Hi, I am a 23 year old from Ireland. i am not overweight but under and only weigh 162lbs and stand 5'6. I have been drinking moderate to very heavy for the past 1 year only. I was a moderate drinker for he past 3-4 months maybe 4 to 6 beers a week and then became a very heavy drinker for the past 7-8 months drinking up to half a bottle of vodka daily. Also binging it. I have been getting liver pains upper abdo for over 9 months with mid back pain. all my bloods,ultrasound and CT scan are normal. i have had three bloods over a 3 months period which all were normal. The pain has improved a lot for the 9 months period but is still there. I have also noticed hot drinks and sugars trigger my pain so have minimized them alot. I have also become chronically fatigued and have breathlessness for over 6 months this is due to anxiety and depression due to the pain. I have quit drinking. My question is has anyone gone through this hat can help me? is my liver damaged but tests cant pick it up? will my liver pain ever go away if i abstain from alcohol forever? which i intend to do anyway.
I know prob no one here is a doc and can not give med advice. I am just so fed up and looking for answers as my doc is not much of a help.
Thank you!
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justme321
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Hello there, it is highly unlikely that that your liver is damaged but not showing in all the tests you have had. An ultrasound and CT scan plus normal bloods would all seem to indicate no lasting damage. The liver itself won't be painful, pain in the upper right quadrant is generally to do with an inflamed liver pressing on other tissues. Well done on staying off the booze after this all started, carry that on and hopefully your other side effects will ease away.
Alcohol related liver illness is actually one of the few that can be reduced or reversed by positive lifestyle changes so stay off the booze, eat healthier and exercise and your blood tests should remain ok or indeed improve. The liver is pretty resilient but you've had a warning so improve your lifestyle and after a few months get some fresh blood tests done and see how things are.
Thank you Katie, The doctor at the A & E mentioned the same thing. That its just inflammation and will go away with time. I am seeing results from time and from abstaining. I am thankful for you reply and you have put my mind to ease. I really hope I have not done any lasting damage as it scares the hell out of me. I have relapsed since the pains started only a few times with a few beers. I am not 2 months sober and do not ever plan to ever look back. One thing is for sure i will miss coffee as it triggers my pain and i have to reduce it or never drink it again. Thank you very much for your reply.
You're welcome, stay off the booze and hopefully things will all go well for you. Maybe as your condition improves you can try the odd coffee and see how it goes, that seems odd that coffee triggers liver area pain. My hubby has been advised that coffee actually has some beneficial properties for the liver.
You are young and have a chance to change your life around with healthy living - you've had the warning, live healthy and hopefully all will be well.
Sadly I am currently caring for my hubby who hasn't got the chance to do anything to improve his lot as his liver illness has been caused by an auto-immune condition which had led to advanced cirrhosis of the liver before he even knew he even had it - he is life long tee-total and was previously very fit. He is now awaiting a transplant.
Alcoholic liver disease and fatty liver are both able to be reversed providing your life style changes for the better. Best of luck to you.
Sorry to butt in here, but an inflamed Liver is very serious and yes the Liver can be painful if it swells, it stretches the sack around it which causes pain. It could be the issue is your small intestine, i had it recently and it took 5months to feel better. Alcohol damages nearly every major organ. Also "alcoholic liver disease" i assuming you mean Alcoholic Hepatitis? Yes a-hep can be reversed and some fully recover, but it can also leave scarring and some go on to get cirrhosis anyway, even if they abstain.
Hi, Katie. Yes i am staying off the booze and not thinking about it either. Yes coffee! The same reason i started drinking it bec it improves liver health i had read and a doc told me. I drink a cup and 5 mins later i have sharp pain under my right chest. I will try to avoid it for now and just stick with green tea. Yes all i am trying to do now is change my life around like it use to be but its becoming difficult for me as the pain is not letting go. I am really sorry to hear about your husbands condition and will pray he makes a full recovery and leads a healthy like after his transplant. Its even sad that he has to go through all this and was never a drinker. I was wondering if he ever had upper abdo pains during his illness?
No hubby had no warning signs his liver was poorly, only just in the year prior to a major upper GI bleed did he have what we now know were cirrhosis symptoms - nose bleeds, severe indigestion type pains, lethargy etc. We put it down to depression as he was dealing with a hell of a lot at the time - caring for his dad with dementia etc. Never knew his health was failing till that upper GI bleed from varices then a couple of days after hospital admittance we learned it was varices due to advanced cirrhosis and now two years after diagnosis on the waiting list for transplant. Doctors reckon he has had auto-immune hepatitis in the past and this has caused the damage but is no longer active in his system and they are calling it burnt out AIH because it has done its damage and gone dormant there is nothing they can do to treat it - hence the wait now for transplant as the only possible way to improve matters.
If he ate various things (acidic & citrus type things he got horrendous indigestion type pains but this was probably due the damage he'd sustained in his stomach lining). Odd niggly tummy ache from time to time now but actually very little in the way of pain ever. He has only ever had ultrasound scans and blood tests - first CT scan was during transplant assessment.
No doubt your liver is grumbling from the abuse its taken but hopefully given time and your positive steps you should see an improvement but if you are in doubt that you arn't seeing the improvement you'd hoped then do keep on at docs & see a hepatologist if you can to get the best advice.
