Questions to ask your doctor

Preparing for appointments with your doctor can help you get the most out of them.

Take some time to think through what you want to tell your doctor. And to plan the questions you would like to ask them.

Don’t be afraid to ask more questions if you don’t understand any points the doctor makes. And take someone along with you for support if that will be helpful.

If you have more questions following your appointment, you can also call Liver UK’s nurse-led helpline on 0800 652 7330.

You can also find more information on this site about liver conditions, tests, treatments and living with a liver condition.

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Questions to ask your GP if:

I'm worried I might be at risk of liver disease

I’m worried I might be at risk of liver disease – can I have a blood test to check my liver?
How and when will I get the results of the test? Who can I contact if I don’t get them?
If the blood test is abnormal, are there more tests I can have to investigate further – for example, a scan of my liver?
What can I do myself if I’m worried about my liver? Are there changes I can make – and what could happen if I don’t make those changes?
Are there any dietary changes I need to make? Can I be referred to a hospital or registered dietitian if needed?

More information

Worried about your liver?
Liver disease tests
At-risk checker
How we can help

I want to talk about my liver blood test results

Do I need any further tests to find out more – for example, do I need a liver scan or any other tests?
Where do I go for those tests and how will they be arranged?
Will I be referred to a liver specialist and if so, how does that process work?
What can I do to help improve my liver health? Are there changes I can make – and what could happen if I don’t make those changes?
Do I need to be referred to a hospital registered dietitian for specific diet guidance?
Is it safe for me to drink alcohol if I want to?

More information

Liver blood tests
Understanding test results
Understanding reference ranges
Can I choose where I am treated?
How we can help

Questions to ask your specialist if:

I have just been diagnosed with liver disease

What type of liver disease do I have?
How will the disease affect me physically? How will it affect my ability to do the things that are important to me (for example family life, work, hobbies)
Do I need further tests? Do they have any risks and who can I talk to if I’m worried about them? How and when will I get the results of the tests?
What are my treatment options? What are the side effects of any treatments and how can they be managed?
Is there anything I can do myself to stop the disease from getting worse?
Are there any research or clinical trials I could be part of?
Is there a specialist nurse I can contact for further advice and support?
Who should I contact if I have more questions after this appointment?
Can I have copies of any correspondence relating to my care?

More information

Liver conditions
Living with a liver condition
How we can help

I've just been diagnosed with cirrhosis

How is the disease affecting my health now and what will happen in the future? How will it affect my ability to do the things that are important to me (for example family life, work, hobbies)?
Are there any symptoms I should watch out for? What should I do in an emergency if I become very unwell?
What monitoring tests will I have and why do I need them?
What options are available to me within my clinical care plan? What treatment options are available now? What are the side effects of those, if any?
Who is involved in making decisions and recommendations about my clinical care plan? How often will I be able to see a consultant to review my condition?
Who else is involved in my care? Is there a specialist nurse I can contact for further advice and support? Who is my point of contact in the liver team (including out of hours)?
What can do to help myself stay as healthy as possible and manage symptoms? Do I need to make changes to my diet? Can you refer me to a dietitian to advise me?
If the liver disease is very advanced and treatment options limited, who do I talk to about access to supportive and palliative care?
Can I have copies of any correspondence relating to my care?

More information

Cirrhosis
Living with a liver condition
How we can help

Questions to ask your medical team if:

I've been told I have MASLD (also called NAFLD or fatty liver)

What is MASLD and why have I got it? How will it affect my ability to do the things that are important to me (for example family life, work, hobbies)?
How advanced is it? Does my liver have any scarring (fibrosis)?
Do I need further tests or investigations to find out more? What are they for and what will the results mean? How and when will I get the results? Who should I contact if I don’t hear anything or if I have questions about the results?
Who will be in charge of my care and how often will I have an appointment with them? Who is my main point of contact?
Do I need to lose weight? If so, how much should I lose in total? And what is a good weekly goal?
What changes do I need to make to my daily life? Where should I start?
What are the best things for me to eat and drink? What should I cut down on?
What is the best type of physical activity for me to try? How much should I do?
Can you refer me to someone who can help me with these changes (for example a weight loss programme or a dietitian)?
How can I tell if my MASLD is getting better or worse? Is there anything I can monitor myself?
Are there any research trials I could take part in?
Can I have copies of any test results or correspondence relating to my care?

Download the Questions to ask about MASLD factsheet

More information

MASLD
Living with a liver condition
How we can help

I've been told I have alcohol related liver disease

What is alcohol-related liver disease and why have I got it? How will it affect my ability to do the things that are important to me (for example family life, work, hobbies)?
How advanced is it? Does my liver have any scarring (fibrosis)? Can my liver recover?
Do I need further tests or investigations to find out more? What are they for and what will the results mean? How and when will I get the results? Who should I contact if I don’t hear anything or if I have questions about the results?
Who will be in charge of my care and how often will I have an appointment with them? Who is my main point of contact?
Do I need to stop drinking alcohol for good? Is it better for me to stop right away or cut down more slowly?
Where can I find help to cut down or completely stop drinking alcohol?
Apart from changing my drinking, is there any other treatment that I need?
Should I make any other changes to what I eat and drink. Can I be referred to a dietitian to help me?
How long will it take for me to get better and how can I tell if things are improving? Are they any milestones to watch out for? Is there anything I can monitor myself?
What happens if my liver doesn’t get better? Is a liver transplant an option?
Are there any research trials I could take part in?
Can I have copies of any test results or correspondence relating to my care?

More information

I want help with what I eat

It’s not always easy to know what to do when it comes to diet. It usually depends on your liver condition, stage and general health. So the best place to start is a good conversation with your doctor or nurse. Use these questions to help them give advice tailored to you. You don’t need to ask all of them.

Let them know if there are other things to bear in mind. Like being vegetarian, avoiding some foods for medical or religious reasons, being on a tight budget, or how confident you are at cooking.

Is there anything I need to be thinking about with diet right now? If so, what are the most important things for me to do?

For example – losing weight, gaining weight or increasing protein. Or there might not be anything special that you need to do right now, other than eat healthily.

What goals should I be aiming for? Can you put a number on the things I need to do to help me know if I’m getting it right?

For example target amounts or limits. Or advice about how much or how often to eat. This might be individual to you, for example increasing or decreasing a food compared to what you have at the moment.

Are there any foods I should be avoiding? Or any I should have more of?

What are the best ways for me to do that? Can you give me some examples of meals that work well for me?

Are there any vitamins or supplements that would help me? What is the easiest way to get these?

Supplements can help fill gaps in your diet. But not all supplements are created equal and some can even be harmful. Ask your doctor before taking a supplement or any type of alternative or traditional remedy.