29 Year Old with Fatty Liver

This is Part 1 of a guest blog by Stephen Silva. The year is 2013, I’m at my doctor’s office, a place that I absolutely hate. I wan’t worried about being a 29 year old with fatty liver. I just have this ugly rash on my arm and I want it gone. The doctor came into the room and announces that my blood pressure is dangerously high. “Take this pill, and if your blood pressure doesn’t drop drastically in the next 20 minutes, we’re calling an ambulance.”

“Seriously?” I ask, “I came here for you to look at this rash, and I told my job I’d be an hour late. I don’t have time for this.”

It Got Worse

He says “You’re going to have to start taking blood pressure medication daily, and you seriously need to lose weight, AND we need to do blood work.”

I thought, “This is why I effing hate coming to the doctor. Somebody help me with this annoying rash.” Seriously, I was fine before I walked into that office!

29 year old with Fatty Liver

Two days later the doctor called with bad news; my liver enzymes were highly elevated. This indicated that I had a thing called Fatty Liver. I’d have to eat healthier, lose weight and “slow down on the drinking”. The doctor advised if I didn’t do these things, then Fatty Liver could progress to cirrhosis of the liver.

At the time I had never heard of Fatty Liver, but I had an idea of what cirrhosis was. It was the disease that 60-year-old winos and alcoholics got. I certainly didn’t want that. I was 29 years old with fatty liver because of my daily drinking? “Wow, this isn’t good,” I thought, “I need to get my crap together in the next 10 to 15 years so that I don’t end up with cirrhosis when I’m 60.” 

I decided to slow down for the next few weeks. Instead of getting drunk every night, I tried to only get drunk on the weekends. I would lightly drink during the week only if we went to a restaurant. I’d also try to eat healthier. I had tuna for lunch and strictly water during the day.

“No more getting drunk during the week”

Over the next 3 years I went through a cycle like this: For a few weeks or months I’d drink hard 6 nights a week, barely eat except late-night “drunk food”, and then have a drink in the morning before work to manage the hangover. Next, I’d decide to quit drinking and eat healthier. Most of the time that only lasted 3 days.

Then I’d just cut back on the drinking and “No more getting drunk during the week, 2 drinks max on weeknights,” I’d declare. That would usually last a week. All the while I kept a fulltime  job for an auto finance company, was a good dad and most of the world knew me as a fun-loving family man who liked to relax with a few drinks and have a good time. 

Constant Pain in my Side

By the end of 2015, I was getting tired of the excessive drinking. I felt like I was always “buzzing” or hungover. There was no in-between. Also, I was gaining even more weight, which made me worry about fatty liver. I felt tired all of the time. Plus, I felt like I had to drink every day just to feel normal, also I started having near-constant pain on my right side and back.

In the spring of 2016, my stomach had become so tender that I couldn’t even bear the pain of hugging my kids. I felt so exhausted every day that I struggled to get out of bed. My morning ritual was to cough until I would spit up blood. My looks deteriorated to the point where I avoided mirrors. Then I caught my own eyes. “Are they turning yellow?”, I wondered. “No, it has to be the lightning.” Something was undeniably not right with my body though.

32 year old with fatty liver

I knew exactly what it was…. I had been working so hard since I was 18 years old. I was 32 now. I needed a break. I needed to take a couple of months and stay home. I pitched the idea to my sweet wife. She desperately wanted me to feel better so she obliged. However, something in my mind and gut, more specifically this horrible pain in my right ribcage indicated deeper problems. 

You’ll be back for Part 2 because everyone wants to see what an amazing transformation took place in Stephens life. I’m hooked on his story, and his zest for living. I’m positive that you will be too. XO Karen

Bio

My name is Stephen Silva, and I am an American Indian from the Sicangu Lakota Nation (Rosebud Sioux tribe), also mixed with Mexican American, Costa Rican, and Caucasian. I was born and raised in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, TX. I have been married to my wife Sue Ann since I was 20 years old. We have two teenage sons. My diagnosis with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver was in May, 2016 at 32 years old. Four years later, I am a runner, healthy lifestyle advocate, Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee, and a huge fan of hip hop and sports.

Follow Me

You can follow me on Instagram at @stephenstaysclean. I don’t only post about cirrhosis, even though that is a big part of my journey. I also post about everything and everyone that has helped me become who I am today.