Context:

Susan Horava, after years of being told by doctors that her elevated liver enzymes were not a concern, was finally diagnosed with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), which progressed to metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and eventually cirrhosis. Despite maintaining a relatively healthy lifestyle, her ignorance of the impact of sugar and certain foods on her liver contributed to the disease's progression. When symptoms like fatigue, pain, and indigestion intensified, a gastroenterologist conducted further tests, revealing the severity of her condition. Horava's frustration with the medical oversight motivated her to join Liver Education Advocates, aiming to raise awareness about the non-alcohol-related causes of liver disease. Her story emphasizes the importance of early detection and lifestyle changes in managing and potentially reversing fatty liver disease in its early stages.

Dive Deeper:

• For over a decade, Susan Horava's elevated liver enzymes were dismissed by doctors, leading to a delayed diagnosis of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), which progressed to a severe stage known as metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) before culminating in cirrhosis.

• Despite her efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and occasional exercise, Horava underestimated the detrimental effects of sugar-laden foods and drinks on her liver health.

• As symptoms such as muscle contractions, abdominal pain, and fatigue escalated, a concerned gastroenterologist ordered extensive testing, revealing significant liver scarring and damage that had previously gone unnoticed.

• Horava's experience highlights the critical need for healthcare providers to take elevated liver enzymes seriously and for patients to be proactive in seeking comprehensive evaluations and testing options such as ultrasounds or fibrosis tests.

• Motivated by her ordeal, Horava became an advocate for liver health, aiming to dismantle misconceptions that liver disease is solely linked to alcohol or drug use, and to promote awareness of the reversible nature of fatty liver disease if caught early.

• Her story serves as a cautionary tale of the silent progression of liver disease and underscores the importance of understanding the liver's vital functions, with a call to action for individuals with risk factors to speak up and seek early intervention.

• Horava's transformation to a lifestyle free of added sugars and focused on home-cooked meals and regular exercise demonstrates the potential for managing liver health post-diagnosis, despite her liver being permanently scarred.