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Uncomplicated gallstones and fatty liver

11 replies

BambinoBoo · 17/04/2011 09:28

I had an ultrasound a couple of weeks ago and the radiographer said at the time that I have some very small gallstones and that he'd send the results to my GP who would discuss treatment (the radiographer said that it would likely be through diet or a simple operation.) When I rang to make an appointment with my GP however, the receptionist read out the results to me and said that the conclusion was "fatty liver with uncomplicated gallstones". She also said that the doctor had seen the results, highlighted the gallstones bit, but hadn't put a note on to ask me to come in.

I am going to go in anyway if I can get an appointment tomorrow, but after stupidly googling fatty liver, I am really worried. I do drink, but didn't think excessively: 15 units per week (over 3 nights) with 4 nights of no drink. I sometimes have a night out with my friends where I drink more but only once per month or less. My diet has always been up and down - healthy for months then weeks of not so healthy (chocolate is my downfall) which is usually as a result of stress - which has been plentiful in the past 6 months for various reasons. Having said that, I have lost over a stone since last July, although that weight loss has fluctuated by 5 or so pounds, again through being stressed and not making healthy choices. I am overweight by around 20 pounds now and I am trying to tackle that.

I know I should wait to see the doc but I am so worried and a bit miffed that the radiographer didn't say a word about it when he mentioned the gallstones. I wondered if anyone else had been in the same position; are gallstones and fatty liver linked perhaps? Whatever happens, I think this is a wake up call to change my life style and tackle the underlying problem which I think is stress. Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated. Thank you for reading.

OP posts:
Am36butfeel66 · 17/04/2011 20:23

Hi BambinoBoo, I was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease about 6 years ago from an ultra sound scan. I don't drink alcohol really at all, so that is how the drs were able to say that it was non-alcoholic fatty liver. At that time I was about 3stone heavier than I should have been.

Drs will do a liver function blood test on you to see if your liver is having any difficulties as a result of your fatty deposits in your liver. If your liver is functioning ok then there is no worry for you at all. When they tested my liver it was found that I had elevated liver enzymes, and also high triglycerides..treatment was a statin and sent to dietician!!...

I was shamed into realising that I had caused the damage to myself by being overweight, so I slowly started to loss it with diet and exercise. I lost the weight, and now my liver blood tests a normal, and fatty deposits have gone...so it is possible to heal your liver if you work at it.

I also have a gall bladder problem, but was told that there isn't rally a link between stones and fatty liver, except a bad diet!

Hope this helps a bit.

BambinoBoo · 19/04/2011 13:56

Am36 thank you. You were absolutely right. The doc is sending me for a blood test to check liver function which I am so worried about but at least I'll know what's what. I asked if it could be because I drink and he said I?d have to be drinking a hell of a lot for it to be alcohol related, although, I could do with ditching the monthly night out for a while as my weekly limit is fine but more on top isn't.

I think he is erring on the side of diet related as my US showed multiple gallstones. He did say to me that despite losing a stone, I am still overweight and also said that I need to tackle how I deal with stress as I have a tendency to get overly stressed then reach for the wine or chocolate. I am looking into low-GI as I want to get healthier and I must try and fit in some exercise somewhere which has been difficult as I work long hours and am exhausted in the evenings and the weekends, plus want to spend time with DS then. DH said he'll treat me to an exercise bike though, so baby steps.

Thanks again. Smile

OP posts:
Am36butfeel66 · 19/04/2011 21:09

Remember that the liver can regenerate if you do have a fatty related problem with it as long as you go with the medical advice. Losing weight is really hard. For me what I did was to walk more...a good brisk walk 3-4 times a week round my neighbourhood, and that was all the exercise I needed.

I stopped buying sweets, chocolates and biscuits...so if they weren't in the house I couldn't eat them. I had a box of treats for my dd which had stuff for her on it, but I wrote the words 'liver' on the lid...so that if I ever felt tempted I would see the word on the box and that usually was enough to make me feel guilty and stop taking any. As my dd cannot read yet she had no idea what the box said :)

Use a smaller plate for yourself so that you don't eat as much, and fill yourself up with lots of water and salad leaves with tomatoes and cucumber if still hungry.

Hope your blood test goes ok

namechanged221 · 04/10/2021 19:55

I know this is an old thread
Just wondering how you are doing niw as I have the same diagnosis.

PurplePumpkinDream · 04/10/2021 20:52

@namechanged221 Goodness I hadn’t realised this was an old thread! Anyway same here uncomplicated gallstones and fatty liver only diagnosed through US, never had any symptoms. Thinking about it perhaps some stomach upset I put down to gastritis/reflux. Stopped all alcohol, can’t have fried/spicy food anyway as I get indigestion, so perhaps that’s the reason why. I’ve heard that fatty liver is very common and gallstones are not operated on unless you get painful colics.

namechanged221 · 04/10/2021 21:22

Good to hear about others going through the same thing.... I'm really upset about the discovery. I also had an ultrasound, because I had pain that seemed consistent with gallstones but wasn't expecting the liver thing!
Then I googled it and got very frightened....

namechanged221 · 04/10/2021 21:23

Not that it's good that you have this issue....Confused

PurplePumpkinDream · 04/10/2021 21:35

@namechanged221. Hopefully it’ll just stay that way. Apparently most people with these conditions don’t know they’ve got them, until scanned for other issues.

namechanged221 · 05/10/2021 14:49

Oh I see!
Googling is not a good idea!

Anyway, I'm determined to lose weight, list a stone before I found out about this but have more to go.

namechanged221 · 05/10/2021 14:50

Thank you @PurplePumpkinDream

PurplePumpkinDream · 05/10/2021 18:42

@namechanged221 Losing weight is the best thing you can do for fatty liver, then the usual, cut back on alcohol and rich food. Mind you don’t lose weight too fast as that could give you more gallstones. Can’t win!

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