fatty liver: new here help/advice

[tony5]

hi

I'm 31 from UK i'm 5ft8, 75kg. I have been suffering from intermittant right upper stomach pains/bloated/weakness and some eye pains for a few months (note, 2 weeks before this started i went out with my mates, had a few drinks).

My LFT results show a problem, the ALT has been raised and has been comming down for the past few years, it was 80 this febuary then tested again few months later was down to 65, i had the test done again recently which went up to 85 (i forced my self to go running/joggin the night before this test, would this cause it to be raised? also do feel pains in the right side when i run longer distances). I'm negative for hep b and c

i have had an ultrasound few days ago and was told that i have fatty liver ( i think he mentioned minimal) also shows it's inflamed, the inflamation (inflammation) probably explains the pain.

I'm no sure how long this has been but my lft results haven't been good for a few years i remember taking antibiotics a few times which had caused me pains in this area few years ago (tetracycline, trimethoprim this was for a suspected uti which i was negative and a few others like amoxycilin for my tooth extraction) never been the same after.

could this be drug induced for many years? i only drink on occasions maybe once or 2 times max in a month, i've stopped drinking totally due to this

what can i do apart from going Dr's in a few days for further investigation/treatment. I have been told milk thistle is good to reduce inflamation (inflammation)? plenty of water, exercise is not a good thing right untill inflamation (inflammation) is gone? most likely i will be refered to a liver specialist, heard the next step would be a liver biopsy.

if anyone can answer my questions and give some advice i would be soo gratefull, it's a lonely world.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

even a little bit of alcohol intake can lead to fatty liver.  you must make sure you don't have high cholesterol, which can also contribute.  Antibiotic usage can definitely cause abnormal liver tests but typically not on a chronic basis.  exercise is definitely not contraindicated, especially if you might be overweight.  A good friend of mine, kaushik agarwal, is a hepatologist at kings college in london and is someone that i would recommend unequivocally.

[tony5]

hi

I don' think i'm too overweight,I will be working on losing it,you mentioned you're friend I do need some help, I have a docs appointment in a few days will request to be refered to a liver specialist, I started having problems few months ago,went out for a few drinks,2weeks later I started feeling tired,then dizzy,weak, eye pains which lasted for weeks,drs have pointed their fingers at many things,finally I have had the ultrasound 4mnths later,they seen my liver inflamed (fatty too,you did mention little alcohol can cause this),could the alcohol have caused this,im a social drinker,don't drink often,i've also been suspecting glandular fever,if it is the alcohol,what can I do at the moment to reduce the inflamation (inflammation),also how long can inflamation (inflammation) last (I haven't drank for 5months)how long does it take for inflamation (inflammation) to cause cirrosis?I'm very worried,I've also got stomach pains,gas,feel stronger then before,still very depressed and ill feeling.

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

i definitely do not think you have cirrhosis.  Even a little bit of alcohol intake can cause problems in a predisposed individual or in someone who has fatty liver. I am not sure if all or any of your symptoms are related to the liver.