I (41F, executive chef) was diagnosed with compensated cirrhosis about a month ago and recently had my first endoscopy which showed my first symptom of liver damage (portal hypertension). I'm still navigating this and trying to figure out what's best for me and my liver, but here's what I started doing:
Quit drinking January 10th, 2026 2 months prior to official diagnosis
Started eating healthier, but just quiting the calories from drinking was already putting weight loss in motion. Doing my best to eat what is best for my liver. Have lost 68 pounds since mid November, most of it has been since January though.
Just started this a few days ago: 6 small meals to include approximately 20-25 grams of protein
The last meal to either be just a glass of reduced fat fairlife milk or if I feel I need more calories/protein/fiber I might have some kashi cereal with it. Fairlife milk is high protein, made with 20% whey protein and 80% casein protein. Casein protein is digested slower so it helps your body digest protein slowly while you sleep.
Incorporating beet ginger smoothies into my meal plan approximately every other day. (I want the benefits but not the kidney stones, plus they are high in sugar)
Exercising at least 4x per week, using resistance bands for strength training at least every other workout.
I am open to suggestions and tips and tricks if anyone has any. I am trying to get good, healthy habits in action now as we are slowing down at work for the summer (too hot for events where I live), so that when September hits and we are crazy busy again my new habits will be just that, habits.
I will be calling my gastroenterologist to make an appointment for next week as they should have some biopsy results then, and we will go over my new finding of portal hypertension. I have looked it up and seen there is medication for it and exercising helps but is there anything else I can do or anything to avoid to help with it?
What's your favorite trick or tip you have learned since your diagnosis?