I am really sorry for to hear what your husband has gone through. I hope he is doing well right. He has undoubtedly gone through a lot. Wow a GI bleed lead to advanced cirrhosis?. I hope he is normal again after his transplant and leads a healthy life. I never really have stomach pains put upper abdo so just under chest where the liver is located after sugary foods and caffeine it starts up.
Yes i know i have mad my liver quite upset. The pain has improved a lot aswell but has not fully gone and it is coming to 9 months. I will give it another 2-3 months if pain is not gone i shall head back to the doctors and tell him if he can not help maybe he should send me to a hepatologist as soon as possible.
It was the cirrhosis or rather portal hypertension as a result of serious cirrhosis which led to the swelling and bursting of these veins and the subsequent upper GI bleed. The bleed was a side effect of the cirrhosis it was just the thing which brought hubby's illness to light.
Best wishes, hopefully you'll never end up in the same boat this is advanced liver disease and chronic damage that hubby has. It is a great pity we never found out about his condition until it was so far on.
Hi Katie. I just looked it up and yes it all makes sense to me what your husband is going through. Thank you for your kind words i will abstain form alcohol forever and will not look back. I just hope the pain leaves me alone. Thank you.
Hi the pain should subside. I had it it fades eventually and goes. It's now best to leave your liver in peace n let it rest. No more toxins, drink, smoking, drogs or anything harmful. Avoid all those from now on. Just be mindful what your putting in your body. Even on your skin. Hair dyes contain toxins. Cleaning products.etc etc. Even BBQ smoke. All those contain chemicals n toxins . Hope this helps . Chris
Diet, Diet, Diet. Lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and a little bread, eating small portions throughout the day. NO FAT. You should notice drastic improvements within days. I had the same problem and read this entire thread and it occurred to me, what's the fix for non-alcohol enlarged fatty liver? It's diet! Tried it and BAM! Hope this helps everyone new and below if you come back. Let me know. From Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Hi , i have been diagnosed with NAFLD recently . Going for a fiboscan on the 11th Aug . I would be very interested to know what diet you were on !! I dont suppose i could be cheeky and ask you to send me details ?? I would very much appreciate it !! Jeff
Sorry for late, response, just checked back in. The diet is as simple as I said: chicken, turkey, or fish, plain fruits and vegetables with maybe some spices/vinegar, and a little wheat bread. Small portions, just enough to feel not hungry throughout the day. And of course, no alcohol during this. Cured my pain within a few days.
23 is very young to have serious Liver damage, but drinking everyday is the worse way to drink, especially half a bottle of vodka. The tests you have had should rule out Cirrhosis, but yes you could have some Fibrosis or mild fatty liver. A test that can give a better picture of your Liver health is a Fibroscan and another blood test is a Fibromax test. Also the Liver can take years to heal after such a heavy period of abuse, if you start to feel good after say 3 months off, then dont assume its ok to start drinking again. Recent studies have suggested that the Liver becomes sensitised to alcohol, so if you start up again damage occurs easier than the first time around.
I know what you mean about doctors not helping much, but the truth is the tests they have arent very good to be honest, alot of things can slip the net.
What may help is some exercise, eat fresh veg and fruit and take a vitamin pill and no smoking or drinking and only drink water and plenty of it, give your system a good clean out
Hi Ralph and thanks for replying. I am very grateful I have not done any serious damage and will abstain from alcohol. I was wondering if i did have a fatty liver or even fibrosis why it did not show up on the tests, its kind of weird. I will hopefully soon get myself an firboscan after i have the money to save up for one. I will not ever start drinking again and don't ever think about it neither. The reason i was drinking so much was due to my anxiety. But that is another matter. yes you are right the tests docs put through are not very good but can just rule out cirrhosis and thats all. I have even heard a ultrasound and Ct scan can miss fatty liver?. If i did have an inflamed liver which i most likely did why are my lfts and other tests normal is what gets me thinking.
Yes I am eating healthy and drinking up to 3L of water a day and and take Vit tabs aswell.
Im in the same situation as you really, although i never drank daily, usually 2/3 times a week, but for 20 years! My liver was slightly painful when palped by the doctor 1 month after I stopped, bloods were fine though. Perhaps the liver can be angry without actually having any cells destroyed, there fore no enzymes in the bloods?
Also as I have suggested you may have some bowel soreness, drinking green tea or anything with caffine will make that alot worse, have you tried coming off the green tea for a few weeks and only drink water? try eating yoghurts and soups and taking regular antacids, give your guts a real easy time and no lumpy foods etc.
Thanks Ralph once again. 20 years long time. I hope you have not done any damaged to your liver?. Have you ever been diagnosed with liver disease . Have you had an fibrosis scan? is your liver pain gone away for ever?. Sorry for throwing so many questions at you I am just very curious.
yes i guess that's what happening to me. Liver is very angry and no cells destroyed yet that's why tests are normal.
I doubt its bowel soreness and the pain is in upper abdomen where the liver is and feels bruised after caffeine drinks and sugars. I will come off the green tea and will only drink other non caffeine herbal teas.
I will eat yougarts as you said and will always drink soups anyway. Thanks for your help.
no i havent been diagnosed with anything. Drinking history isnt to bad really, mainly weak larger and 30 odd units a week. although from 35-38 i was drinking a fair amount of wine 4-5 bottles a week. my liver soreness went after about 6 weeks and it was only the bottom edge that was sore, it could have been an inflamed intestine pushing against it that made it sore.
I havent had a Fibroscan yet, but im going to get one next year.
