At Last! Biopsy Results that Seem Promising

Last week I had my third liver biopsy in seven months (for those who are unfamiliar, this number is well above average). The past two showed troubling results and I'm greatly relieved to receive better news this time around.

Regarding the presence of fat in my liver, I quote: "GONE :)"

That sigh of relief you heard was mine!

My liver biopsy in June 2010 showed 80 percent - 80%! - fat in my liver, which is very unhealthy and also is an inidcator of metabolic syndrome. My docs told me to lose weight and control my blood sugar better, and I did. Even hampered by the steroids I had to take after my rejection episode, which made it very tough to follow doctors' orders, I was able to keep off the weight I initially lost (the blood sugar was beyond my control, however). Nonetheless, it worked!

The lessons: Follow doctor's orders. Hope for the best and stay as positive as possible. Don't give up.

Image courtesy of DiabetesMonitor.com

Same Ol', Same Ol'

Well, there's good news and there's bad news. This was the lead-in during the follow-up call after my liver biopsy.

The good news: The fibrosis in my liver has remained steady and is the same as my most recent prior biopsy, which was done in November 2009. The even better news is that the degree of inflamation has decreased on its scale, from 7 to 3.

And then there's the other news: There was 80 percent fat in the tissue sample. I don't know exactly what this measurement means, but 80 percent fat sounds bad no matter how it's explained.

As far as my liver is concerned, this is the same ol', same ol'. The biopsy results just raised more questions. If my liver is less inflamed than it was eight months ago, why are my liver enzymes elevated? And how in the world can there be 80 percent fat in my liver. In the biopsy I had in February 2009, there was 30 percent fat - and that was bad. But that November it was 10 percent. So in the past eight months, my liver is less inflamed but the percentage of fat went from 10 to 80 percent? Huh?

Fat in the liver can be an indication of fatty liver disease and/or metabolic syndrome, which contribute to poor liver health (among other things). Gotta get this sorted out. More blood work next week, with new tests to measure I'm-not-certain-what. Yep, it's more of the same thing. I'm hoping for some answers - fingers crossed!

Photo by Rose Ann