Fatty liver on scan

[Sparklethenight]

I was having abdominal pain (both left and right sides.) It was almost constant at one point, so I saw the GP and got referred for bloods and an abdominal ultra-sound. After the scan, the GP said there was nothing major on there and the nurse can talk me through it when I go in for a smear.

The scan was over two months ago and I assumed everything was fine but today I went in and my scan results say fatty liver. I'm only 30 so feel pretty devastated. I binge drank massively during the pandemic, and used alcohol to help with anxiety and loneliness (I know it actually exacerbates this.) The nurse says it may not be alcohol, it could be my weight as I've gained over 3 stone in the last few years and and now have an obese BMI.

I'm slowly losing weight (0.5-1lb a week.) Planning to start exercise again soon. I still drink a bit over the limits, but planning to cut it out for a while and then stick to the limits.

Is there anything else I can do? She said I can book an appointment with the doctor, but I'm re-locating soon, so I'll need to wait until I'm registered with a new GP to do that.

I actually haven't told anyone as I feel kind of ashamed. Naively, because they hadn't mentioned any issues with the scan, I assumed it was clear.

Also to add, the pains I was experiencing pretty much disappeared after my scan, so not sure if that was anxiety.

My LFT are completely normal.

If they said it could well be your weight, and you're losing, keep going. Rule that out first.

Have you heard of the blood sugar diet, or Micheal Mosley? He has a book about how fasting to lose weight can improve the viceral fat around your liver and pancreas? Might be worth having a look, I think he cites some studies about this maybe in the book / website - a friend of mine had the same thing as you and told me about it but I haven’t read it myself xx

I definitely will do. My blood pressure is also very high, which is odd for me as I've always had quite low blood pressure.

The nurse suggested seeing a GP to discuss further. Are they likely to be able to tell me how bad it is? I know fatty liver disease is a spectrum from pretty minor to quite severe. My BMI is about 33/34 so even to get it back into the overweight category would probably help a lot, I'd imagine.

I have - in fact I've watched the documentary and have the book. I have attempted it in the past, but tend to hit a block after a week or so. It's a very sensible way of eating though, so I will pick up the book again.

If it was anything to worry about, the doctor would've spoken to you.

Keep going with what you're doing to stop it getting worse and stop worrying!

I know, I'm a natural worrier. I was really surprised they hadn't asked for me to see a doctor beforehand, but I suppose the fact they hadn't is a good sign.

I did drink very excessively at one point though, so I think it was already in my head that something could be wrong. It's possible it's the weight though. I've always been very pear shaped but since gaining in the last 1-2 years more has gone on my stomach. In fact, I've noticed some really bad stretch marks on my stomach (look bloody awful.) So it may be the build up of fat around there I guess.

I had a scan last Sunday and the doctor said then I have a 'slightly fatty liver' but it's nothing to be concerned about.

I think my mum has a fatty liver, but got it diagnosed during a scan for something else. She's practically teetotal, but a bit overweight. I think hers was diagnosed age 50ish though.

I had a scan 18 years ago and was asked lots of questions about my drinking habits. I don't drink, but they kept insisting I must due to the shadows on my liver. Long story short - I was eventually diagnosed with Haemochromatosis, a genetic condition where I don't process iron and it builds up in the liver and other organs. This is often missed. Just make sure they rule it out.

I had a recent scan for something else which showed fatty liver and it's left me scared.
I'm 39 and I do not drink and I'm a healthy weight so at a loss as to what I can do to change this. Although I will increase exercise and focus more on healthy food options but I genuinely do not eat junk.
I had a very traumatic birth of multiples which involved being in a coma and I have damage to my organs from that time so I think it's from then but that was four years ago and I had hoped the liver would have repaired.

I have non alcoholic fatty liver disease as I rarely drink so it’s not caused by alcohol. There’s also alcoholic fatty liver disease due to high levels of alcohol consumed, did they not tell you which type?

Can they distinguish between fatty liver caused by alcohol and fatty liver caused by diet / weight? I have NAFLD, and I just assumed I’d been given that diagnosis because I don’t drink.

@Sparklethenight could have written your exact post. Infact I even checked it wasn't one of my old ones. I too was drinking way more than recommend limits due to pandemic which co tinued after. I also had gained lots of weight from pregnancy and then eating drinking too much. I don't think they can really determine if you have a fatty liver from drinking or not drinking but the way to improve/ reverse it is the same for both. I got told I had a fatty liver earlier in the year was found when my left was slightly raised and then fatty liver found on ultrasound. I immediately cut out drinking, upped my exercise and started eating better. I did a lot of reading around diets and fatty liver the key things seem to be cut out sugar, drink only in moderation, up veg in take, reduce carb in take and red meat. I cut out all white starchy carbs and replaced them with wholegrain ie. Brown pasta and rice. I also fast for 16 -18 hours 2 or 3 days so eat tea at say 7/8pm then don't eat till 1pm ish the next day. I lost 2.5 stone in 4 months from doing the above. After a month I started drinking again but just allowing a few glasses on a sat night. My weight is now in healthy range and bloods were back in range last time I had them done. Some old habits have started to creep back in such as more wine on a weekend but I'm determined to reign it back in and stay healthy. I think the pains could be anxiety related as I had them too but they only appeared once I was told I had a fatty liver and they only seem to reappear when I've been overthinking about it. Sorry for the mammoth post.