From Fatigue to Recovery: 4 Early Signs of NASH To Look For

Hello readers and fellow chronic health warriors. Since being diagnosed with NASH and going through recovery, I have had no choice but to learn and look out for the signs that my liver may be unhealthy and needing help.

One of the more positive things to come from my journey of overcoming NASH is that I can spread awareness of a chronic illness that, in my opinion, is not spoken about enough. I plan to be as helpful as I can to you on your own journey with NASH.

One of the ways I plan to do so is to talk about the signs and symptoms you should be aware of and watch for related to your liver's health.

Recognizing the early signs of NASH

Here are the top symptoms to look out for when identifying and diagnosing NASH:

Fatigue

Fatigue for me was at the top of my list when it comes to noticing that my liver may be struggling. I have never known exhaustion like I do now, going through NASH. I would be tired just from walking up 16 steps to get into my flat; I would have to take a rest 9 steps up before continuing. Even if I went to bed nice and early and made sure to hydrate and unwind before bed. No matter how hard I tried, I would wake up feeling extremely fatigued. It honestly felt like my body was a bag of sand that I had to drag around.

My advice would be: if you are feeling more tired than usual, and even after trying to do things that will help you wake up more refreshed, you're still fatigued, then make a diary of it. Speak to your doctor and ask for a blood test. Don't be embarrassed or ashamed—you know your body and the difference between just being tired and being completely exhausted.

Itching

For me, itching was one of the more prominent warning signs of my NASH diagnosis. I would be itching from morning, noon, to the very moment I would fall asleep. Heck, sometimes I would even wake up from my sleep itching. At times, my partner would have to apply a cold compress to my body in the night to help me get some relief from the insane amount of itching I experienced. It felt like the itch would come back just as quickly as I could scratch it. The itching was definitely all over my body, but mostly on my legs and back.

If you are worried about this but are not ready to see your doctor, keep a diary of your itching. Change any detergents, body creams, or materials; eliminating all of this will help your doctor evaluate your condition more quickly and easily.

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are two important and very telling indicators of a NASH diagnosis. In fact, it was nausea and vomiting I was experiencing many years ago before I officially got diagnosed with NASH. It was when I was first told I had a fatty liver, and I was told by the doctor to be cautious with my diet and not to drink heavily.

I had a lot of discomfort in my tummy area. I would have lots of bloating with nausea and vomiting. At times, it was so severe that I would be projectile vomiting. It was mostly always yellow, acid-type bile.

So, what I did was keep a diary, as I suggested above, of all my symptoms, and I would try to eliminate certain factors that might be causing them. So, when I went to the doctor and they would say, "Have you tried cutting out dairy?" I could explain how I had already cut out certain foods from my diet, and was still being sick and suffering from nausea.

Aches and pains

Number 4 on my list of NASH diagnosis signs and symptoms to look out for is aches and pains, specifically in my legs, lower back, and the right-hand side of my abdomen. The pain would feel like a dull ache in my legs—the feeling of having walked miles, though in reality, I hadn't walked at all. I also had a lot of swelling in my legs. The pain in my back would also be a dull ache and feel tender to the touch at times. The pain in my right side was dull but also included stabbing pains; I later came to find out that it was my nerves in my liver dying, sadly.

Things I would and still do to help with the aches and pains are warm/cold compresses, pain relief medication, and making sure to keep my body moving with light exercise. Doing stretches throughout the day also helped, as did milk thistle and staying away from carbs and alcohol.

Speak with your doctor if you’re concerned about NASH

Other signs of advanced liver issues I experienced but did not mention above, because they were milder, include spider veins, bruising easily, and cognitive problems.

My advice is to speak to your doctor if you are worried and/or experiencing any of the symptoms/warning signs above. I know how uncomfortable it can all be. Until my next article, feel free to reach out in the comments below if you have any questions.