Need help.

Ive been diaganosed with With Non Alcholic Fatty Liver Disease with mild inflamation (inflammation). I recently went back to the Dr. for routine blood work. I always have a slight pain in my Upper Right Quadrant. my urine is dark, I've had pale stools a couple times not very many. I freak out cause I think I may have something worse cause all the things I read online says you need a biopsy to confirm any liver disease . Ive never had a biopsy. I am 5'9 294lbs. I know I'm extremely over weight. my prior liver functions were ALT 96 AST 35 my billburin was high along with alot of the other LFTS. they hovered in that are for a while now at the last Dr. appt I was ALT 60 AST 30. all my other liver tests were within range last time I went, I didnt lose weight or anything. my question is do u think it is a possibilty that I have cirrohis? I am 21 use to take Cymbalta and that did a number on my liver plus I drank very very heavy while i was on it.(like a fool) I've been off it for about 8 months now. I guess my main question is, is all this pain and confusion and itching at night and dark urine in the a.m caused by my liver when my LFT's are only slightly elevated. I had the Hepatic panel done as well. negative. I also get shortness of breath. dont know if thats related. but my Dr. told me I had mild hepatitis.. dont really know what that means either. Any help would be great. I just dont wanna die at 21. Thank you for listening, any information would be great. thanks

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Cirrhosis can be suggested in the ultrasound, and if it's not seen, it's an unlikely diagnosis.  That said, the most definitively test would indeed by a liver biopsy.   But, given the clinical picture, this does not present like a typical cirrhotic patient.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver, or NASH, is best treated with lifestyle changes, including weight loss.

If the diagnosis continues to be non-revealing, another referral can be sought with a GI physician.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin Pho, M.D.

KevinMD.com
Twitter.com/KevinMD
Facebook.com/KevinMDblog

[djd1980]

My brother has Hep C and is not overweight, but has a lot of vomiting, fevers, chills, night sweats, etc. He has a lot of pain in his upper right quadrant as well. He doesn't have a fatty liver, but more of a scarred liver. He is being put on an experimental thing involving Milk Thistle in large quantities at a hospital in Philadelphia. Milk Thistle is supposed to help cleanse the liver, maybe talk to your doctor about it, and speak with someone specializing in hep c who knows all the ins and outs.