Normal LFTs and dense, fatty infilitration

I was a very heavy drinker and quit approx 2 years ago when I started to show potential signs of liver disease, swollen ankle.

I've still had this 2 years later after quitting drinking and finally getting tested. Blood tests with normal LFTs and ultrasound with dense, fatty infiltration.

Any thoughts? Have increaed blood pressue.

[CalGal]

You may want to read through this: http://www.gicare.com/pated/ecdlv37.htm

[gss2003]

Yes, but why, after not drinking for 2+ years would I still have fatty liver and also have badly swollen ankles?

I am going to a PCP and depending on what he thinks I may request a liver biopsy.

[NurseSteele]

Typical post drinking, you have lost the ability to dump the fluid that is storing in your ankles, your pressure is caused by the same thing, inability to rid your body of fluid, a low dose hctz medication for b/p has a diaretic in it, fatty infiltration comes from years of abuse on the liver, you got lucky if you have no elevation in your ast or alt.... good sign you stopped drinking in time! Just some thoughts from my experience in nursing... not diagnosing just suggesting... don't worry to much, the more you let the liver heal the better you are..

[gss2003]

thanks. How long will it take the liver to finally heal of this or can it?

[gss2003]

Yes, this makes sense related to the high BP.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure-medication/HI00028

[CalGal]

There is no medical treatment for fatty liver – no drugs or surgery can cure it at the current time. The only ways to deal with fatty liver are, in general, to lose weight  if that is a problem, and lower triglycerides if they're elevated. If a person is diabetic, the focus is then to make sure that the diabetes as well as weight is well controlled.

[gss2003]

Ok, yes, just more abut recovering for so long from not drinking.

And I still have the ankle swelling and high B/P.

[Jacker]

I have the same issues, but without the swollen ankles and I have the same question from someone who might know; will the fatty liver ever become "non fatty"?  I also drank heavily for may years, and only quit completely within the 4 months.  My bloodwork is normal (normal on two separate occasions this year) but a CT scan showed fatty infiltration of liver.
I also ended up with high BP - Doc perscribed a a calcium channel blocker, which has been very helpful.
Like you, I'm asking "Will this fatty liver reverse itself, and how long might it take??????"?

[gss2003]

The ankles are what concern me most in sense this is a very, very common complication of alch cirrh.

Hoping for the best, but still have some conerns....


Thanks.

[Jacker]

Check out the other gastroenterology forum (where you pay for the doctor's opinion).  I paid the bill and asked the question about how long it takes fatter liver to reverse itself for former drikers.  Dr. Pho said it can be awhile, depending on alcohol consumption.  I guess that's pretty non-specific.  I don't know what to say about your ankles, but it seems like cirrosis (cirrhosis) would have shown up on the ultrasound. It also has a number of other symptoms besides swollen ankles.   Just a thought -i'm trying to figure this out too.  All the internet data says fatty liver will gone within a few weeks of sobriety, but even my personal gastroenterologist said it takes awhile.  The question is, how long is "awhile".  

[gss2003]

Thanks. Yes, I read weeks and a couple months, and I'm on a couple years now.

I look for that post.

[gss2003]

Went to doctor and BP didn't register high, but did on those in supermarket, free ones.

Bought a home monitoring one.

I still have a sinking feeling I have liver issues. The doctor indicated ultrasounds aren't very accurate for determining cirrhosis or anything like that. No idea,

[Jacker]

I think the best thing you can do is stay off the alcohol.  You can have a "liver issue" like fatty liver, and it can have no effect on your liver function or overall life (from everyting I read).  As us long as it doesn't progress and you've attacked the underlyig problem. If you can get a liver biopsy, that will tell you for sure.  
On the BP, I read that you're supposed to sit quietly and relaxed for 5 minutes or more before taking a reading.  That's pretty hard to do in the supermarket.  If I use a public machine, I'll take 3 readings.  If it goes down each, I'll figure that my body is still relaxing and take the lowest reading.  If you run into the marking (in a hurry) sit down, and jam your arm in, I think you will be naturally high.  So far, I like taking the calcium inhiber medication.  It seems to have the fewest overal side effects (in fact, I really haven't noticed any).