Fatty Liver?

[Flutterby]

Following my recent stroke my GP ordered routine bloods. Great results on HbA1c down to 55 from 68. Myself and my DSN actually put the 68 down to inaccurate reporting as it didn't tally with my results but hey ho everyone is happy now. I have also worked hard to get my cholesterol down from 6.2 to 4.8.

The big shock was liver function tests. My serum alt is 85 and it should be between 0-40.

GP is saying Fatty liver due to the Diabetes but I have never had any bad results before. In August it was absolutely fine. I was put on Clopidogrel and Famotidine to reduce the risk of a stroke but I have gone back on aspirin today as I deeply suspect the clopidogrel.

Any thoughts? I am really struggling with all this health stuff. I have more bloods Monday and have been referred for an ultrasound. It's got me scared though.

 

[Flutterby]

Since posting, I have been consulting with Dr Google and realised that being type 1 I am not at any extra risk for developing fatty liver. The GP obviously assumed on my age that I am type 2. I am around 5"1 7 stone 10 so I hope that its been caused by the medication and will now start to recover. She was also concerned that maybe my own immune system is attacking my liver. It's horrible having so many uncertainties hanging over me.

 

[Drummer]

My liver was swollen and rock hard for some time before diagnosis.
I changed to a low carb diet and my waist shrank by 12 inches, and I can now get to the bottom shelf of the fridge without my ribs being pushed apart and me going dizzy.
I don't need any medication other than the Thyroxine for my failed thyroid, but the low carb really helped on many ways.

 

[Drummer]

Oh - I hope that you get all the uncertainties sorted out - I thought that you had a definite diagnosis.

 

[Flutterby]

Oh - I hope that you get all the uncertainties sorted out - I thought that you had a definite diagnosis.

Thank you. No its my instinct v the GP who said that I am at risk of fatty liver due to my diabetes. Thanks very much for your replies and I am glad that the low carb helped you. Well done because it takes a lot of perseverance to make changes.

 

[AJLang]

Hi Flutterby given your history of strokes is it wise to stop the Clopidogrel without medical advice. I would hate to see you have another stroke because of stopping it. Considering your weight and history with the surgery I’d be surprised if they’d assumed you were Type 2. Maybe worth a follow up call before stopping any medications? Xx

 

[Flutterby]

Hi Flutterby given your history of strokes is it wise to stop the Clopidogrel without medical advice. I would hate to see you have another stroke because of stopping it. Considering your weight and history with the surgery I’d be surprised if they’d assumed you were Type 2. Maybe worth a follow up call before stopping any medications? Xx

All done with full medical agreement.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Gosh sorry to read this @Flutterby - does this usually come on so quickly? After clear results in 6 months-ish ago? Will there be follow-up checks or scans?

 

[Flutterby]

Gosh sorry to read this @Flutterby - does this usually come on so quickly? After clear results in 6 months-ish ago? Will there be follow-up checks or scans?

I don't know. I spent all day yesterday crying and spoke to GP this morning. She didn't express much opinion and I should say that she doesn't know me, has never met me. All I know is that I am terrified. On one hand my liver is inflamed and on the other I am at risk of stroke.

I will ring my DSN next week a see what she says. She has proved to have great wisdom in most things medical.

With the doctors agreement, in fact there was no fight at all, I have stopped clopidogrel and restarted aspirin. I hope this is enough to prevent another stroke whilst giving my liver a rest. I just want to survive or rather live.

Blood tests on Monday and an ultrasound to be arranged which should tell us more. Thank you for your concern.

 

[DaveB]

Does diabetes cause fatty liver - I remain to be convinced. My understanding is that fatty liver or any organ can be caused by diet or your gene make-up. Obviously you do have some liver issues which hopefully will be treated with the right medication

 

[Flutterby]

Does diabetes cause fatty liver - I remain to be convinced. My understanding is that fatty liver or any organ can be caused by diet or your gene make-up. Obviously you do have some liver issues which hopefully will be treated with the right medication

I am only going on what I am told but I don't really tick any boxes apart from being over 50 and diabetic. It was fine 6 months ago but now it is inflamed it seems. The only changes in that period are the stroke and the Clopidogrel which has liver toxicity warnings and a much improved diet which has reduced my cholesterol. In my mind it's not rocket science to suspect the medication. But we will find out more from the further tests. I am hoping that the problems I have are reversible whatever the cause turns out to be.

Thanks for your reply, I hope it all turns out ok too.

