Re: Questions for DR on liver

Posted By Laurie on October 14, 1998 at 15:57:22:

In Reply to: Re: Questions for DR on liver posted by HFHSM.D.-D.M. on October 12, 1998 at 17:17:02:






Dr.
I have written about fatty liver. Question, does reducing ones fat intake help this cond?
I read in the archives about a fatty liver acute during pregnancy causing death, this scared me I am not preg but,
it concerns me that this cond. could cause death. I need to know more on how to get rid of this and why do the drs tell me not to worry.
Should I see some one else? I am a nervous wreck about this liver thing. I also have ibs and post gallbladder removal Diarrhea, could this also be caused
from this fatty liver. When does one tend to develope this? I am 38 female have had three kids. I am a non smoker and non drinker and not diabetic. Thank you very much Laurie



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: Dear Laurie:
Based on your questions, I would imagine you are scared to death.  Let me try to clarify some of the conditions that you are asking about and hopefully put your mind at ease.  
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a very rare but potentially catastrophic condition where the liver undergoes acute failure and the baby has to be delivered right away.  It is completely different from what is often referred to as fatty liver which is a common condition seen classically in women from 30 to 50 who are obese, diabetic or have high cholesterol.  The two conditions should have nothing to do with each other and should not be confused with each other in any way.  I want to be perfectly clear about this.  I must say, I am generally in favor of patients reading about their conditions.  However, it must be scary beyond belief for a woman who I assume has the common form of fatty liver to be pregnant and accidentally read about acute fatty liver of pregnancy.  
I will assume that you have the common fatty liver.  First of all, I am not sure how this diagnosis was made and what your liver enzymes are.  However, I can talk about the diagnosis generally.  It is seen in men and women but is more common in women.  It is seen in the middle decades (ages 30 to 50) and is often seen in people who are obese, who are diabetics or who have high cholesterol or triglycerides.  It almost always runs a benign course and rarely causes progressive liver disease.  We tend to feel that losing weight, controlling diabetes or lowering cholesterol will help with the condition, but weve never formally shown that it does.  However, we routinely ask our patients with fatty liver to do these things and I generally feel that reducing your fat intake, cholesterol intake and losing weight should help.
To answer you last question, I do not know of any clear relationship between fatty liver or irritable bowel.  Diabetics can have both fatty liver and intermittent diarrhea but you note that you are not diabetic.  
I hope this information is helpful to you.  If you have additional questions or more information, feel free to post the material back to MEDHELP or you are always welcome to contact us directly at Henry Ford at [phone].  If you are in the Detroit area, you are always welcome to come see us.  We have an active group of liver specialists (hepatologists).
This response is being provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation.  Always check with your personal physician when you have a question pertaining to your health.  
I hope this information is helpful to you.

DR thank you, I am 38 weigh 137 am 5'&7" I am over weight "FOR ME" I also do have high cholesteral it was 389 now it is 339 I started taking garlic and it went down, I am so relieved to find out this pregnant woman had a diff kind. Although i feel bad that she died. I have normal liver enzymes they tell me. They found it in a ct scan because I was haviong these ibs symptoms they did this scan. I had them scan it one year later and it was the same. I have been to scared to ask for another scan that was a couple of years ago but i have been running around depressed thinking i will die young every since this last scan, I asked my Dr but she doesn't tell me much just don't worry about it. I feel better to know soething about it and how to not let it get worse. I never drink alcohol, so I will cont to do that and maybe cut down on fats more' I have high trygycerides too. How do you get them down?
Thanks so much again DR, Laurie