Hi Ralph. I'm glad to hear you have done no damage to your liver. And really happy to hear you do not drink anymore. 6 weeks not bad at least it's gone now. Mine is hurting me this right moment I'm typing. Yes I guess iput drinking history is not bad but still dangerous. I will wait for another 2 months too see results if no diffrence gonna go back to my doc again and tell him if he does not know what's going on he should kindly send me to a specialist as 9 months is a long time. Nearly a fricking year I've had liver pains !! . Thanks. Btw where u planning to get the fibroscan from ?
yes its private so you have to pay, im waiting for a call back from them. Also I was reading about famous alcoholics, Richard Burton, John Hurt, peter o toole etc. I read alot about alcoholics these days and its clear that it takes ALOT of alcohol to get cirrhosis and over along period of time. there are very few that have died at 23, I have found a couple of girls that died at 24 but this was after drinking cheap cider everyday for 7+ years, your talking nearly 200 units of alcohol a week, dont know about you but I have never drunk that amount in one week, infact I dont think I have ever drank that in a month! That would be about 24s bottle of wine a month, 6 a week! So your half a bottle of vodka a day would be about 140 units a week, it is way too much and that amount would kill you eventually, but i dont think you should have any lasting damage yet. So glad you have seen the light! its poison , if it doesnt get your liver it will get your kidneys, brain, stomach, heart etc
Hi Ralph and thanks for your reply. Yes indeed it does take a lot of alcohol for to even consider to get cirrhosis. I've even read there's more chance of someone to e.g choke on their vomit and die from alcohol abuse then have cirrhosis. the main thing for me right now is the upper abdo pain that does not seem to go. Yes that's exactly how much I drank 140-150 untits a week. Never again ! . I am also very fatigued out mentally I hope it does not hav da link with my liver pain. I think it's because I have been stressing for a long time. Thanks for the help. i hope your appt with at the priv ace goes well and let us know how it went?. How much did you altogether?
to be honest i have never drank anywhere near 140 units a week, that would be around 70 pints of beer! 30-40 units was me,sometimes more, sometimes less. Have you considered gall bladder? have you been tested for any auto immune diseases ?some auto immune issues cant really be seen much in the liver function tests or ultrasound. A painful liver is not be ignored, but im sure your worry is adding to the issue. mild fatty liver should be gone after 9 months, when did you last drink?
Yes I know I drank a lot for 7 months excessively. I have now quit and do not want to look back. I don't know if it's the Gallbladder although tc ultrasound and bloods would have picked it up if it was causing me probs. I have noticed I can feel a little stretch in my upper badi liver when I stretch in the gym. ? I know 9 long months I waited and theses pains were daily. When's your fibro scan appt btw. Thanks.
I dont have an appointment yet, they are getting back to me, with the time of year it is, it may take a while. Could it be an injuring to your rib cage? where is the pain, under the right breast?
Thanks again for replying Ralph. I really hope i get through all this with time. I am currently saving up for an fibrosis scan just to ease my mind. BTW does fatty liver or fibrosis show on ultrasound or CT scan? well i have waited 9 long months to recover but i still cant seem escape the pains. This is my only symptom due to the drinking and has lasted a long time but has also improved a lot. i just don't want it to be there for the rest of my life. Thats not even a option any more to start drinking again. I just want to be normal again. I have been chronically fatigued for over 6 months due to my anxiety because of the liver pains. well i hope its due to anxiety any way not my liver letting me down?
I eat plenty for fresh fruit and vegetables with lean protein only chicken no red meat. i never smoked any way and do not intend to drink ever again.
I have done months of research on it and ultrasound can pick up on moderate to heavy damage and same goes for the CT really. Some mild damage probably wont show, but it will on a Fibroscan. 9 months is along time, but anxiety can play tricks on the mind, at one stage I was nearly fainting with it, thinking I had a week to live etc etc. Good news is mild damage should be fixable.
Thanks for replying. Yes 9 months is a very long time. I am grateful no real damage is done. Yes tell me about it I have also had sharp chest pains due to anxiety. Yes i hope its fixable and the pain leaves me forever.
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yep,i agree with that list, but i havent had a drink since 08 July 2014. Ok I didnt drink everyday, but I still consider drinking a fair amount 2/3 times a week as too much for a 38 year old and when I look at it now it was starting to escalate the last couple of years. Glad I saw the light, although your right i did think about stopping or cutting down years before I actually stopped.
Hi justme321, to be honest if your ultrasound, ct scan and bloods are clear I wouldn't worry too much. Anxiety can cause you to have pains, its just one sympton and not everybody gets it. I have alcoholic cirrhosis (completely sober now) and I never had any liver pain even though I was causing a lot of damage. The only time I got pain was when I got rushed to hospital with a upper gastric bleed and found out about my condition. I couldn't even lay on my side it hurt so much but it went after a couple months. I was probably drinking between 200-250+ units a week. You haven't caused this type of damage so try not to worry. My liver is doing a lot better now, even though I have permanent damage my condition is under control. Stay off the drink and you should be okay. All the best.
Hi, nbee and thank you for your reply. Yes all my tests are clear but the pain is still there. I'm really sorry to hear about your condition and hope you are doing well now. I don't know what to call it tbh. I really do think it's the liver though. Yes that is the a lot of alcohol good you cut it out. If you don't mind me asking how long did you drink for like that? And we're you drinking spirits, wine or beer? . I'm really glad your doing well now and cut out the alcohol. I have been sober for nearly 2 months and don't intend to go back.
