in my case). I've been taking them for a while now, and had the dose for Pravastatin increased recently. Got a message on Wed saying that all now is 'satisfactory'.
I have no problems taking the pills, although some have a bad response to them. Been taking them for 6 or 7 years, lost count.
I love drinking so I haven't stopped but, just like @French Seagull, I usually avoid drinking Mon-Thu, and then have about half a bottle of wine a night (sometimes more) Fri-Sun.
A friend of mine is a similar age (54) and has a background in science, and frequently lauds the scientific method, but has responded by not taking the statins -- think he's got raised cholesterol too. He's fine currently.
So different responses. The statins are there to reduce the likelihood and severity of heart attacks, strokes, etc -- but for later in life.

Eat lots of plants, especially veg. Avoid ultra-processed foods. All of that is easily done. You can work out the rest yourself. Good luck.

 

[jcdenton08]

I also have (had?) one of those. Drank every day through my 20s and 30s, sometimes a lot. Leads to raised cholesterol. This can be sorted by statins, etc (Pravastatin and Ezetemibe in my case). I've been taking them for a while now, and had the dose for Pravastatin increased recently. Got a message on Wed saying that all now is 'satisfactory'.
I have no problems taking the pills, although some have a bad response to them. Been taking them for 6 or 7 years, lost count.
I love drinking so I haven't stopped but, just like @French Seagull, I usually avoid drinking Mon-Thu, and then have about half a bottle of wine a night (sometimes more) Fri-Sun.
A friend of mine is a similar age (54) and has a background in science, and frequently lauds the scientific method, but has responded by not taking the statins -- think he's got raised cholesterol too. He's fine currently.
So different responses. The statins are there to reduce the likelihood and severity of heart attacks, strokes, etc -- but for later in life.

Eat lots of plants, especially veg. Avoid ultra-processed foods. All of that is easily done. You can work out the rest yourself. Good luck.

Thank you!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

DM’d - my late father had high cholesterol from a similar age and eventually passed with multiple organ failure having had a cancerous kidney removed a decade prior.

Replied. They have caught you early so they will monitor you to a plan over the next few months, and after that, as long as you press for regular (yearly) check ups thereafter, you'll get the attention required.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

If you can find someone to walk with it can make it more fun, perhaps take some pictures to share with friends or borrow a friends dog!
I was told turmeric was good (it can bind with excess iron and help remove it) it can be added to many things.
Giving blood regularly helps, as to make new blood, the body uses iron.
Your ferritin is reducing, so your improving. It takes a while though to improve your liver, but it will.
This problem can be hereditary, my dad had a worse problem when I suggested he had a check!
He actually had haemochromatosis, which he had no idea he had.
Keep up the good work, your improving

I didn't know about that. Interesting

 

[chip]

I indulge with evening primrose oil, one 75 mg enteric coated aspirin a week, and drink only the finest red, red wines (and a couple of pints of cider at the football). My BP has crept up a bit lately (140:85) but at my age, and with my massive plateful of shite to deal with, I'm not bovvered.

Good luck!

I don't know about evening promrose, but omega-3 fatty acid suppliments reduce liver fat and increase beneficial omega-3 in other tissues seemingly improving (micro)vascular function. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and visceral adiposity.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I don't know about evening promrose, but omega-3 fatty acid suppliments reduce liver fat and increase beneficial omega-3 in other tissues seemingly improving (micro)vascular function. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and visceral adiposity.

I admit to pure faddery wrt the evening primrose oil. I have taken it daily for 20 years because an old person I knew said it had done wonders for their joints. In contrast, my mum's fingers were twisted with arthritis when she was in her 50s, and my youngest brother, age 60, has terrible lumpy arthritic finger joints, by my 65 year old hands look pretty much how they did 50 years ago. I have some weakness in some joints, but my guitar skills* haven't diminished. Yes, it could be coincidence but why would I want to put it to the test and do the withdrawal experiment? I'm not a number in a clinical trial - I'm a Human Being. And a free man. Channeling Patrick McGoohan, there. Apologies, won't do it again.

*

 

[chip]

No, you are number 6

 

[jcdenton08]

Finally had an MRI yesterday - any idea of turnaround times? as I understand it, they compile a report and send to the GP, who then contacts me. I’m guesser the sooner I hear the worse, right?

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Finally had an MRI yesterday - any idea of turnaround times? as I understand it, they compile a report and send to the GP, who then contacts me. I’m guesser the sooner I hear the worse, right?

Turnaround times can vary depending on location.
Could be anything between 3 and 10 days, but even that may extend to 14.

 

[Randy McNob]

I don't know about evening promrose, but omega-3 fatty acid suppliments reduce liver fat and increase beneficial omega-3 in other tissues seemingly improving (micro)vascular function. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and visceral adiposity.

Tumeric
Garlic
Avocado