I have said before now that Parkies is not the only health issue that I have. I have arthritis in my hands and beginning in my knees and also in my back. I have had to have four operations to put in artificial finger joints because of my arthritis. I also have a hiatus hernia that plays up from time to time. I have a left leg that regularly gives me extreme pain. Now, I have just received news that I have a new health issue to wrap my head around.
I went for an ultrasound scan last week, as I have had pain in the right side of my stomach for some time. No-one seemed to know why or indeed what to do about it. Then recently, after some significant pain one of the Doctors at our medical practice – not our usual GP – decided to send me for an ultrasound. She had thought there was a possibility that I had gall bladder problems. The good news is no gall bladder issues.
Next comes the bad news….
I received a text this morning and all it said was, ‘Hi Sue – USS showed fatty liver. Dr Hollie.’ I don’t know who Doctor Hollie is and so I tried ringing the cellphone the message came from. No luck, as the message advised the voicemail was full. So, I decided to consult ‘Dr Google’. In the absence of a health expert to inform me what this meant, it felt like my only choice. The more I read about ‘fatty liver’ the more worried I became. It sounds like it could be pretty serious. There are of course varying degrees of this condition. I have no idea how serious my own diagnosis is, but having a messed up liver is far from ideal.
I have read that this can be caused by excessive fats in the diet that the liver can’t process. It can also be caused by higher than recommended alcohol consumption. I do like a G&T, Cider or Wine, but don’t consider myself to have a problem with alcohol. Remedies range from diet changes to low fat, getting more exercise and either cutting down – if not at the more serious end of the spectrum – or abstaining from alcohol altogether.
I know that I have put on weight gradually over the time since my diagnosis in 2020. I have perhaps been ‘comfort eating’. I know I have said from time to time that I feel I have a Psychological issue and that perhaps I indulge more in eating things that are not the best for me. The thinking being that at some stage I will lose weight with this condition and why not enjoy life and not worry about my weight being on the high side. As to alcohol, perhaps I have alcohol more often – but not every day by any means – and I know reducing this would help me be healthier.
So, today my husband came home from work and I burst into tears when I told him about my test results. We have been saying that I might have 20 years in my journey with Parkies. This new diagnosis has me frightened that I have wrecked my liver and maybe reduced my chances of living anywhere near that long.
I may be catastrophizing over this and should wait to talk to my GP. As soon as possible! But, I am frightened by this new health issue that has raised it’s ugly head. I know I have to take personal responsibility for this new diagnosis. Unlike Parkies – where I have been innocent, as far as I know in causing it – I have to take responsibility for this condition.
Still, it does sometimes feel that I get more than my fair share!
My journey with Parkinsons 