 

[mikeydt1]

Dave you are spot on this comes from a person who has had issues with fatty liver disease which started a long time ago. mine was actually the result of loosing my gall bladder then that triggered what ever to happen within the liver fatty deposits. poor diet and drinking a long time ago. thankfully i stopped drinking yonks ago but my diet was that of the western world curries, pizza chips that was long before i went on to be diagnosed with diabetes.

there are 2 types of fatty liver - alcoholic fatty liver which speaks for itself or non alcoholic.

fatty liver can be reversed with diet care but failure to correct lifestyle can then lead to fibrosis of the liver or other diseases which can't be reversed but with care slowed down. i have fibrosis 26% to which there is no turning back. in those who drink a lot the outcome later in life just doesn't stand looking at.

fatty liver just doesn't happen so quick

us people living in the western world of food and drink don't actually realise what we are doing to ourselves until something like this happens and starts to slowly build up over the years.

in my early stages i had some bloods taken which showed raised liver levels no one back then knew what was going on but as time went on more bloods and more raised levels and then a ultrasound then they knew.

one thing fatty liver the liver will feel sore over the area.

 

[Robin]

Raised ALTs doesn’t necessarily mean a fatty liver. Mine were incredibly high on diagnosis, and given that I was initially misdiagnosed as Type 2, I was immediately sent off for a liver ultrasound...which confirmed it was perfectly healthy. When my sky high BGs started to fall, my ALTs just went back to normal, and the consultant said, 'your liver just got angry with the high sugars and your body being out of whack!'. My brother in law also had high ALTs, discovered by chance at a medical for work. On a repeat test, they’d gone back to normal, and the diagnosis here was that he’d had some passing infection that he probably never knew he had. So it seems that there are quite a few things that will produce high Alts, not necessarily directly connected with liver disease.

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Only organ in the body that has the capacity to heal itself. Until you develop cirrhosis, which i unfortunately have. My liver has had some hammer, had hepatitis c for 30 years until the new drugs cured it. A lot of working hard and playing hard when younger didn't help. Had it for 15 years until i found out then had to stop drinking as i already had cirrhosis.Then last year after beating base of tounge cancer i developed liver cancer. Touch wood after 3 operations i'm winning that battle. If you want to cleanse your liver. I periodically take these

 

[mikeydt1]

you are right Robin raised alts can be many things and more often return to normal but when it goes on for a lengthy period then they start looking for signs of diseases. fatty liver can be reversed with the correct approach but there are other liver diseases where it won't mine is scarring and there are only 4 stages i am at stage 1 but as i haven't been scanned since the covid outbreak then it is unknown i do need to get this chased up.

the scan they do is not a ct scan it is like a sonar where they actually ping you does half feel funny inside 🙂

when i was diagnosed with diabetes some years ago and couldn't get control i did question about the liver disease and what the impact was but didn't get many answers.

 

[Flutterby]

Thank you @mikeydt1 , @Robin and @Hepato-pancreato I have been reassured by your answers although I am sorry that you have all had various problems in one way or another.

I will let you know what happens. As far as I know I haven't had any other virus and I wouldn't think the covid jab would affect this so we will see. I won't panic but just go with these tests and see what they show.

I do wish GPs would be a bit more holistic in their approach though and acknowledge that I am still struggling to recover and walk properly after my stroke so news such as this feels overwhelming.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you @mikeydt1 , @Robin and @Hepato-pancreato I have been reassured by your answers although I am sorry that you have all had various problems in one way or another.

I will let you know what happens. As far as I know I haven't had any other virus and I wouldn't think the covid jab would affect this so we will see. I won't panic but just go with these tests and see what they show.

I do wish GPs would be a bit more holistic in their approach though and acknowledge that I am still struggling to recover and walk properly after my stroke so news such as this feels overwhelming.

You are right that a more holistic approach would explain quite a few conditions which may be missed by the 'one problem, one appointment' rule as it makes people reluctant to mention things which may influence treatment. Drug interactions are something which the GP or hospital doctors may not be aware of and that is often something only picked up by the pharmacist or dispensing technician.
I hope the tests go well and it will put your mind at ease.

 

[mikeyB]

As has been said, a raised ALT is not diagnostic of a fatty liver. It’s also true to say that the liver is perfectly capable of putting itself right. Find the cause, and stop it is the usual rule.

Both Clopidogrel and Famotidine can affect liver function, but it’s not one of the common side effects of either, but they are the prime suspects.

And if you had significant liver disease, or a fatty liver, your ALT level would be a sight higher than 85.

 

[Bloden]

Poor you @Flutterby. I hope you get all the information and reassurance you need in the coming days.

 

[Flutterby]

You are right that a more holistic approach would explain quite a few conditions which may be missed by the 'one problem, one appointment' rule as it makes people reluctant to mention things which may influence treatment. Drug interactions are something which the GP or hospital doctors may not be aware of and that is often something only picked up by the pharmacist or dispensing technician.
I hope the tests go well and it will put your mind at ease.

Thank you @Leadinglights I feel like I have had no support from the surgery post stroke. I don't expect much as they are busy and other agencies are providing support but just an acknowledgement of how tough this is for me.