Question:
Have fatty liver diagnosis, anyone else? Losing weight too fast?
My liver enzyme test show elevation, specialist today said that is due to extreme weight loss. (78 lbs in 3 months). He will do more tests, but said I may have to have bypass reversed, has anyone else heard this before? I am worried sick, please email me: [email protected] — Shelley F. (posted on August 29, 2002)
August 28, 2002
First dont panic. Have you called your WLS? My surgeon says that nearly
always livers that are fatty pre op improve post op from the weight loss. I
wonder if there is something about your diet or food that is somehow
adversly affecting your liver? Or if this test were somehow wrong or miss
read? You can sl;ow the loss IF your surgeon feels it would help. Eating
more carbs and grazing will slow down the rate. Please keep us all
informed of how this turns out.
— bob-haller
August 28, 2002
First dont panic. Have you called your WLS? My surgeon says that nearly
always livers that are fatty pre op improve post op from the weight loss. I
wonder if there is something about your diet or food that is somehow
adversly affecting your liver? Or if this test were somehow wrong or miss
read? You can sl;ow the loss IF your surgeon feels it would help. Eating
more carbs and grazing will slow down the rate. Please keep us all
informed of how this turns out.
— bob-haller
August 28, 2002
Are you diabetic? Meant to add MOST of us have faty livers pre op, its
common in MOs.
— bob-haller
August 28, 2002
You drinking excess alcohol or taking OTC pain meds as a post op? These 2
can create liver troubles..
— bob-haller
August 28, 2002
I had a liver biopsy done during my WLS. This is something that my surgeon
does routinely. I showed slight scarring of the liver and my enzymes have
become slightly elevated after WLS. My doctor and the liver specialist that
he had me go see have mentioned that the elevated enzymes are most likely a
result of my rapid weight loss. However, neither of them have even
mentioned the possibility of having to have a reversal. If your doctor says
that is what you need to do, you should request a second opinion. A high
percentage of postops have elevated liver enzymes. They usually carrect
themselves when your weight loss slows down some. HTH.
Karen P.
— Karen P.
August 29, 2002
Shelley, I guess I'm confused. I think everyone who is MO has a fatty
liver. AFter losing about 60-70 lbs, I went in for a hida scan and an
ultrasound because of gall bladder problems. The tech remembered me from a
previous ultrasound, and commented on how "normal" my liver looks
compared to before the weight loss. It is my understanding that losing the
weight improves the liver. Why reverse a good thing? I think you need
another opinion from your WLS surgeon, and perhaps just more info from your
doc as to why he thinks a reversal would help? Ask lots of questions before
taking such a drastic step! Good luck!
— Susan S.
August 29, 2002
Shelly, with a starting BMI of 68, 78 pounds in 3 months is not that
unheard of. I guess I am confused about what kind of specialst you saw, AND
is he pro weight loss surgery??? His comment to you about potentially
needing to have a reversal sounds to me like someone who does not support
this procedure in the first place. Especially if he made that statement
before he knows the answers to everything that is going on. A second
opinion is DEFINATELY in order before you do something so drastic as
reversing your bypass. And, if the rapid weight loss is the problem, them
maybe you could work with your surgeon and dietician to slow weight loss a
little. You are doing good, your weight loss will continue to make you feel
good. Good luck on the rest of your journey.
— Vicki L.
August 29, 2002
My liver enzyme tests (post-op months 1 and 3) also came back elevated. My
surgeon (the ones who did Carnie Wilson's surgery) told me that it is
normal to be elevated because the body is losing a lot of fat - which
filters through the liver. She told me not to worry but that they will
keep checking it through my post-op lab works. My next test is in 2 more
months.
— Jennifer A.
August 29, 2002
I'm having the same situation at 6 wks out. My cardiologist, testing for
cholesterol and liver dysfunction (due to the Lipitor I take) was surprised
that my liver enzyme counts were slightly elevated. He admitted he didn't
know the effect of WLS but was concerned because I had not shown this trend
pre-op. Saw my WLS surgeon yesterday, and he had similar comments regarding
the cause as Bob had for you. I'm getting retested in two weeks. I'f
finding that my other doctors are not well versed in WLS surgery and I'm
needing to rely on my surgeon. I've lost 52 pounds and I was also concerned
about the rate. the surgeon told me I'm ahead of normal, but that
everything was fine. I think you need to trust the experts.
— John P.
August 29, 2002
Slight elevation is normal for us, though that doesn't make it GOOD,
exactly. HOw high? A smidge over normal? Did he recommend milk thistle for
awhile first?
— vitalady
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