Wellness

[willdob3]

Dietary fat does not cause NAFLD. A high fat, low carb diet is actually a common treatment for it. Cutting carbs (yep, they are connected to fatty liver problems) will help the most but get plenty of healthy fats, too.

If you were already eating healthy when you developed the fatty liver & take medications, you might want to research to see if any of them can cause fatty liver. Some can.

[apple1964]

Your doctor said for you to lose weight and did not give you a diet? I would lose the doctor.

[Classique]

On 7/6/2014 Campion said:

On 7/6/2014 AngelPuppy1 said:

Just curious -- how does one know that one has a fatty liver? Is there a particular blood test they do? Certain symptoms? Thanks for any replies.

When you get a normal physical, they should do a blood panel which is a set of tests including liver enzymes. If the liver enzymes are elevated and out of whack, that shows up as an indicator you have a problem. Then they do a liver panel, which is a deeper blood test for liver problems. If you take statins or certain other drugs, if you have a family history (this runs in families) or have some other conditions, you are at risk of this, so the doctor, seeing your history and an elevated liver enzyme test in your regular physical would investigate this further.

It's also thought to be one of the leading causes of liver cancer.

Women also have lower liver enzymes to process alcohol (we have smaller livers.) So you generally must drink less than an average guy, even of the same age and size. Strictly speaking, one drink per session is about the most women can process without toxic metabolites spilling off into the bloodstream (!) which used to give the gals who worked in our labs big laughs as they drank a lot of beer and wine (living in Europe.) But in actuality, being overweight and even moderate alcohol consumption can lead to this problem.

What about a blood test where the results show low liver enzymes?

[ellaphant]

Your Dr told you what to do:

cutting back on calories, carbs and going low fat. It's easy to do. If your confused call him/her and ask him for specifics. Do NOT listen to people on these replies. they are not doctors.

I would also speak to your DR about exercise. It is a huge benefit for the body.

I don't know your health/ history, so check with your DR on what type of exercise is best for

you.

GOOD LUCK!

[Pickwickpapers]

About 8 years ago my doctor told me that my liver was fatty based on blood tests. I had several follow up tests to rule out other issues. I was told to cut way back on certain foods, maintain a diet, exercise,lose weight, etc. I was heavier than I should be, eating all the wrong foods, not exercising, etc. I changed my lifestyle and now my liver is good. It was hard to change but I feel so much better that I am glad I did it. Follow your doctors instructions......I hope that you will have good news soon.....

[granddi]

Milk Thistle and all the life style and dietary recommendations others have discussed.

[pitdakota]

On 7/6/2014 AngelPuppy1 said:

Just curious -- how does one know that one has a fatty liver? Is there a particular blood test they do? Certain symptoms? Thanks for any replies.

There is no specific blood test, in and of itself, that will diagnose a fatty liver. Liver enzymes may be elevated with a fatty liver, but there are many reasons any of the liver enzymes may be elevated. These enzymes will elevate with any type of hepatitis and of course cirrhosis of the liver as well. However, a few of the enzymes will also elevate with other conditions. For example, AST ( a liver enzyme) can be elevated due to a problem with the heart or kidney, among other conditions.

So, the diagnosis would never be made on the results of a blood tests alone.

Usually the diagnosis is a combination of lab values along with the results of some type of imaging: ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.

[Abrowneyegirl]

You need to make an appt with a Dietitian. NOW.

This is not something to play around with, not all diets and weight loss plans are approp for this dx and some of these plans are HARMFUL to the liver.

There has been a lot of new research in this field so stay away from old out-dated books and info. Go find an expert to review your chart and develop a plan. Google IS NOT YOUR FRIEND.

Good luck and be well!

[glmama]

I would highly suggest seeing a nutritionist. And I bet the doc that gave you the results of Fatty Liver has someone he/she refers to often.

The great news is that the liver responds to changes in diet. This is not some irreversible curse. It should be a wake-up call to change diet and exercise habits. And you can get your blood work done again after, say, 6 months of eating a nutritionist-recommended plan and I can almost guarantee that you and your doc will see some changes.

Just on a side note--For those that think people come here for direct, specific medical advice and would not speak to their physician about something an unknown message board member has to advise, I think that *most* people do not seek this. I think most seek commiseration and a shared experience. Period.

[hckynut]

On 7/6/2014 ellaphant said:

Your Dr told you what to do:

cutting back on calories, carbs and going low fat. It's easy to do. If your confused call him/her and ask him for specifics. Do NOT listen to people on these replies. they are not doctors.

I would also speak to your DR about exercise. It is a huge benefit for the body.

I don't know your health/ history, so check with your DR on what type of exercise is best for

you.

GOOD LUCK!

Do NOT listen to people on these replies. they are not doctors.

Thank you for repeating what I said in the very first reply to this thread.

That said? I have many doctors as close friends and 2 in my immediate family. While they certainly know their business a lot better than I or others that comment here? Most of them have never experienced what they are treating and there are a lot of people that like to hear from those that have suffered and/or experienced their specific problem.

While doctors understand a lot more about certain aspects of human physiology, most of the ones I know personally, have not experienced many of the things I have during my life time. Just being much older than them makes it much more likely I will go through personal experiences than will they.

One of my friends practices at the State Spinal Institute. Has he ever had a ruptured lumbar disc? No he has not. Does that mean he does not know how to best treat each individual that does? No it does not.

Does that mean he can relate to the discomfort of each patient with their specific spinal problem? No he cannot. People that have experience it can say how it felt for them and what worked for them to get the best options available for relief of their problem. Does that mean it will work for an OP that starts a threat such as this? No it does not.

This forum is to discuss, not to prescribe or replace going to your own physician whatever specialty one thinks they need. I think most here understand and are not trying to "act as doctors(notice my disclaimer in post #1 of this thread)". Some are sharing their experiences that many times can be more relieving to a patient than anything a doctor can say to them. That is why most post here to hear of "experiences and results" for those that have suffered the same illness or disease as the one their are asking about.

For me personally, I like reading what others have to say and many times I find it enlightening to me and I would suspect others that post here frequently experience the same enlightenment as myself. If I see something that I believe is completely contrary to all medical advice and my own personal experiences will I say something here? I most certainly have and certainly will continue to do so any time something comes along on this forum.

We both have the best of this OP in mind we just are not 100% in agreement with the purpose of this forum, I think!