Thanks, Rosemary. I read the material you suggested as well as other articles on-line. I would appreciate comments from members of the group. My primary diagnosis is alcohol liver disease, with an initial diagnosis of macronodular cirrhosis. I have never been a heavy alcohol drinker, but my doctor said drinking even moderate amounts of alcohol for many years could lead to alcohol liver disease. To reach this diagnosis, I had lab work, and a sonogram of my liver. My doctor also commented during our first visit I did not look like a typical liver disease patient (not over-weight or having signs of yellow skin discoloration, I guess). He has now prescribed hepatitis A&B vaccines; MRI evaluation of cirrhosis; additional lab work; and an endoscopy. My only symptom, although not directly related to liver disease, is GERD. Well, I do have general symptoms (tired, loss of appetite, weight loss during past six month), but I initially attributed those symptoms to my mitral valve insufficiency and being at a higher elevation during the summer. I modified my diet in mid-June after my Colorado PCP's nurse mentioned I had fatty liver disease; my PCP said I did not have fatty liver disease. Questions: What to expect symptom-wise? Does a strictly-modified diet improve the status of the liver cirrhosis? What symptoms are normal when a patient needs a liver transplant? Should I get a second opinion?
Thanks, Sarah.