I'm fine now although it took a good year after I came out of hospital to fully recover and get back to work. Now they just monitor my condition, regular ultra sound and blood tests. I drank like that for 10-11 years, I used to get anxiety attacks and used alcohol to control it, stupid me ! I drank all sorts, but mainly cider and lager, although it doesn't really matter. Some people think if you drink good quality stuff or beer instead of spirits its better. Thats rubbish, alcohol is alcohol and if you drink to much it will do you damage no matter what it is. You are doing well with staying off the drink, keep it up and i'm sure you will feel better soon. It can take some time.
Really pleased to hear you have made a full recovery. Yes that's the same reason u drank due to anxiety attacks. Good luck to you for the future. Yes all those monitoring has to be have to be done I guess. Yea exactly doesn't matter if it's beer or spirits all units and the end of the day. My pain is on my upper abdominal around 2 inches down my right Brest, feels like it's bruised. I really hope the pain goes away. I have become chronically fatigued and can't breath fully due to the anxiety/depression. Btw when u we're drinking that much how was your diet at the time?
My diet was awful, all I did was drink, although I was an alcoholic. I normally had one meal a day and that was junk food. I tried to cook one roast a week with veg but the rest of the time it was rubbish. Nutritionally I was in a right state. Food is very important in your recovery and now I eat a lot healthier, which I would recommend you do. It can make quite a difference. Although I do allow myself a takeaway every now and then, got to treat yourself sometimes.
Sorry to hear. But the good news is your recovered and now are leading a healthy life. Yea nutrition can make a big difference to the body while recovering that's why I've cut our the junk and eat vegetables and lean protein with all whole grain rice, pasta ect. Although I enjoy coffee but can't drink it as it causes me liver pains. So I drink herbal tees and fresh juice. Thanks for the reply.
I start feeling pain under the right ribs few days ago. Went today to GP and I will get blood tests on Tue. GP make some "touching" tests on my abdomen and said liver is a bit bigger, so he recommend blood test done. I did drink few beers every day for about 2 years, having nightmare time at work and with wife pregnant (usually at the evening, while I was working on the PC). I hope my liver is not so damaged... Cutting off alcohol now!
Hi gregs. I really doubt you have done any serious damage to your liver. In thinking you might have a fatty liver. My pain has been there for over 8 months coming to 9. I won't be drinking anymore that's for sure. I hope all your tests are normal. Let us know hi wit went after you get your results. Good luck
Hi Ralph. I don't think that is the case I've had an ultrasound and a CT scan which showed nothing. Thanks for your concern though. And well done for staying sober for that long you have done yourself a big favour. I wish u the best of health for 2015.
It's no surprise your blood work is coming back normal. I'm sure the doctors are doing a liver panel of bloodwork to check for liver disease.Simply put, you haven't drank enough for long enough to have any liver damage.liver issues usually start after about 10-20 yrs of alcohol abuse.In rare cases maybe 7 years but you are nowhere near there.The fact that your doctor has told you your bloodwork is normal is all you need to know.Initially your ALT will rise from fat infiltration and inflammation.after long term continuous assault some livers will start to develop fibrosis and some eventually cirrhosis. this would start to show on liver function test such as INR,albumin and bilirubin.obviously these are fine do that's the main important thing.i thought maybe you might have mild fat infiltration in your liver but this would show up on an ultrasound or CT scan.seens like your liver is doing really good. Maybe the pain is from something else.i wouldn't worry about any significant liver damage. Keep on it with your doc. Something isn't right.stay off the booze for now just to see what happens but from what you've wrote there is zero evidence of liver damage.
Hi stupidliver and thanks for replying. The doctors are indeed doing a liver panel bloodtest which is the same as liver function test I take it?. Yes 3 times round my liver function tests have come out normal with a slight increase in bilirubin, only 5-6 points which the doc says it's Gilbert's disease so don't need to worry. I was drinking moderate 4-6 beers half the year around 5 months then half a bottle of vodka for 7 months. Did I mention I used to drink neat most of the time? Binging it too. No doc has told me I have fat or anything regarding liver disease. Yes indeed it should show up on the tests but it didn't so I'm lucky. But my pain is still there upper abdo radiates to the back and can get worse with caffeine and sugar or if in leaning forward ie sitting on floor legs crossed leaning over. The thing is the pain is from the liver location upper abdo right side sometimes upper under ribs right side. It it was gallbladder issues it would show on tests but it's not even that. I just hope it's nothing it do with pancreatitis?? Although the pain is not in the center and I don't feel nausea or have any loss of apatite and the pain is not so so bad that I have to go to to A&E. Only symptom
Is the liver pain, feels like some1 is squeezing on my liver. I have chronic fatigue aswell due to stressing about it aswell. Thanks for your reply, you were really helpful.
pain in your liver, raised Bilirubin and fatigue warrant further investigation. It may not be anything to do with alcohol, it could be a gall stone in a bile duct or even an Auto immune issue like PBC, that wont show on ultrasound early on. Did you get a test known as GGT? Try not to worry, but go back to your doctor, I think there is some tests for Gilberts, it should be confirmed, not just what the doctor suspects.
