Cheryl’s multiple miscarriages following IVF treatment led her to comfort binge-eating. When she finally became pregnant naturally she developed gestational diabetes and preeclampsia and had to have a caeserean. That and the medication she needed affected her liver. After her daughter’s birth she continued to feel poorly and was ‘disabled by fatigue’ until the arrival of a new nurse at her GP surgery and Cheryl’s determination to follow a healthier lifestyle made a dramatic difference to her health. Thank you for sharing your story, Cheryl
I’ve always suffered with my health, but I’ve masked it and just got on with it because I don’t know anything else.
I have polycystic ovary syndrome and am insulin resistant so I struggled for years to get pregnant – I had years of fertility treatment and ovarian stimulation, but suffered eight miscarriages. My daughter was conceived naturally and unexpectedly a few years later in 2012 after I stopped all the treatments due to the effect on my mental health. Looking back, I really don’t know how I got through it all. It certainly triggered comfort binge eating which led to an unhealthy weight gain and lifestyle.
I then suffered with gestational diabetes when I was pregnant – it was quite aggressive and hard to keep under control. I also had something called polyhydramnios (where there is too much amniotic fluid around the baby during pregnancy) which can affect the organs, including the liver and the baby. This is a complication of diabetes in pregnancy, but only one per cent have this condition and I would be that one per cent! My daughter was born a healthy 7lbs 5oz at eight months through an emergency caesarean because I had diabetic ketoacidosis (when the body starts to run out of insulin) and preeclampsia. Blood tests showed my liver function was suffering too. I was told that was probably the result of the caesarean, preeclampsia, the diabetes and all the medication I was taking.
It took six months to heal my liver and get rid of the diabetes after stopping medications and the after-effects of pregnancy, but I was warned that I would always need to keep an eye on it. I continued to feel quite poorly, was disabled by fatigue and couldn’t function properly. The doctor picked up on my B12 levels, but I didn’t really get any tests done. It was only when a new nurse took over at my GP surgery in 2020 that I was called in. She wanted to check my liver function and do a diabetes check.
I didn’t know anything about NAFLD and wasn’t even given a leaflet.
The diabetes had come back with a vengeance. My liver function was suffering too and causing a stabbing pain. I also had something called albuminuria – a sign of kidney disease. I was 36 then and felt far too young to be having all of these conditions. I freaked out when I was told I would be tested for hepatitis – it’s a scary word that you associate that with drug users or promiscuous sexual activities.
I was also referred to a gastroenterologist who asked for a liver scan and it showed it was enlarged and fatty. I received my NAFLD diagnosis in the form of a letter and was left to my own devices. I didn’t know anything about it and wasn’t even given a leaflet. I panicked and was anxious that I might die. I kept thinking I’ve got a little girl to look after. I’ve never drunk alcohol, smoked or done any illegal drugs, so I was very confused and thought why is this happening to me?
I felt embarrassed about the diagnosis too because of the stigma attached to it. People don’t understand liver disease and think it’s associated with abusing your body. I didn’t want to tell people because it would sound like I was a hypochondriac or making up stories saying I was ill with this, ill with that… because in a way it’s unbelievable how much someone can be ill.
When I did confide in a couple of people they said: ‘Is that why you don’t drink then?’ Or ‘You’re much too young to have that. You must have hammered the alcohol’. I’ve never done that.
Most people don’t educate themselves about liver disease until they or someone they know has it. They shouldn’t be so quick to judge. There’s a whole host of reasons why somebody’s organs might fail them or don’t work properly.
Every time I spoke to the surgery nurse I kept saying I need to be here for my daughter – I cannot be like this. My GP told me to lose a bit of weight and concentrate on lifestyle changes and I started doing my own research about how to look after your liver. I then understood why I had been so chronically fatigued. I’d been completely exhausted 24/7 and could sleep 16 hours a day. My friends would ask me if I was coming out, but I was too ashamed to say why I wouldn’t. With my low energy I’d make it through to the end of the day but then wanted to stay at home in my pyjamas. And because I was so tired I wasn’t taking great care of myself so I’d got stuck in this vicious cycle.
A painful side effect to my liver disease was biliary colic and gallbladder problems
A painful side effect from my liver disease was something called biliary colic and gallbladder problems which meant I was hospitalised during flare-ups. These flare-ups would happen if I ate heavy meals such as pasta or bread. They are seriously crippling and painful.
So I stopped eating takeaways. I read that you should follow more of Mediterranean diet and prepare fresh vegetables. I also limited carbohydrates to limit the diabetes. Things weren’t improving though and I couldn’t work out what was going on. So I was sent back to the gastroenterologist and he said it was linked to the diabetes.
I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder.
Sometimes I felt like giving up but this nurse kept on top of me. She said ‘clearly your diabetes medicine isn’t working’ and changed all my medication. She rang me every two weeks and changed my medication four or five times until it was right. Now my diabetes and liver results are in the normal ranges and she’s very proud of me. I have the best nurse.
I still have other autoimmune medical conditions including fibromyalgia. They affect me daily in a similar way to liver disease, but I just get on with it. Thankfully since my liver has improved my other conditions have become easier to manage. I’m doing the best I can and have the confidence now to go off and educate myself on what I need to do to fix it.
The gastroenterologist told me to follow either a Mediterranean or vegan diet and I now cook everything from fresh.
Every doctor should have information booklets or links to support groups because you’ll find conflicting advice on the internet. That’s how I found the British Liver Trust and its genuine, trustworthy information. I always look for legitimate sources not just people telling you “someone’s mum said…” or others suggesting what to do when they may not necessarily know.
Although I am improving, I still struggle every day but am learning to manage and be kinder to myself. Every day is a new start and I am mindful about the effects of what I consume will have on my body, my multiple comorbidities and how to lessen their side-effects and symptoms. My liver will always be my best friend as I now know just how important it is for your body’s processing to get you through life. Fortunately our liver is the only organ that can regenerate parts of its tissues. 
What’s key is to have three meals a day, but not if it’s packaged and got a label on it – to me that’s not real food. In the past I would go to McDonalds, then get awful stomach cramps and diarrhoea and wonder why. I’m not even attracted to the taste of that now. I couldn’t think of anything worse. I now cook everything from fresh.
If anyone who is suffering similar to myself asked me for advice, I would say be kind and patient with yourself, life is not a rush. It’s taken me two-and-a-half years to get my liver healthy. Look at the whole picture and break your journey down into small steps. The first step is accepting then recognising, the second is having a plan. I now plan all my meals for the week to keep me focused and reward myself with a spa day – something healthy for the body instead of chocolate bars and sweets! I have goals.
You can have as many steps as you need but sometimes life will throw you off a few steps here and there, but there’s always a step leading you back.
