Want to know more about clinical trials? Here are some short videos from our partner Antidote.

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There are so many things about the way we deal with health in general and liver disease specifically that get my goat that the poor thing has the blind staggers from all of the abuse.

Our society has become a case study in death by excess.  We have too much food, too much leisure, too much convenience, too much marketing, too much image manipulation, too much feckless government, too much misinformation, too much profiteering.  I should stop as I've probably already said too much.

Our focus here may seem too limited to justify sweeping comments like this.  It paints me as a wild eyed crazy man for some. In my defense, my perspective comes from the very un-glamorous view from the liver.  Since there have been no treatments for the most common cause of liver failure and death, the glamor diseases like diabetes, heart failure, cancer, various genetic problems, and so on get the attention.  The problem, in its simplest form is that the liver is like an abused but uncomplaining spouse who lives under constant threat but perseveres in silence.  Our body is bio-chemically very complex and could not exist without the quiet workhorse that is the liver going about its 500 or more jobs.

Think of that.  A liver cell that is about one fifth as wide as a human hair is constantly involved directly or indirectly in 500 different functions and you will suffer some health consequence if any of them are not done.  This also explains why we have no treatments.  It is so complex that we simply have not had the ability to act against a problem without doing harm somewhere else. I'll expand on this in a future article but for now just keep it in mind as you think about liver disease.

I'm optimistic that a new goat will have a better chance.  There is a tremendous pressure for more and better patient advocacy and it is happening when medicine is simply exploding with innovation and discovery.  We have a vast array of current problems to deal with but I am convinced that we are on the brink of a golden age for medicine and patients.  Our biggest challenge will be taking what we know and delivering it in a useful way to the population as a whole.  A key to that will be patients who are engaged in their own care and who actively participate as their own advocates.  It will not always be pretty but the future is bright in spite of the great confusion within the government right how. 

The foundation was spawned out of my personal journey through undiagnosis, misdiagnosis, and finally a stage 4 NASH so I've chronicled my journey through our website.  I just completed a checkup at the transplant center and now that we are two years into my treatment plan I am starting to get enough data that might be helpful.

I do have some very encouraging results to report.  In 2015 I had an MRI elastography which reported my liver stiffness as 4.8 kPa.  Their scale shows that to be a stage 3 moving into full cirrhosis which they start at 5.0 kPA. My biopsy called it cirrhosis and I also had a fibroscan that year which read as 21.5.  Anything above 12 is considered to be cirrhosis. A long way around to say I really do have a liver in trouble even though I have never had a symptom of any kind.  Go figure.

There are many ways to support the efforts of this foundation.  General purpose donations are welcome from anyone concerned about public health in general or liver disease specifically.  At the program level  we invite sponsorship in the following ways.

The Diamond level sponsor supports the operation of our screening and clinical trial registration project with a minimum of $200,000.  The diamond sponsors may fund a mobil screening system and be featured prominently with logos and other information in all of our media efforts promoting their support for public health.

The Gold level sponsorship is anyone who contributes at least $100,000 to the foundation in general support but these sponsors do have the opportunity to direct their contributions to be dedicated to particular projects in partnership with the foundation.  The screening project is our most visible patient outreach program but there are many needs within the obesity, fatty liver, and cirrhosis challenged patients that benefit from efforts surrounding the screening events.

The silver level sponsor has provided a contribution of at least $50,000 which will be used for general and administrative expenses.  Silver level sponsors will be honored on the company website with a display of their logo and links to their webpages for more information.

Bronze level contributors have provided contributions of at least $20,000 which will be used for general and administrative purposes and they will be honored on a page of our website recognizing their contributions.

Blue ribbon contributors have supported our efforts with at least $10,000 and these funds will go mostly toward internal non program expenses as they will be consolidated with smaller donations but they will be recognized on our blue ribbon page.

Green level contributions are all those less than $10,000.  These represent the real public support of the foundation.  Like the fertilizer that helps plants grow, the organic contributions of the public at large are the most valuable as they represent the patient and caregiver groups to which we dedicate our efforts.

Whatever level of support you can give will be greatly appreciated and will be used to maximize its benefit to the current and future patients of liver disease and the complications of obesity which is at the heart of most fatty liver disease.

On the morning of December 23, 2010, after having my gall bladder removed, I was shown a picture of my liver and told I had a stage 4 liver cirrhosis. It was a powerful and frightening moment – one that is seared into my memory. And one that began more than a half-decade of tests, misdiagnoses, and, eventually, lifestyle changes.

I was astonished that morning to learn that my case was pretty typical. Cirrhosis, the final stage of liver disease leading to liver failure, is commonly reached without any warning symptoms. I remember very clearly my doctor’s words: “I’m sorry, but we have nothing to offer. There is no treatment.” My vision of my liver was that of a deadly beast that would kill me. Being told that losing weight and exercising could help didn’t inspire.

You can read the article in the Stanford Medicine Blog Scope here

http://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2016/12/20/the-beast-in-my-belly-living-with-a-chronic-liver-disease/

If you want to really understand Fatty Liver Disease, spend some time watching the videos below.  They present a great deal of information, but if knowledge is your goal, this is a great place to start.

Part of dealing with liver disease is to understand it.  In order to help you, we are working with Armando Hasudungan who produces superb short videos to explain complex medical subjects.  We use them throughout the site to help you understand your body and specifically your liver.  The first video gives you a view of the liver overall and the following ones focus on details.

So how does what I eat cause me problems?

OK, but how does Cirrhosis happen?

So what is cirrhosis that is the one that scares me.

I suppose the next question is what are the signs and symptoms and management of liver disease.

Darn, so how bad can it be really?

Causes part 1

Causes part 2

If you would like to explore the science behind the diets click on this link.

Click here for more information about the foundation or

Check out the drop downs in the boxes above for details.

On the morning of December 23, 2010, after having my gall bladder removed, I was shown a picture of my liver and told I had a stage 4 liver cirrhosis. It was a powerful and frightening moment – one that is seared into my memory. And one that began more than a half-decade of tests, misdiagnoses, and, eventually, lifestyle changes.