How Ignoring My Health Led to a Fatty Liver Diagnosis

My journey with fatty liver disease started in the most unexpected way. I had always been someone who considered himself fairly active. I wasn’t a gym fanatic, but I thought my weekend hikes and occasional jogs were enough to balance out my love for junk food. In my mind, fatty liver disease was something that happened to other people—people who didn’t exercise, people who overindulged.

"But life has a way of humbling you."

I was about 45 when I first noticed something wasn’t right. I had been feeling more tired than usual, but I blamed it on work stress. It wasn’t until I began to experience this dull, persistent ache on my right side that I decided it was time to get checked out. I honestly thought it was something like indigestion or a pulled muscle from a bad workout. But the tests revealed elevated liver enzymes, and soon after, I got the news: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD.

I’ll never forget sitting in that sterile doctor’s office. The fluorescent lights above me seemed to buzz louder as my doctor explained what NAFLD was and how it was likely tied to my diet and weight. I had heard of fatty liver before but never thought it could happen to someone like me. I mean, I didn’t drink excessively, and I certainly didn’t feel sick—well, not yet anyway.

My doctor told me I needed to change my lifestyle—no more greasy takeout, no more skipping meals, and definitely no more neglecting my health. The thing was, I didn’t feel that bad. And that’s what makes NAFLD so sneaky; you can walk around feeling mostly okay while your liver is gradually deteriorating. So, I did what many people in my situation do. I nodded, said I would be more careful, and then… didn’t change much at all.

Fast forward a few years, and things started to take a turn for the worse. I began feeling fatigued almost constantly. It was like someone had flipped a switch in my body, and suddenly I was dragging myself through every day. I also started losing my appetite, which was a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I was finally shedding some of the extra weight I had carried for years, but a curse because I knew deep down that this wasn’t happening in a healthy way. By the time I went back to my doctor, my liver was in rough shape. I wasn’t just dealing with NAFLD anymore—it had progressed to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is basically fatty liver’s uglier, more dangerous cousin.

"My doctor told me if I didn’t make some serious changes, I could be looking at cirrhosis or even a liver transplant down the line."

That’s when it hit me. I wasn’t invincible. I wasn’t going to walk away from this without scars—both physical and emotional—if I didn’t get my act together. So, I did something I hadn’t done before: I took it seriously.

I completely overhauled my diet. I started eating more whole foods—vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains—and cut out almost all processed junk. I also committed to regular exercise. I wasn’t running marathons, but I started with manageable, sustainable workouts that made me feel better, not worse. Walking became my therapy. Each step felt like I was taking control of something I had long ignored.

It wasn’t easy, though. There were days when I just wanted to give up. Changing habits you’ve had for decades doesn’t happen overnight, and there were times I slipped. But over time, I began to notice small improvements. I wasn’t as tired anymore. The ache in my side became less frequent. And, when I went for my follow-up blood tests, my liver enzymes were actually improving.

I’m not going to pretend I’m cured. Fatty liver disease doesn’t just disappear. It’s something I have to manage for the rest of my life.

"But knowing that I can take steps to prevent it from getting worse is empowering."

One of the hardest parts of this whole journey was explaining it to my family and friends. When you tell people you have a liver problem, the first question they ask is, “Do you drink a lot?” It’s a stigma that comes with liver disease, and it’s frustrating. But what’s more important is educating people. I’ve since learned that so many people walk around with fatty liver disease and have no idea. And for those who do know, it’s easy to dismiss it because the symptoms don’t always hit you right away.

If there’s one thing I’d like people to take away from my story, it’s this: don’t wait until it’s too late. Fatty liver disease can creep up on you even when you think you’re living a relatively healthy life. Pay attention to your body, listen to your doctors, and make those changes before your liver forces you to. I’m lucky that I caught mine before it progressed to the point of no return. Not everyone gets that second chance.