Fatty liver question

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Liver and onions

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My liver enzymes have been elevated over the last 6 months or so, PCP recommended seeing a specialist and he recommended a liver biopsy. It came back with a diagnosis of fatty liver, I am sure there is a more technical term for it. Liver is enlarged but no cirrhosis, hepatitis etc. Recommended losing weight of course and abstaining from alcohol, in process on the weight loss and already stopped alcohol use. My 3rd class is due in March, what will I need to provide to get it done on the first try? I will have at least 2 more blood tests before my 3rd class to see how the liver enzymes are trending. My A1C was also higher than normal, but is coming down and I don't think that will be a problem with my new diet.
 
I don't think you'd need to report that. It doesn't affect your flying in any way. It may not be the right or legal answer, but I'd schedule a pre-medical with another doctor to see if that would disqualify me.

I survived kidney cancer and I go back once a year for a checkup with my urologist. I always have him review my CT Scans with me and go over all of my numbers from the bloodwork. One time when looking at my CT, he said I had fatty liver. I asked him what would cause that and had to laugh when he pulled his glassed down to the tip of his nose, slowly turned toward me with his eyebrows raised... okay, I get it, I need to lose weight!
 
Liver and onions said:
It came back with a diagnosis of fatty liver, I am sure there is a more technical term for it.
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yep, fatty liver disease (how's that for technical?) It can also occur with an absence of alcohol, called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD. In some cases inflammation can lead to scarring the liver into a state of cirrhosis. NAFLD has become the most common cause of liver disease in the US, affecting ~70 million people. Mostly caused by poor diet, greasy fast food, soda, etc. (BTW, one can of soda per day raises the odds of NAFLD by 45%). Eating large portions of meat every day can triple the rate of NAFLD.

In addition to cutting alcohol and excess calories eliminate dietary cholesterol, saturated fats and sugar. Consume more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans. Your body can do an amazing amount of healing on it's own if it is not constantly under assault from junk food.
 
Thanks, that's pretty much what my doctor said, I am concerned if I need to report it and if so, do I need any documentation to avoid being denied and delayed. :)
how not to die said:
yep, fatty liver disease (how's that for technical?) It can also occur with an absence of alcohol, called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD. In some cases inflammation can lead to scarring the liver into a state of cirrhosis. NAFLD has become the most common cause of liver disease in the US, affecting ~70 million people. Mostly caused by poor diet, greasy fast food, soda, etc. (BTW, one can of soda per day raises the odds of NAFLD by 45%). Eating large portions of meat every day can triple the rate of NAFLD.

In addition to cutting alcohol and excess calories eliminate dietary cholesterol, saturated fats and sugar. Consume more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans. Your body can do an amazing amount of healing on it's own if it is not constantly under assault from junk food.
Click to expand...
 
how not to die said:
yep, fatty liver disease (how's that for technical?) It can also occur with an absence of alcohol, called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD. In some cases inflammation can lead to scarring the liver into a state of cirrhosis. NAFLD has become the most common cause of liver disease in the US, affecting ~70 million people. Mostly caused by poor diet, greasy fast food, soda, etc..
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Oh come on. 1 in 3 people in the US suffer from this? Yeah. Right.
 
Yes. The statistics are real. Fatty liver disease is the most common liver disease in the US. What is scary is that NAFLD can progress to Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which is now the 4th most common cause of Liver transplant with predictions that it will become the most common cause in the next 10-20 years. The consequences of obesity are real and unfortunately overlooked and dismissed by too many. To the OP, I'm not sure what you would need to report. Good luck on your research and let us know what you find out.


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I suspect that 1 in 4.5 is not the actual rate as I did annual blood chemistries on the majority of my patients for some 35 years and I do not have the impression it is that prevalent (at least in my small town, mid west, fairly conservative, population)
Still Obesity, high calorie / low residue diet, lack of regular/strenuous muscle exercise, high chemical solvents load (primarily from plastics) and of course alcohol place severe demands on the hepatocytes and eventually the organ begins to swell and fail.

edit to add: Nancy Reagan was a wise lady
 
Doc, from what I've experienced in my travels...

Michigan is probably 1 in 10 (or 20)

But other states (that will remain nameless)...well...they balance things out with their extremely high obesity rates,

I got a kick out of @mtuomi who said 70 million was 1:3. That hasn't been the case since 1972.
 
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timwinters said:
Doc, from what I've experienced in my travels...

Michigan is probably 1 in 10 (or 20)

But other states (that will remain nameless)...well...

I got a kick out of @mtuomi who said 70 million was 1:3. That hasn't been the case since 1972.
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You try doing math after 2 bottles of wine!
#fattyliver
 
Liver and onions said:
Thanks, that's pretty much what my doctor said, I am concerned if I need to report it and if so, do I need any documentation to avoid being denied and delayed. :)
Click to expand...


Fatty Liver Disease in itself is not a disqualifying. For medical purposes, it's a Dr. visit in the last 5 yrs.
 
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