Hi Ralph thanks for comment. My fatigue is from anxiety which I have been having lately. Billrubin was slightly high for 2 blood tests 3rd was billirubin lvl 21 which is 1 point abnormal. I don't know so much about the Pbc thing and highly doubt I have this. (Just looked it up). I haven't had a test for ggt and will make sure it's there for my next bloodwork. I will be seeing my doc soon. Thanks.
keep on looking if your in pain, doctors are too quick to put a range of symptoms down to anxiety just because some bloods are clear. My fatigue was put down to anxiety, no doubt i was very anxious and depressed, but my anxiety dropped when I started feeling better, in truth i think I had several things going on. GGT will tell you if there is any inflammation in your bile ducts.
Thanks Ralph. Yes I know they put evertjibg down to anxiety if bloods are clear. I'll look out for the pain and will give it a months time to go away as it's been nearly 9 months ongoing. If not going back to the doc.
This would as far as I am aware NOT be the case for you Justme but I have read that you can have cirrhosis but the Lft's be normal.. Somone on here posted a little while ago this and I have read it before. But as I said this would not be the case for you JUSTME as you have only been drinking for 7 Months.
I'd be fairly confident that Justme almost certainly doesn't have cirrhosis as this would definitely have shown up in the many and varied scans and tests undertaken already regardless of the length of time he's been drinking.
LFT's can as Sunflower says be normal in someone with cirrhosis and they arn't ever taken as a standalone test hence the scans and in some cases biopsies that go along with reaching a diagnosis. My hubbies LFT's have been normal and then deranged on & off since diagnosis with advanced cirrhosis.
It is important to remember though that you can develop cirrhosis without ever having drunk at all - my hubby has been tee-total for life, never overweight, lived a very fit and active lifestyle then somewhat out of the blue learns he has chronic cirrhosis requiring transplant, this supposedly due to (now burnt out) auto-immune hepatitis.
Justme is being really sensible in heeding the warning being given by the liver and hopefully the lifestyle changes already discussed will normalise the blood results and lead to a long and healthy future & doctors will shed some light on this pain issue too.
Hi Katie, and thank you for replying. Thanks for the support I really do appreciate it. I was drinking quit heavy for 7 months only half a bottle of vodka neat. I've quit drinking now and want to live a healthy life. I wouldn't drink at all if u knew it was going to cause me so many problems. I really feel sad when I gear about your husband having this condition without even drinking or damaging his liver in any other way. It makes me realise my mistakes. I hope your husband is doing well now. I will wait around a month for the pain to go if not I'm heading back to the doc for some answers. Thanks a lot for the comments.
Thanks Sunflower for replying. Yes I certainly hope not. All tests have been normal from CT to Ultrasound to 3 sets of blood tests. Ralph mentioned pbc ? Is this something you think I should look into. Yes have been heavy drinking for 7 months only. Before that I was a moderate drinker. Thanks for your reply.
hi, AyrshireK's husbands case is totally different to Alcohol induced Cirrhosis, an auto immune condition can slowly chip away at the liver over many years, usually 20-30 years or more, say if your normal ALT was 15 and then you had such a condition, your ALT might go to say 35, both of these values are in the normal range and a doctor in the absence of any symptoms would be unlikely to take any further action.
When alcohol is the cause the liver first gets fatty, which when its early still may not raise enzymes, then as the fat builds up the liver swells and is called fatty liver with inflammation(hepatitis) this is when enzymes will rise and damage is being done, this can go on for years until Cirrhosis can develop or someone may have symptoms and not be at the cirrhosis stage. So when someone goes to the doctor yellow chances are they are in trouble and their enzymes will be sky high along with Bilirubin etc with an enlarged liver. when that person stops drinking the enzymes can return to normal but usually after atleast 6 months but the damage caused will still be there and will show something on Ultrasound and CT .
Justme321 I doubt very much you are in the Cirrhosis stage, this is also called "End stage" and will show something in your bloods, certainly over 9 months. Take heart in your ultrasounds and bloods etc. I just dont think you should consign your pain to anxiety just yet, 9 months is a long time and im sure a fatty liver would have resolved in that time, people with acites and jaundice can recover to nearly normal function in that time!
Thanks Ralph that was a very good piece of description on how it all works. I am feeling ok now knowing I haven't damaged the liver from yours and others comments. I just don't know what to call the pain. It's in the upper abdo feels like a bruise. Sugar and caffiene trigger the pain and it gets really bad. Discomfort is sometimes in the right lower side aswell. Shall be going back to doc soon. Thanks for your help.
there is a situation called referred pain. does greasy foods trigger some pain?if so it could gallbladder related, there is a HIDA ultrasound to check the gallbladder filling and emptying, yours could be lazy or perhaps sludge in it. the fact certain things make it worse does give something to work on.
In a way this problem may turn out to be a blessing, at just 23 you are now aware of how bad things can get with alcohol, many fall victim to it when they hit 40-50-60 years old and alot dont even know until they turn yellow.
a great site "mdjunction" im on there to, plenty of knowledgeable posters there on the Alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis boards. you will soon see that having cirrhosis is not something that hides, it WILL manifest itself it some way
Hi Ralph thanks for the help once again. Yes a little after eating greasy foods but not really. The discomfort is always there but the triggers are sugar and caffeine. Mainly caffeine. I also thought it was gallbladder myself but all tests were negative. Both CT and Ultrasound were done I don't know if they we're HIDA but all we're negative. Yes I've taken it a a blessing that's why I tend not to drink again. I just turned 23 an my doc has told me lots of times your liver is normal and healthy but he cannot explain the pain. Yes that's right it tents to happen at that age. I guess I dodged a bullet. I will try the site out and see if I can find any help regarding my pain. Thanks a lot
a normal ultrasound doesnt check the filling and emptying of the gall bladder, the HIDA is a slightly different process. Your issue may not be alcohol related at all.
