Steve’s Story
When a patient is referred for a fibroscan at the hospital by their doctor it can be a daunting time. Steve, from West Yorkshire, attended a mobile liver clinic in the community, following his referral. He was told that he was suffering from liver stiffness and would need further healthcare support following his scan. He has now shared his journey and how he came to require help and guidance from the team and beyond.
“I’m Steve. I’m nearly 64 and I’ve spent more than forty years in financial services, mortgages and protection, mostly. I started out the old way, knocking on doors, collecting premiums for Britannic and Prudential. Back then, that was how you built a living: rain or shine, suit and tie, a notebook in your hand and people who trusted you because they knew your face.
Over the years, I climbed the ladder, got promotions, moved to new towns, new titles. Around 2001, I went self-employed, and I’ve been doing that ever since. People say I’m semi-retired, but I don’t really know what that means. The phone rings, someone needs advice and I can’t help but pick it up. I like being needed. I like helping.
But if I’m honest, work has never been the full story. I’ve always been a drinker. Started when I was about fifteen, straight out of school, taking my tie off and walking into the pub next door. The barman would ask, “How old are you?” and I’d say “Eighteen,” trying to sound confident. We’d order a pint of Stones and feel grown up. That was normal back then. Everyone did it.
When I left school at sixteen, I finished on a Friday and started work the following Monday. That’s just how life worked. No time off, no fuss. My mum expected board money from my first wage packet. No mobile phones, no social media, just a world that told you to get on with it. If you didn’t come home on time, you got a telling-off, but that was life. You learned to be independent.
The drinking carried on. After work, you’d have a few pints to unwind, to celebrate, or to forget. It was just what blokes did. I used to tell myself I deserved it – that little voice on my shoulder saying, “Go on, you’ve earned it.” But I’ve never been one for moderation. My GP once said, “You can’t just have one pint, can you, Steve?” He was right. It’s either none or eight. That’s just how I’m wired.
About twenty years ago, that same doctor warned me: “If you keep going the way you are, it’ll catch up with you.” I didn’t take him seriously then. But I do now. These days I’ve had all sorts of tests – bloods, scans, the works. I’ve read more NHS leaflets than I care to admit. The internet doesn’t help either – half-an-hour online and you convince yourself you’ve got days to live.
I’ve never touched drugs. Never been into spirits or wine, though my partner likes a glass of red. For me it’s just beer. Always beer. But it adds up. I feel it now, in my energy, my sleep, the aches that weren’t there before. I’ve been lucky, though. Lucky to have my family. Lucky to still be working. Lucky that, so far, things are holding together.
My generation was raised on pints and pride. Drinking wasn’t seen as a problem; it was just life. But now, at this age, you start feeling the cracks. You see your mates slowing down or disappearing altogether. You start wondering if you’ve been too casual about the things that matter – your health, your body, your choices.
I’m not telling this for sympathy. I suppose I’m just finally saying it out loud. I drink too much. I know it. And I’m trying, not always succeeding, but trying to change that story. Because after all these years, I’d like to have a few more chapters left to tell.
Recently, the doctor referred me for a liver scan after my blood tests. I went for a scan at the mobile clinic, which was in my local community, it looked like a burger van, only for health. Lovely young woman did the scan. She told me we shared the same birthday, though not the same year. It made me smile, like time looping back on itself. Me, the old bloke with decades of stories; her, just starting out. It made me think about how much has changed, and how much hasn’t. After my scan the nurse told me I had liver stiffness, which led me to speak to Carol, your West Yorkshire Liver Care Operational Delivery Network Peer.
Carol is a lovely woman who took me under her wing and explained everything. She called me to explain the next steps, she reassured me and she told me I could call her any time. I still have her number in my phone now and I know if I needed to speak to her she would be there to listen and answer my questions. You know, sometimes you feel daft, but when you speak to Carol you realise that there aren’t any silly questions. It’s also nice to know that someone who has experience of liver problems can help.
I was also referred to Forward Leeds, who can help me with my alcohol use. When I spoke to the person there to confirm my appointment, she said, “What do you want to do? Do you want to stop drinking altogether or just cut down?” I guess the first step is cutting down and then if that doesn’t work, I’ll stop altogether. It’s been good to get some help.
