I got diagnosed with NAFLD in April 2017. As a part of my PCOD check-up routine twice each year, I was undergoing a session of Ultrasonography of my whole abdomen. When the report came out, there was an additional comment in the report summary- “Hepatomegaly. Consult a Gastroenterologist for further study.”

My mother felt it important to seek consultation with an experienced Gastro-specialist and therefore, I got an appointment fixed with one of the senior Gastro specialists from Apollo Gleneagles, Kolkata. Dr. Sen, the senior Gastroenterologist, rather smiled while examining my USG report and went straight to some random questions. “You have a swelled liver at the age of 23”, he commented. “Why? Do you love eating fast foods? Do you eat snacks every day? Is there any reason why you find drinking water, unnecessary? “

“Being an all-nighter, I had this notion of keeping snacks handy for my late-night binge. I seldom drank water if I was not thirsty. I had also gained a significant amount of weight.

The doctor gave a patient explanation that Fatty-liver Disease happens when a person suffers from severe acidity, followed by unhealthy eating habits, low water intake, bad metabolism and lack of exercise. He warned me that if I didn’t change my lifestyle immediately, the liver disease could worsen. I already had serious problems with digestion and acidity.

At first, it was not easy to change my eating and sleeping habits. For the first few days, I felt crazy. It was hard to break through addictions that I had adopted and went on with, for more than 7 years. As for exercise, it was extremely painful and I panted even after few seconds of stretching. But with a little dedication & some small moves in life, I succeeded in fighting against the liver- disease.

I’m going to share all those small steps with you, so that you can understand, that liver- disease is reversible.

Medication– Following the medication the doctor prescribes, is the first and most important step. My doctor prescribed Pantoprazole tablets, which acted against the gastric and acid formation. I had to take one each morning, in an empty stomach. And I admit that it was a boon, as I had to suffer from acidity from very childhood.

Changing Food Habit– The next step that my doctor advised, was to avoid all sorts of oily, spicy, high- carbohydrate, fat and starch-containing foods. Thanks to my mother’s effort, I shifted to boiled vegetables, fruits, egg- whites and stews. It definitely helped in my digestion process.

Drinking Water– The formidable step to clean the system. I started drinking lots of water. I never actually drank water with specific quantities in mind but made sure to drink at least 5 bottles (750 ml. capacity, I guess) of water each day. This practice reduced the burning sensation in my stomach.

Walking– After having each meal, I made sure to walk for about 10 minutes. I adopted this habit after researching and discovering its advantages from the Web. This practice made me feel much lighter after meals.

Exercise– I usually exercise every evening for half-an-hour, on my own. I never felt eager to join a gym. Therefore, I took guidance for freehand exercises, by watching experts on YouTube. The doctor recommended me to go on with moderate exercise, as It was a crucial step to lose liver fat.

 

I still go on following these small steps. I’m happy to say that I recovered within a span of six months. The liver takes time to recover, but I changed my habits and reversed to a healthy liver. I’m in love with this lifestyle and aim to go on with it.

 

 

THE FAMOUS FIVE – FIVE ON A HIKE TOGETHER

 

The Famous Five Series by author Enid Blyton has always been my favorite, since childhood. The title of the book ‘The Famous Five’, points at the five characters- Julian, Dick, Anne, their cousin George and her dog, Timmy. From each book I read before, it is clearly indicated by the author, that mysteries and adventures revolve around some specific folks, such as ‘The Five’.

I recently read ‘Five on a hike together’ from the series. In this episode, the boys & girls get a half-term weekend break from their respective schools and meet together to go on a hike to countryside moorlands. The author gave a beautiful narration of the natural surroundings of the small villages and moorlands in 1950’s England. Julian, the eldest of all, decides to spend the first night at the Blue Pond Farm-House, when Timmy hurts his leg, trying to enter a rabbit hole. They split into two pairs. Dick and Anne take the way to the farmhouse while Julien and George take Timmy to Mr. Gaston, a nice person, who can treat dogs.

Dick and Anne get lost in the dark and enters a deaf old woman’s cottage.  To hide Anne from her ill-tempered son, the old woman sends a frightened Anne up at the cottage’s attic, while Dick ends up spending the night in a nearby barn and that’s when things start to happen. Dick gets a mysterious message from a prison escaper, who mistakes Dick for Dirty Dick, the old woman’s son and one of the shady criminals in the story. The escaped convict gives Dick clues of whereabouts of a stolen loot, tells him “And Maggie knows too” and runs away. Dick finds the encounter strange. Next day, the five reunites and discusses the matter over breakfast. They decide to go much deeper into the mystery.

Following the message that given to Dick, the five reaches Gloomy Waters. The climax starts when the Five decides to stay there and encounter the criminals- Maggy and Dirty Dick, hunting on the same trail.

The author succeeds in rising eagerness and suspicion among readers, each time. The Famous Five solves all mysteries as an unbreakable team while having lots of fun and teasing, at the same time. Special mention must be done about the Five’s love for Hams, bacon, and ginger beer. It’s a must-read for people of all age groups, especially for those who love mystery stories.