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Lupus and Fatty Liver

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Posted 3/20/2013 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone i have just found out i have Lupus and Very bad LFT. I also have fatty liver disease and its like i can feel my liver swelling inside me i also have very bad joint and muscle pain and of course fatigue which is driving me nuts! im only 20 years old.

My doctor is testing me for everything again in 3 months and if its getting worse he will do a liver biopsy and if my lupus gets worse then it will be aggressive chemo which terrifies me


I was wondering if anyone else has fatty liver disease with no cholesterol problems and lupus?
Posted 3/20/2013 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
I don't recall anyone mentioning that combination but maybe someone will read this and step up to share. Glad you are joining us at HW.
Posted 3/20/2013 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry you're having to deal with this.
I don't fatty liver disease.
Posted 3/21/2013 11:27 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you both! yeah im just confused as to what is going on all i can hear when the doctor speaks is Chemo because i am so scared about it.
Posted 3/22/2013 5:04 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry that you're having so many problems with your liver. Sounds like they need to figure out why you have such a problem with a fatty liver. I've had lupus for 25 years and I've not heard it to be a common thing with lupus.

As for the chemo, I've been on it numerous times, I know the thought is scary, but it really isn't as bad as it used to be years ago. I can honestly say I have NEVER once vomited from any of my chemo infusions, they are pretty good with medication on that part.

Did I lose my hair, yes I did when I was on cytoxan, but there are all sorts of hats, scarfs, and wigs out there. I just went out with my bald head and didn't let it bother me. I did lose a fair amount of weight on the cytoxan as I didn't have much of an appetite, I also was fatigued, but I was really fatigued anyway. My lupus was really bad and actually once I got on my cytoxan I felt the best I had in a long time and was able to lower my steroids to an all time low. There is also a chemo drug called methotrexate and it's an oral chemo and I've taken that too, it didn't bother me at all, I've taken it both orally and given myself a weekly injection of the drug.

I'm not trying to diminish the seriousness of chemo, but the chemo drugs they normally use for lupus don't seem to be as hard hitting as say someone whose getting a bone marrow transplant. Usually, with lupus patients who are having kidney issues and CNS issues are on the chemo for 6 months, and it's normally 1 infusion per month. After 6 months the reevaluate and see how you are doing.

So try not to worry so much about the chemo, until you have to deal with it. Stress isn't good for lupus patients and until you need to be focused on the chemo, you're best to focus on getting better and trying to stay as stress free as possible.

Hugs,
Barbara
Posted 3/27/2013 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Have they tested you for Auto Immune Hepatitis? In my case liver failure was the first time any of my AI were diagnosed (or taken seriously).
Posted 3/29/2013 12:51 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry to hear all this. I found out six months ago that I also suffer from fatty liver disease. My rheumatologist told me that lupus itself will cause it, as I'm barely 100 lbs, and very fit. I eat a gluten free diet, and inquired about the liver at my last gastro appointment. He suggested that prednisone, which I've been on for about 15 years, will cause a fatty liver. Hopefully there will be more answers to come:( Hope things get better for you soon:)
Posted 4/2/2013 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone.
I just joined the forum. I care for my wife who has Lupus, Hep "C", Diabetes. migraines(several types) and the fatty liver you have been discussing. We have done the best we can over the years with no insurance, until recently she was able to get on medicaid. We have tried many drugs trying to combat the almost constant flares she lived with for years. The trouble with liver problems is when you take prednisone or other drugs for lupus it usually hurts the liver and when you treat the Hep C it causes problems with Lupus. You have to watch both diseases and walk a fine line. She has suffered greatly as you know. We do not have a Rheumatologist due to unavailable funds but we have a wonderful family dr who really cares. He tried a drug called Plaquenil that has reduced her flares a great deal. Since starting she went about 5 months until this weekend we are fighting one now, but hopefully it will not last like the others did. She still has the constant headaches and we are scheduled for a MRI of her brain on 4/2/13. Hope we get some answers. As I am sure everyone here is, she also is a wonderful person that does not deserve this curse. No one does. I see that some of you have had chemo for lupus. This is the first I have heard of this. I want the best for my wife and I have to ask if I should check into this? Does it help? and how? Thank you for any response. Take care everyone.
Posted 6/4/2013 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
I have been diagnosed with Lupus before but then my doctor moved and the new one said no mixed connective tissue and fibro so am still trying to figure it out, but I just found out today that I have a fatty liver. The doctor said eat a low fat diet and exercise. I already eat a pretty low fat diet and try to exercise when I am physically able so we will see. Also to the man who cares for his wife, you might have them check and see if she has pseudotumor cerebri. I suffered for years with headaches and 2 years ago while testing me for MS I found out that my spinal fluid pressure is high and it can cause all types of problems. Sometimes scans are negative even though your pressure is high and from what I have read and been through personally, it seems the only sure way to know is through a lumbar puncture. Hoping everyone is feeling better soon!

M

Posted 6/5/2013 9:02 AM (GMT 0)
I have UCTD and fatty liver. I am obese though.
Posted 7/26/2014 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
hello my name is Raul i am 22 years old when i was about 9 i was diagnoses with lupus i was on kepra for a few years its been a good 5 or more years i been good no meds no nothing but i went in for a check up and my doc said i had my liver ensis elevated and i am going to school for ultrasound so i had my friends and teacher scan my liver and it was fatty. my teacher said hes not sure if it has to do anything with lupus but for me do start eating better and to cut down on beer .

i hope this help please get back to me on how your doing
Posted 10/13/2015 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hello my name is Liz, I was diagnosed with Lupus 23 yrs ago, when I was 17. Found out today that I have fatty liver disease was wondering how common this, I have never heard about it in Lupus.
Posted Today 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, I have lupus SLE and was told I have fatty liver. I don't know how common this is in Lupus. However; I had been taking Azathioprine (Imuran) since 2002 and was recently told to stop taking it until further notice. I have yet to see what my GI Dr. is going to say about this on my next appointment. However; I did read that Azathioprine can cause liver injury.

Post Edited (Olaf Mendez) : 11/28/2015 6:50:12 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/31/2019 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hello
I started having liver problems before my lupus diagnosis. They did a biopsy and discovered a fatty liver and a iron overload problem. They told me to loose weight and sent me on my way. I lost my insurance after all of that. I never really felt okay, I would sleep all day if you let me and every joint in my body was hurting. I spoke to my twin sister that was struggling with lupus. She said the symptoms were the same , she told me to go to a rheumatologist. The doctors fee and labs were extremely expensive so I waited until I couldn't take it anymore. The blood work showed I was in the middle of a flare and definitely had lupus. Going back now I am not sure if the fatty liver is associated with the lupus or not. I would have to guess it is. The doctors have given me predisone for when it gets really bad because I could not afford insurance again this year, he cant prescribe the medication I need to help control the lupus because it is so expensive.
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