Have you been diagnosed with liver fibrosis stage 3?

It sounds like you have made positive changes to improve your liver and health in general. Here is some information. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fatty-liver-disease-masld/survival-rates/gnc-20590323

THANK YOU. Great info!!!!

Thank you! How is the Rezdiffra working? My new liver doctor pushed me to take it, but I don't trust it after seeing TV ads really pushing it and making it sound experimental. Plus they say do not take it if you have cirrhosis and I don't know. After the fasting blood test, the doctor said he now thought it was cirrhosis and his team would contact me right away. Nothing. I called. Nothing. Finally after two months he wrote back quoting his earlier message that it wasn't cirrhosis. So I cut and pasted his last comment saying it was, and he finally apologized, but I haven't seen him yet and won't until July.

If Rezdiffra company says to not take with cirrhosis but this doctor is pushing it, how can I trust him?

Thank you.

Dear Bevvon. Thanks for writing. Liver fibrosis is scary. I know. It sounds like you might likely be stage 3 but not cirrhosis. Stage 3 is who rezdiffra is for. I am glad to take it as it probably will be more likely to stay stage 3, and not turn into cirrhosis. I have minimal side effects. I take 80mgs. In AM with a good breakfast. Never on empty stomach. My ALT is 24 down from 55. . ‘I am more scared of cirrhosis than rezdiffra. Good luck to you, and i hope this helps in some small way. Take care.

@omemee

Thank you so much for that information. My doctor finally said it was cirrhosis, but my ALT and AST are almost normal. And if it is cirrhosis, then Rezdiffra says to not take it. I have to see him again, but wish I had someone I could trust.

The best to you!

Bev

@bevvon
I would't trust him at all, and not just because of his advice on the drug. The fact that he told you he thinks you have cirrhosis, then didn't get back to you until two months later in spite of the fact that you called the office, then makes a serious mistake that you have to correct regarding your diagnosis makes him completely untrustworthy and unreliable to me. I would find a new hepatologist.

@lylii thank you so much. I agree, but am not sure where to go or who to see. I don't even think he's more than a gastroenterologist. It took 8 months to originally see him also.

@bevvon
Online research says that Rezdiffra received early approval from the FDA (do we still have a trustworthy FDA?), but is still undergoing confirmatory clinical trials and Level 3 clinical trials. Since the drug can have toxic effects on the liver, I would be very hesitant to use it, especially if you are not sure you have cirrhosis or not. A good gastroenterologist should be able to answer this question for you. I would ask him what his original diagnosis of cirrhosis was based on, and then why he reversed the diagnosis. Cirrhosis isn't diagnosable or ruled out from a single blood test alone. I would be very wary. Are you in a rural area that makes it difficult to find a new gastroenterologist or a hepatologist? Is there a Medical School with teaching hospital anywhere near you?

@lylii Thank you SO much. Exactly what I was thinking about the FDA and Rezdfra. I'm in Oakland, California, so yes. I would have to get a referral for a new one, which can take weeks/months, but I'm thinking I should ask why he didn't read what he wrote or said. Originally, he said not likely cirrhosis but then I had the fasting test and he said it was likely, and his team would contact me and didn't. Finally, after chasing him, he repeated his first diagnosis, so I reminded him he said cirrhosis likely after the second test.

That all sounds incompetent. He wants me to have an ultrasound to make sure I don't have cancer, so I'm doing that next week.

Actually, a pain doctor said my ALT and AST were almost normal. I'm wondering if all this is about getting more people on Rezdiffra for kickbacks.

@bevvon see if you can get a fibro scan. They're offered for free in my area for research purposes. A scan shows fat level of liver and scarring/stiffness which determines fibrosis/cirrhosis level. I was level 3, a step from cirrhosis, and totally reversed it in 6 months with diet. I lost 40 pounds, stopped fried, processed, fast foods. Gave up dairy, alcohol and red meat. Focused on fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables. Eat organic whenever possible. There are liver support groups and liver recipe groups on Facebook. Good luck!