Fatty Liver

[Jigger]

About 7 months ago, I went to my internist suffering from epigastric pain. My internist, who is also my best friend, ran a complete physical on me. The whole nine yards. Two days later he called back and said that everything was just fine except my liver enzymes were slightly high. ALT 70 and AST 58. Their lab scale is 0-59. He was not real concerned about this, but he did want to find out why I was having epigastric pain, so the next day we did an ultrasound of my belly. I had significant fatty liver. I immediately got nervous. I unfortunately have been a very heavy beer drinker since my feshman year in college. I'm 32. So, for 15 years. I'm an avid jogger and kind of thought it would all balance out. This is not the case unfortunately. I would not say that I drank every day, but I drank very heavy when I drank. Needless to say, I have not drank since the day, I got that news. And after studying the liver on the web for the past 7 months, I never will. My enzymes were back in the low normal range within 3 days. And my fatty liver disappeared within 3 weeks. My uncle is a radiologist and he ran an MRI and an ultrasound on me. He said, I was fine just lay off the beer. The internet is full of so much information, I started worrying about my liver. Fibrosis was my main concern and still is. The imaging test that I have had do not show microscopic scarring. My internist as well as my uncle have told me that a biopsy is out of the question. I do not have any other concurrent damage occuring like HEP C. They said that my liver is perfectly fine. My other liver panels have been OK also. Bilirubin( direct and indirect, PT, albumin, ect. My stomach pain turned out to be gastritis. I've had every test in the world run on me to find this out. Hida-scan,barium swallow, and finally and upper endoscopy that revealed gastritis. It has passed and I feel great except for my anxiety and guilt from drinking all those years. I woory because I'm marrying a beautiful girl in May and want to live a long healthy life with her. Do you concure with my internist. He say's I'm very healthy for my age. I run 10 miles a day and have since I was 17. Even with all the drinking. He said a biopsy might show come minimal fibrosis, but it was not compromising my liver and was of absolutely no significance. My uncle, the radiologist agrees. He says--"GET OVER IT"    Can someone have mild fibrosis and live a normal lifespan? I probably do not even have fibrosis, but what if I do. Your in put would be Appreciated----  AL

[Jigger]

I appreciate your input. I can not even imaging drinking again. My drinking was so odd. I did not drink every day, I just could not stop once I started. I feel it is best if I leave the stuff alone. Thanks JEFF

[ribhurting]

you are 32, i am 44,,,at 32, i only drank fri & sat nights but VERY HEAVY,,,,,,,a fifth of bourbon,,,,and then it progressed to fri, sat, sun ( man mon. morn was a ***** ),,,by say, 38, it was thurs, fri, sat, sun...by 42,,,,7 days a week,,,,,,,thought i had a handle on it,,,,NOT,,,,stuff will nail your *** without u even knowing it,,,,I had the fatty liver thing too,,,,in A.A.,,,You would not believe how many people have had "the sharp pain under the rib-cage",,your liver will return to normal,,,you had a relatively short time before your pain stopped,,,it took me 3 months,,,,could only lay on my stomach in bed,,,,,what a *****,,,glad it's over!!!,lol,,,take care , Brad

[Patrick J.]

FYI, You don't get fatty liver from eating fatty foods. Just thought you'd like to know.

[ribhurting]

if u don't feel like u can drink in moderation, DON'T.  Take it from an recovering alcoholic---> ME,,,alcoholism is a baffling, insidious disease and if u start trying to drink in moderation u will eventually, i assure you, begin the heavy drinking binges again,,,,good luck Jeff,,,,Brad.

[roxnsox]

   I am about 6 years older than you and have had 2 liver biopsies.   The doctors didn't discuss fibrosis stages with me.  I haven't spent a lot of time researching them.  So I can't really tell you about the stages of fibrosis for fatty liver.  There is a lot of discussion on the hepatitis forum section about stages but I believe those people are suffering from viral hepatitis (Hepatitis A, B or C).  They told me that my prognosis is good.  I can't remember exactly what they told me.  Something like only 10 per cent of liver disease patients progress to cirrohsis.  So if you take care of yourself you can live a long life.  I certainly plan to.  
   I cut all hydrogenated fats and oils from my diet.  It has made a big difference in how I feel.   A low fat diet is essential for anyone with "fatty liver".

[Kygirl]

Hello....I just had a CT Abdomen/Pelvis performed with a mobile unit called Scan2000.  I received the results today and not sure what to make of it they are as follows: 205 cm. of decreased attenuation in left lobe of liver-may be focal fatty infiltrate or hemnagioma-follow with ultrasound.  Iliac artery calcification. Lets start with that I am only a social drinker.....once every few months or so.  I have had a lot of female problems last year and underwent a partial hysterectomy with rectum repair, bladder tuck and vaginal repair.  I also have asthma and was taking a medication called advair (was told that was the drug serevent doing that) that I have recently stopped due to feeling so bad all the time and pain in my muscles all the time and a pain in the left lower back under rib cage.  Can you please tell me what this means?  Thanks