If I ever get another one anytime I will defo mention it to be a HIDA. The reason being is because the pain is in the liver location and started whiles I was drinking heavy neat brandy. never again !
I have the same problem, but I wasn't drinking heavy. I've had this pain constantly for two months. My last two LFTs were normal. I do have fatty liver which I've been working on for a month through dieting. My pain is located about one inch below my right rib cage and if I drink coffee I burn like fire, it hurts BAD! I had a fribroscan showing F0-F1. My doctor's are trying to figure this out, but no luck so far. They did do a CT scan which showed a probable small cyst or hemangioma in my liver. I don't think it's either since neither are supposed to cause pain. I'm also constantly worried. Have you tried taking Omeprazole or Prilosec to see if that helps? If it does, you might have an ulcer or something, they can last for a while especially if your not treating it. Anyway...good luck, I hope they get it figured out for you.
Hi sunflower. And thanks for the comment. Yes I have read somewhere myself that cirrhosis could be present while Lfts bring normal. All my imaging tests test ie ct scan and ultrasound were normal too. I have been drinkin longer than 7 months but not regularly. I drank half a bottle of brandy, whisky or or vodka daily for 7 months neat. Before I was only droning couple pints a week. So all together 1 year. Thanks.
I was wondering... the liver is the main organ which help / organise other organs such as thyroid. I had 2 years ago blood test and these tests shown that I have a bit higher levels of the hormones. I'm wondering if this symptom means that liver was damaged at this stage. Tuesday I have my first blood tests and we will see...
Stay off the booze for 6 months and see if the pain disappears. If your problem is liver damage due to alcohol you will stand little chance of a transplant if you do not stop drinking. Donor livers are in short supply and not given to people who continue drinking.
Hi ancient. Thanks for your comment. I have quit drinking and don't want to look back. I don't think I will need a transplant but thanks for your help. I hope your doing well.
A couple of months ago i decided to go to gp bc of pain in right side just under rib cage. Lft were slightly elevated and dr asked that i stop drinking for 3 weeks and return for 2nd lft. 2nd test was improved albiet i did still drink one day a week during that time. Dr then asked me to stop drinking for 6 more weeks. 3rd lft was all back to normal and i was drinking once or twice a week during that time also. Since then i have gradually drank more and more veer theoughout the week. 3 or 4 times a week. Usually a 12 pack or maybe 14 light beers. Drank last night for the football games and pain is back again. I decided to do a little reading and came across this site... after reading the advice and stories of folks on here i have decided to stop altogether. I have 2 little girls, a 3 year old and a 3 week old, and their mother (my fiance) that all depend heavily on me. If i cant do it for myself then i have to do it for them. Plus i know i feel so much better when not drinking.
Hi Eric. I just saw your post. How old are you ? And how much have I drank ? To be honest with you I would not increase my alcohol consumption if my lfts were out of range. You need to quit for good as you have you're children to take care off. They also need you. You need to ask your doctor for an ultrasound at this stage as you could possibly have a fatty liver. And it is not advisable to drink on one and the liver can become inflamed. Please get back to us on how you are doing.
I hope this year brings you and you're family all the happiness.
My pain was there all day everyday it was worse at night and stopped me from sleeping at night. It got even worse when I slept on my right side to add to the joy.
Touching it did not make a diffrence until..
There was a time when the pain stopped alltogether and i had drank quarter of Brandy the night before waking up and I had a ache under my right ribs and when I pressed it it hurt bad, it had to be my Liver 100% this time. This was 3 months ago and I promise you this scared the life out of me I don't even want to look at Alcohol ever again.
Thanks for the quick response... My pain isn't constant, just little sharp jabs here and there... Either way, this was a wake up call, and it's bye bye booze for me
Hey justme, just wondering how your going with your liver pain, is it still an issue?. Your original post really struck a nerve with me and instantly can relate to what you were going through as I am in a similar predictament. I hope all is well now and takecare.
28 years old and I've just started month number 9 with the exact same symptoms/condition as justme321. I have not drank at all for 9 months and the first few were by far the scariest... Now, after 9 months the pain is much less prominent but def still there.. all day... everyday... Makes you cry not remembering when you were living without it....
It is Just as justme321 described--- Much worse at night (morning is a god send...), after sugar, caffeine, etc... For me, I especially get swelly pain after eating anything made with fine white flour. Becoming a full vegetarian has also helped.
I was just wondering justme321, if the pain just got better and better each month until it was gone, or just one day it was like poof gone!
Ya, lots of reasons why Dr's are bad at advice. Main one is they just don't really know much. You will have better luck looking at NATURAL HEALTH as it's where all the chemical durgs started from. Biopsy is the only way they can tell for sure if your liver is inflammed and scarred. However, after your diagnoised with cirrhosis, they no longer will do it due to bleeding problems. So, the way they rate cirrhosis is by symptoms only. Not very good for trying to stop disease. No drinking, period. Eat organic watching for toxins, chemicals. The toxins is one of the ways ppl die from it.
Ignore the statistics due to above statements. Take good care of what you put into your liver and who knows, you may live well to 100😊
I'm glad I came upon this post. I was diagnosed with fatty liver recently. I really wasn't a heavy drinker until last year. I would drink around 40+ beers a week and sometimes a big bottle of alcohol every few days too. I had also stopped working out during this time which probably added to the fatty liver. It's only been a year but it scared me once I started reading all the stories online. I've stopped drinking, started eating healthy and started working out again. But my pain is still there. The doctor didn't give me much info. Just called one day and said "your ultrasound showed an inflamed liver so you need to do a low fat diet and lose 15 pounds." I just hope I didn't do any damage.
Hey Danny im not an expert but it sounds like providing you lay off the booze and eat healthy your liver will make a full recovery. I too am suffering from a lot of pain, sometimes sharp but mostly dull and a feeling of fullness under my right ribcage. I had all the tests done, ultrasound, xray CT and bloods and all come back normal although im convinced not all is well. I think like you Danny provided we stick to our guns and stay off the booze we'll be ok. I see a lot of folks with really serious liver problems have fluid build up on the abdomen and yellowing skin and eyes and are chronically fatigued I think at that point its pretty serious but even alot of these folks seem to turn it around when they kick the booze for good. Goodluck mate and everyone else in this forum.
Hi mate just wondered if you still get on here and how you are getting on with you’re symptoms. From scouring these pages your symptoms are very closely matched to mine.
Hello everyone...just an update from me after a long time. I posted this thread about 4 years ago and found tremendous amount of help from everyone. I had a lot of pain around the liver area at the time. It subsided and went never came back again. At the time I was 23 now Im 27. My bloods and liver ultrasound was normal at the time so I carried on partying and drinking half a bottle of vodka nightly, which lead to a 70cl a day for many years. I ended up in lock ups, hospitals for detoxes, and eventually traveled to Spain which my parents spent over 15k sterling for to a rehab where i was sober for a month. I got back in the start of March and carried on drinking for a month more...from a half bottle or spirit to a full and sometimes even a Litre. I finally ended up with a fatty liver and abnormal LFT's. I'm nearly a month sober and feel great. My LFTS are going down, and i feel great. A lot of anxiety is still there with lingering depression especially in the mornings. Anyone new reading into this, I just want to say if your drinking just do whatever it takes to quit...there is nothing in this disease but sorrow and grief. I lost a lot of money, time, lost my job, girlfriend, friends and was very close to getting kicked out of the family home. I now attened AA meetings, and other local meetings weekly for help and motivation and I must say its helped me a lot. Thanks to everyone for the help and support.
Hi, and congratulations on being one month sober. From reading your story I can see that you have been through one hell of a battle. It's good to hear that your LFT's are now going in the right direction. As you know you will always find help and support on this forum. Keep checking in and let us know how you are doing. Hope to see you posting soon with even better news .All the very best to you. Alf
Thanks Alf for the kind words and support. I wish the same for you. yes i have been through hell and back with alcoholism. I would wake up in the morning just to have a drink. Book Hotels and skip work so i can drink throughout the day and then bring a bottle home at night. I didn't sleep for months, didn't eat regulatory. I was working daily holding down two jobs until Dec 2018 until i was a functional alcoholic. But since then I drank day and night for the next 5 months. Thanks once again and best of luck to you too,
It wasn't even a half life was it? I'm really pleased for you that you came to your senses. Just keep reminding yourself how bad it was and never go back to those old ways. You have masses of years ahead of you to enjoy, you don't need alcohol to spoil it . I'm looking forward to hearing that you are 2 months Alcohol free. Keep on posting. Alf
It Was not a life at all, I was powerless over alcohol...whether I walked in a Pub, Bar, Shop ...or anywhere it is consumed or sold. I never want that life again...I lost a lot from it and if I carry on I know I will end up with some deadly disease and I don't want to live that sort of miserable life. I admit the alcohol buzz is very satisfying from the drink but the things, people you lose from the substance is not worth it at all. Seems like you've seen it first hand, Alf?. Thanks once again and good-luck, I will be on here regularly, maybe I can help others and it also helps me a lot keeping in touch. Day 26...I haven't been this long in years, except when I was in rehab and believe it or not I managed to relapse over there too...only once and was told I was the first person who relapsed in the sober home and also told I ruined their clean sheet lol. Thanks Alf.
Hi again, and congratulations on day 26. You are doing very well and must keep it up!. Keep posting whenever you feel the need. People on here will be rooting for you and I hope that helps boost you in your fight. I had NASH and HCC. When first diagnosed with cirrhosis I thought it was ok to carry on having my couple of glasses of red wine in the evening (how stupid was that?) but within 2 years I had 2 cancerous tumours on my liver. It's amazing how quickly you can stop drinking when faced with a diagnosis like that!! I know though from many stories on here how difficult it is to stop drinking alcohol when it has such a huge hold over you that it takes priority in your life. You can do it, just as many on here have managed to do it. Much better to do it before you are faced with an awful diagnosis of liver disease and the choice is give up drinking or die. You are doing the very best thing that you can do for your liver, don't waste any more of your life to alcohol. Wishing you a great future and I'm here for you anytime. Alf
Hi Alf, thanks for all the support and motivation, it helps a lot in early recovery. I’m taking it a day at a time and I feel better everyday. Sorry to hear about what your going through, I hope your stable and enjoying life. It shows how ugly the disease is, even when you were told you had cirrhosis you carried on drinking. You seem very strong and I knowledgable and it’s nice to have people like you on this board.
