Fatty Liver

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy Forums

Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy forums - a peer support community for folks dealing (directly or indirectly) with seizure disorders. You can visit the forum page to see the list of forum nodes (categories/rooms) for topics.

Please have a look around and if you like what you see, please consider registering an account and joining the discussions. When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no ads, access to members only (ie. private) forum nodes and more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!

nicholas:)

nicholas:)

Veteran
Messages
2,513
Reaction score
5
Points
163
Toxins and fatty liver disease

I had an ultrasound today and was informed I have a fatty liver – ‘caused by excessive alcohol intake’ I was told, and would need to see my doctor. Well, I do not drink – I was not given a chance to reply.

I've had a brief look on the internet but it all seems a bit much to take in at the moment. It seems that a build up of toxins may be another cause – any one with some experience of this ?
 
That's pretty irresponsible of the ultrasound folks. First off, there can be several forms of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and some of those are absolutely harmless.

Fatty liver can potentially be caused by medications (corticosteroids, antidepressants and antipsychotics), Type 2 diabetes/metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, and rapid weight gain or loss. It can be caused by exposure to some toxins (like pesticides), but that's fairly rare.

Did you have the ultrasound because you were experiencing particular symptoms Nich?
 
Don't let their "diagnosis" throw you off balance. They are not doctors. They are ultrasound technicians who are not qualified to make a diagnosis based on what they see. Your doctor will look at the images and report and decide if it is anything to be worried about. Sometimes things can be just a little out of whack without being abnormal.

Now, your doctor should have the right kind of two-way conversation with you. If it turns out it is in the abnormal range, this info may be helpful:

"Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/DS00577/DSECTION=causes It says basically most of the time a fatty liver is normal and won't hurt you.

A list of diseases, meds, etc. that cause fatty liver: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/fatty_liver_disease/page2_em.htm#fatty_liver_causes
 
Last edited:
Thank you Nak. My tummy has become bloated to say the least - the doctor wanted to check this out, I think. I am on antidepressants and anti-psychotics - I have gone from 10 stones to 15 stones since being put on these meds. I'm also on Lipitor 80mg since my heart attack. How about my epilepsy meds - could they cause toxins and therefore fatty liver?

Thank you Endless.. will check out the sites :)
 
Hi Nicholas,

I agree with Nak, that seems pretty irresponsible of the ultrasound technician to assume your bloated stomach was from ‘excessive alcohol intake’.

I'm no expert but I assumed that the job of the technicians is to do the tests then past the results to the GP or specialist & leave it to the GP/specialist to give you the results.

Do you have to go back to your GP or have you been referred to a specialist?

When I had my ultrasound in June the technician didn't give me any hints at all about the findings. I didn't find out the results of my ultrasound until the following week when I meet the urologist.
 
nicholas:)

Do not get overly worried just yet Nakamova and CQ:) are both right it is irresponsible of a technician to say something like that.
 
I totally understand how it might feel, Nicholas. I not too long ago had been having upper quadrant pain that sent me to my physician and even the ER one time, she had me tested and it came back with cyst on the head of my pancreas. I had for a few years drank but not enough to damage the liver. I was sent to a surgeon, he redid the MRI with dye it was very thorough. What was scary for me was I had been on large amounts of Depakote since I was 18. If you read the info for the meds you take you will surely be surprised some of the awful side effects with them. Well, Depakote, will right off the bat tell you, "may cause pancreas problems". However, some things NOT MENTIONED, are like Osteoporosis which is what I have, and got it early, plus both my adult children have the side effects of the meds.
But, my report also said that I have a very fatty liver, which I believe was caused by mostly the Depakote. One doctor recently said to me, "Unfortunately, sometimes you have to take the benefits of how the meds help versus the bad." I always research thoroughly any medication before having to take it anymore. I refuse to be a guinea pig for doctors anymore. Stand up for yourself and don't let them put something down in your medical file that isn't the truth. If it's one thing I have learned, I always get a copy of my doctors visit report, just so I know that me and the medical person are on the same wavelength, because the majority of the time, we are just another "file". Sorry for rambling.... best wishes my friend!!!
 
Hey Nicholas

E Med will do in the liver, and u on valpro and high dose still, right?

We are in process of working with naturopath to heal my Sons liver due to valpro and he is only 27 and been on it just over 3 years......

we are in process of reducing his e med, we not seeing more seizures either, doc wanted to add another med but Son said no way...and his doc confirmed that yes it is the meds that are causing his liver damage, at bleeding 27!!

you can heal the liver....I hope they are telling you this...
 
Last edited:
Thank you CQ.. I see my GP on the 6th August for the results from the ultrasound and my blood tests for my thyroid levels. :)

Thank you Liam - you are right not for me to worry - see the doctor and do not be troubled by what the technician said :)

Thank you nightowl for your lengthy post - I have been warned by a specialist that I may get Osteoporosis because my testosterone level is low.. they can give me replacement therapy but I have gender issues so I have decided not to act for now :)

Thank you Chaz.. I'm on tegretol 1000mg and Pregabalin 575mg :)
Good luck re healing your son's liver - it must be a huge worry for you :)

Will let you know how I get on with my GP on the 6th August :)
 
This makes me wonder how likely someone is to develop liver problems just from taking AEDs?

Also, if liver problems did develop as a result of taking AEDs, would the beginnings of such problems appear on typical blood testing, or would one be unaware until something major went wrong?

Do people with epilepsy need to see a liver disease specialist to make sure they are functioning okay, or will routine bloodwork done by GPs and neuros do good enough?
 
Thank you Dignan.. I agree. The ultrasound highlighted my issue (fatty liver). I'm on a cocktail of drugs and somehow it seems logical to me that as they make their way through my body, as well as the good they do, some 'harm' may result :) I've been leading my GP to take a look at issues rather than her taking the lead. She is a good GP but I confront her with the issues I have. Regular blood tests/scans should be matter of course. :)
 
So, then if liver function tests from a regular CBC panel are normal is that enough testing? Or, can there be liver issues from the AEDs that won't show up on that type of blood work?
 
Not ignoring your question, Dignan but I can't answer it. I did want to throw in my offerings about toxins causing fatty liver disease. I have Celiac, so gluten is considered a toxin for me. I had liver testing done (blood levels, ultrasound, MRI) at the time of celiac diagnosis to make sure the rest of my insides were okay, and I was showing early signs of fatty liver disease. Two years after going gluten free, my liver is now basically normal.
 
"then if liver function tests from a regular CBC panel are normal is that enough testing"

NOPE - not enough....to pick up early damage

these tests are too broad range ...seriously....at hospital my Son liver analysis came back looking just fine, nothing to worry about but at closer detailed look (private paid), was not looking good at all...and he was on road to damaged liver...

so if you have the $, well worth a private check..

my 2 cents ;)
 
When you say "private check", what exactly are you referring to? What other testing is being done?
 
We did blood tests with a naturopath, ...privately paid testing showed his liver was off the scale and was on way to serious damage……but that is being reversed now…now that we know..
 
thank u Nicholas, huge hug!

thank the good Lord for you, AND this forum, that is what really kick started my Sons healing journey= questioning and in turn quest for potential healing..did not say cure (yet ;) ), but 200%, no 500% better quality life)
 
I too am thankful for you and cwe - it's great to belong, not to feel alone! Hugz :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom