If you are here because you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Fatty Liver Disease there are a couple of terms you need to know. In 2023 Non-Alcohol Fatty-Liver Disease or NAFLD was changed to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease or MASLD.
MASH is the more advanced stage of MASLD and NASH represents the more advanced stage of NAFLD.
This diagram shows the progression of the disease.
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| The percentages between the images show the number of people affected. Note at the top right, the adverse effects in years on lifespan if the disease isn't slowed or reversed. |
Stages:
MASLD or NAFLD: Fat builds up in the liver, but little to no inflammation or liver damage occurs. At this stage the disease is reversable with diet and exercise.
MASH or NASH: The liver has fat buildup plus inflammation and damage, which can lead to scarring (fibrosis).
Cirrhosis: Severe scarring from long-term inflammation, leading to liver failure. A liver transplant becomes a life-saving necessity.
Symptoms: Frequently none in early stages. Fatigue and discomfort in the upper right abdomen later on. Advanced stages may show jaundice, fluid retention (ascites), and confusion.
In my search for more information, I found the American Liver Foundation and this video which motivated me to make changes to slow or reverse the disease.
My Diagnosis
I found out in a CT scan that I had a Fatty Liver. I discovered many people find out they have it by accident as I did. While a CT scan can tell that MASLD or Fatty Liver is present, it can't tell what stage a person is in. This speech at the UCLA Health conference explains the challenge of diagnosing this disease.
I took my results to my family doctor. Because I don't drink alcohol, he said I had Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and suggested I lose some weight.
NEXT: Being Real about My Diagnosis
Once you have a Fatty Liver NAFLD or MASLD diagnosis, it's a good idea to see a Gastroenterologist. This doctor can do an Elastography (FibroScan is the brand name) to measure your liver to determine what stage your disease has progressed to. I put off having the scan because I was worried about the cost. In the end, my scan was under $100 and my insurance covered it.