My Liver Journey
Hi, I'm Casey and I'm 48 years old. I had my checkup with my PCP and he said my liver enzymes were very high. I was referred to a GI doctor who specialized in liver disease as well. In 2021, I was diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which quickly advanced to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
Managing NASH and complications
I was having nausea, pain in my upper right quadrant, and fatigue. I was put on a Mediterranean diet to lose weight. During that time, I had labs and abdominal ultrasounds done every 3 months. I've also had dndoscopic variceal banding.
In March of 2023 I started feeling awful. I had lost a lot of weight and couldn't keep any food or water down. I woke up in excruciating pain and went to the emergency room at 4 different hospitals because they didn't know what was happening. On my 5th hospital trip I was finally admitted. I was in liver failure with C. diff and hepatic encephalopathy, decompensated stage 4 cirrhosis. It was very scary and I wasn't given a lot of hope.
Reflecting on my liver journey
I have compensated stage 4 cirrhosis and feel much better. If only I knew then what I know now. Catching these diseases early on probably would have changed many things. There is so much more information and resources out now. I urge you to pay attention to your body and have regular checkups. Join communities such as this and reach out for support. It doesn't have to be a life sentence. There's hope!
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