I’d recommend this service 110%, I would say to people if you think you’ve got a problem then you probably have, but don’t ignore it. I’d say, seek help. This service is brilliant and all the professionals I’ve spoken to, the doctors, the nurses, Carol and Forward Leeds have been extremely good. I’ve never approached a service like this before, but I would definitely encourage others to use it if they need to.
I’ve got a follow up appointment next month for my liver scan at the hospital and with Forward Leeds to look at changing my attitude towards alcohol. We can go from there. Hopefully I’ll be moving in the right direction.”
More information
Visit our events pages to find out more about when our mobile clinic unit will be in your area or find out more about Carol and the support she can offer.
Salema’s Story
The West Yorkshire Liver Care Operational Delivery Network operates a mobile clinic that travels across local communities to deliver free fibroscans to the public, community organisations, high-risk groups in addiction services and patients at GP practices. This outreach service plays a vital role in the early detection and diagnosis of liver disease, helping to identify individuals at risk and guide them onto appropriate liver surveillance pathways.
When the mobile clinic visited the Bangladesh Youth Organisation (BYO) in Bradford, both staff and members of the public were offered a complimentary liver health check. It was here that Salema learned about her own liver health – an experience that prompted her to take meaningful steps toward improving her wellbeing and successfully reversing her fatty liver condition. Here’s Salema’s story:
“My name’s Salema and I work at BYO. I’ve had quite a journey with my health over the years – I’ve had thyroid cancer, so one of my thyroids was removed, more recently, I was diagnosed with diabetes. When they told me I also had a fatty liver, I felt so worried. Your liver is such an important part of your body, I thought, oh no, not something else to deal with!
At first, I didn’t really know what to do. The doctors never mentioned it before – they always checked my bloods, but no one had ever flagged up my liver. Then one day, the Liver Buddies team came looking for a community space to do liver health checks. They came to BYO and I was there at work. We offered them our centre straightaway and that’s how it all started. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for them, I wouldn’t have known anything about my liver at all.
When they did the scan, they told me it was fatty and that really opened my eyes. I remember thinking, “I have to do something about this.” They explained everything clearly – to cut down on sugar and fried foods, to eat less red meat and to try to move a bit more. It made so much sense. We often think only people who drink alcohol can get fatty liver, but that’s not true at all. As an Asian woman, I know our food can be rich – we use a lot of oil, butter, ghee, sugar – and it all adds up.
So, I decided to change my lifestyle. I stopped eating takeaways and fried food, cut down on biscuits – and trust me, I love my tea and biscuits! I started walking more, even though I have osteoarthritis and can’t walk too far. I just did what I could. Gradually, I started to feel better. When I went for my check-up in the summer, they told me my liver was healthy again – no more fat! I was over the moon. I’d actually managed to reverse it and I even lost weight – I used to weigh 12 stone, now I’m just under 11.
Everyone kept asking, “What did you do?” and I told them about the changes I’d made and how the Liver Buddies helped me find out in the first place. It’s funny because I’ve been in and out of hospitals for years with other issues – I even have a tumour near my spine – but not once did anyone mention my liver. It just goes to show how easy it is to miss things until someone takes the time to check properly.
Now, whenever the Liver Buddies come to our centre, it’s so busy! People from all over – not just our area – come to get their livers checked. Everyone loves the team; they’re so kind and approachable. It’s such a brilliant thing for the community because people don’t have to go far or feel nervous about going to a hospital. They can find out what’s going on in their bodies in a friendly, familiar place.
I’m 54 now, a mother of five and a proud grandmother and I’m so grateful. If it wasn’t for the Liver Buddies, I might never have known I had a problem until it was too late. Now I tell everyone: get your liver checked. It’s one of the most important organs in your body and looking after it can change your life – it certainly changed mine.
I can’t thank the Liver Buddies team enough. They’ve not only helped me, but they’ve helped so many people in our community. Because of them, I feel healthier, happier and more in control of my wellbeing. I’m truly, truly thankful.”
More information
Visit our events pages to find out more about when our mobile clinic unit will be in your area or find out more about our diverse communities on our website.