Fatty Liver

Hello 60no

I too was diagnosed with this at age 60. It is true that I was quite a heavy drinker (with multiple excuses for being so). I wonder what the supposed cause is for yours? I was also told that it was "easily reversible" if I stopped drinking. I didn't know that statins were of any assistance and didn't have them. In fact I didn't have any drugs for this.

I did my research and learnt that this disease can be due to excess weight and insufficient physical exercise. Although I did cut down on alcohol, I also added more exercise (short walks every other day) and lost some weight. In a matter of months the fatty liver was no more!

So ask your GP what he/she thinks has caused the disease and what changes in lifestyle you should make.

Good luck.

Good advice Madmeg.

I have it, but in my case, it was caused by a very rare complication from having glandular fever. Nothing to do with alcohol in my case, as I don't drink. My hospital consultant said I had just been very unlucky.

Is it non alcoholic fatty liver disease? As that clearly has nothing to do with alcohol consumption.

Yes non alcoholic and a super snacker I guess that’s the reason. Just knocked me for six! Thank you for comments and thoughts

My friend who drinks a bottle of a wine a night came back from the doctors, who said she had non- alcoholic fatty liver 🤔

Are you sure she heard the doc correctly? Was she just covering up her shame - I might have done the same!

I would avoid the statins like the plague and have a go at eating a low carb diet and doubling your walking for 2-3 months, get new blood tests, see how you go.
It's an inflammatory disease, possibly from diabetes, possibly from a viral infection; not necessarily your drinking habits

The liver is a very dynamic orgn and recovers well when treated kindly. Weight loss is a good idea - more fruit & veg reduces the inclination to eat bread, biscuits pastry etc. - more healthy nutients to help recovery and fewer calories.

I'm not sure why folk advise avoiding statins (similar on another recent thread). They are a wonder drug as far as I'm concerned helping to lower cholesterol which is a killer. My doctor suggested I start to take them which I did, and I've had zero side effects and my cholesterol is lowered to a very safe level. Ditto my DH. There are too many folk who give their personal advice without any medical training or knowing much about the OP.

Fatty liver can be caused through eating too much sweet stuff. I have never drunk much alcohol and it turns out that overloading my body with carbohydrates (which turn to sugars) and enjoying cakes, chocolate, etc was killing me. My fatty liver has recovered since I started eating more sensibly.
My daughter had problems when she took Voltarol; that can also compromise the liver (and the reproductive system) according to her specialist.

I've been on statins for nearly 20 years with no side effects.

I wasn’t keen to take statins until I discovered that both my brothers and a sister in law had been taking them for years. I’m a type 1 diabetic, skinny but cholesterol higher than the type 1 guidelines advise. Within weeks I was down to an appropriate level. No side effects whatsoever and one more thing to stop worrying about.

I was diagnosed with it years ago. Nothing was done about it. I'm 71 now so it hasn't been life threatening. It's really common I think.

I decided not to take statins because the effect on my life expectancy and probability of my having a stroke/heart attack, was very little different whether I took tem or not.

Last year I had a whole series of brain scans as it was thought I might have had a stroke. The scan showed little or no furring up of my arteries, despite having had high cholesterol readings for well over a decade.

I decided to take statins in case I had had a stroke, but as the probability of that diminishes, I rethinking my decision.

I have this , the non alcoholic sort, after blood tests some of the liver numbers were raised. I had a fibroscan, no cirrhosis, thankfully, and am being monitored with scans , having changed my diet. I'd not realised that fructose is metabolised by the liver. Always thought smoothies were healthy but no, have cut back on sugary fruits, sadly. I've gone low carb, so avoid sugary stuff as well as potatoes, bread, wheat pasta, and alcohol, not that I often drank before to be honest, I'll have a glass of wine at a wedding or celebration meal, but that's it, am not teetotal, I just don't very often drink
I'm on statins, I've not had any issues with them

twinnytwin

I'm not sure why folk advise avoiding statins (similar on another recent thread). They are a wonder drug as far as I'm concerned helping to lower cholesterol which is a killer. My doctor suggested I start to take them which I did, and I've had zero side effects and my cholesterol is lowered to a very safe level. Ditto my DH. There are too many folk who give their personal advice without any medical training or knowing much about the OP.

Some people get very unpleasant side-effects from statins. Medical opinion on them varies. This is one doctor's view:

// The Problem with Statins
The interesting thing about statins is that they do reduce one's risk of many diseases, but the degree to which they protect one is not commensurate with the degree with which they reduce cholesterol levels [the reduction in risk does not seem to be related to the reduction in cholesterol levels they cause]. We now suspect the reason why. Statins are vitamin D mimics - they look exactly like vitamin D and have many of vitamin D's beneficial effects.

... The main problem with statins is that they inhibit two important enzyme systems. Firstly Coenzyme Q 10 - this is the most important antioxidant inside mitochondria [energy-producing components found in body cells] and the main acceptor and donor of electrons. This means that mitochondria will go slow and the ageing process may be accelerated. There is now good evidence to show that poor mitochondrial function is a central part of chronic fatigue syndrome and this explains why statins almost invariably make patients with chronic fatigue worse.

... Statins also inhibit formation of selenium based proteins such as glutathione peroxidase. This is one of the most important antioxidants in the blood and essential to maintain cholesterol in its desirable unoxidised state.

... It is a combination of the above two factors which explains the devastating effect statins have on some people with muscle metabolism. People get obvious muscle soreness, stiffness, weakness and fatiguability. Heart muscle is little different from normal muscle so it is no wonder that the heart is also affected and theoretically this could result in heart failure.

Because statins interfere with antioxidant defences and energy supply they may be contributing to the epidemic of Alzheimer's disease we are now seeing.//

(My emphasis.)

drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Cholesterol_-_the_whys_and_wherefores

Personally I will never be taking them.

I was prescribed statins about 15 years ago following a minor stroke and have had no side effects whatsoever. Plus they keep my cholesterol level just perfect.

Madmeg

Are you sure she heard the doc correctly? Was she just covering up her shame - I might have done the same!

She will have fibbed what her alcoholic intake was for sure

Don`t get too downhearted. The liver is the most important organ in the body and it can and does regenerate, provided this is caught before permanent damage has occurred. There is a huge amount of information available but reversing this fatty liver will take determination and a very big change in lifestyle. It can be done but be aware that it is up to you. The change needs to start immediately

I had a fatty liver for about 6 years. Got diagnosed as my lft's in my blood tests were raised. I have had ultrasounds, MRI and eventually had a liver biopsy which stated I didn't have a fatty liver. I was never given any medication as I was told by consultant it cannot be treated .
When I have blood tests my lft's are high for me but normal. Ask for a second opinion

I don't know why some people are so anti statins. I have been taking them for years without any side effects. Both my parents died of heart disease and my cholesterol was on the high side despite me being a vegetarian with a healthy diet, so for me it was a no brainer.

My DH was diagnosed with a fatty liver during his police medical, he was advised to stop drinking alcohol and fizzy drinks due to the empty calories they have. Within 3 months he was accepted on the force. He since been diagnosed with nonalcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, but with a careful eye on his diet he’s not had any problems from this for many years

I am not anti-statins, just anti, unnecessary medication and there is a lot of responsible research and main stream doctors who are cautious about their efficacy and the research on the drugs is not conclusive.

It is a question of a bandwagon taking off and everyone jumping on it. I am cautious of all drugs.