I initially returned to drinking for the past four years so never returned on here. I drank a lot, never missed a day. I drank dangerously, I would neck a half a bottle in one go (neat). I know that’s so stupid, but that’s how I drank all my life. I don’t remember since I started drinking, that I drank slowly or sipped. Always been a binge and neat spirit drinker. My body has recovered, my liver score is abnormal by 20 points, after stopping for 2 weeks. And everything else is normal. It’s amazing how the body recoveres so fast in little time. Maybe because I just turned 27. If I carry on drinking I know the future I write.
I would book hotels when I have a home and drink day and night in peace. 20 bottles of wine in 3 days. No food, only drink. One meal in 3 days. Crazy right ?. I say nature of the disease. One drink can lead me to relapsing for several months. I’ve seen it, and I know how addicted my brain becomes. So I just stay away from it completely. God bless, everyone who helped and I will remain posting. Thanks
Nothing I can add here that Miles and Alf have not already said. They have given some great advice. I just wanted to say congrats and best wishes moving forward my friend!🙂
Hi there. Good to hear from you. It's great that your results are looking good. Hopefully there will be no long term damage. You have age on your side so you can probably reverse everything and go on and have a long and healthy life. There is only so much the liver can take and It sounds like you were really pushing it to the limits. Not only do you get your life back but think of all the money you will save too! No more lethargy and groggy mornings, that's got to be good! You've gone through a whole 4 weeks now and that's brilliant. Hang on in there and keep at it. Wishing you well every step of the way. Keep me posted. Alf
Hi justme
I have just come across your posts - actually Alf told me about it. Alf and I have similar histories relating to cirrhosis but I think it fair to say that I drank considerably more than Alf. Not as much as you but drinking since I was around 18 until about 60. So for a long long time I didn’t take much, ahem, any, notice of the recommended guidelines. Then one Liver Clinic session I was told you better stop “or else”. I didn’t fancy the “or else” bit 👎🏻 so stopped there and then - nearly 5 years ago now. Like Alf I was one of the lucky few who had a transplant last year - in fact we had our transplants within days of each other albeit at different Hospitals and we only “met” here on this forum.
So after that rambling story what I’m trying to say is much the same as Alf in that it seems like you, with any luck, have “saved” yourself in time from having to go down the same route as the two of us! Please keep it up, yes it’s blurry hard but the rewards are stupendous. Not only money saved, but also, as Alf says, you really do get your life (a life!) back, and will be able to actually remember the happy times I hope you have ahead.
Stick with it please! We like to read of success life stories on here. Every day you can make it without alcohol is one step nearer to not needing it any more. I am not giving advice but merely (merely?) recounting my experiences.
Go for it 👍
Miles
• in reply to
Hey Miles I had a question. Were you in decompensation for the whole 5 years prior to transplant? Or compensated at first?
• in reply to
Morning Phoenix 👍
Do you know in all the time I was ill no-one ever told me anything about my problem except that I had cirrhosis! I had never even heard the terms compensated or decompensated until I found this forum AFTER my transplant.
As for the detail of things like ALT ALP and all the other wonderful acronyms I never was actually told ANY value except once I saw some data on the Consultants screen by having a good old gleg when he/she wasn’t looking 😁 - but of course had not got a clue what anything meant. On the other hand I had no desire to know - all I wanted was to get fixed 😁👍.
In retrospect I was really kept in the dark but not deliberately perhaps but rather they thought I didn’t need to know?
So there you go - situation unknown 😁
Yours, with his head always firmly in the sand, Miles
Very much the same for me as Miles. We both found this forum post transplant. My cirrhosis was just referred to as that (no stages) Then followed by liver cancer and DEB TACE and 3 years chemo. Then six months after end of chemo I was told that I was in liver failure. As I always say, Wish I'd known about this forum waaaaaaaaaay back! Alf
I read all 111 replies now..congrats you are making a good progress towards healthy life!
I am having exactly the same symptoms (coffee, sugary foods provoke the pain).
Ofcource I drank for almost 5 yrs, daily, cheap liquors, sometimes day-night, latenight and what not. Yes it feels miserable after looking back what things you lost - friends, money, image, confidence.
Going forward, I hope, as you said after 1 yr 4 M the pain vanished, will happen in my case.
I am on very clean diet, daily exercise, weight down from 98 to 78 and everything is perfect. Will not have alcohol till the pain is gone.
Considering not going in that bruised phase again, wanted to ask - did you start drinking after 1 yr 4 M? Did you feel the pain by then. I hope we will be following the rule of 'X units per week' which are barely 5-7. Also for those 1 yr 4M, were you on any medications like vitamins I read..but anything specific..like no fatty, processed, greasy food etc.
I am interested in what you have been going through. I am a 50 year old female and have a pain in my liver area - burning type pain. I also have developed bad indigestion - had all thus for about 4 weeks now. I have had it in the past too on and off for a couple of years. I had my gallbladder removed 3 years ago and have been a heavy drinker for about 2 years. Interestingly the pain occurs when I stop drinking during the week but if I were to keep drinking then don't have the pain. I know I need to stop and I am committing to stop. Got a fright at weekend when I took a nosebleed. Got apt for Dr's next week so will see what they say. Wondered if you had indigestion too? Been taking omeprazole 20mg but feel that not really working either. Appreciate any advice. 👍 Great news re you stopping too. All the best. 🍀
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Jeff
never again ! 
Worried about liver
Pain that only occours when I drink alcohol
Fatty Liver Pain
Repeated Blood tests for liver
Liver pain or no??
