Symptoms worsening: Hi everyone I... - British Liver Trust

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Symptoms worsening

matt137 profile image
24 Replies

Hi everyone

I wonderded if anyone had experienced their symptoms worsening after stopping drinking the devils juice?

Im experiencing really uncomfortable pain in my liver area. Much more severe than when i was drinking.

It also seems to worsen if I drink a protein shake.

Thanks for your help and I hope you all feel bright today.

Matt

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matt137 profile image
matt137
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24 Replies
retwos profile image
retwos

Could it gall stones ? Or did you drink quite a lot n that numbed the pain , best. Thing to do is see your doctor really , have bloods taken n see if anything is suggesting why your getting a pain ,maybe abit tender , good luck))

Hi Matt. Mine got severe too and it seemed like more alcohol numbed the pain. That's were I went wrong. Have regular visits to drs, I book mine every few weeks.

Look forward to hearing from you

Good for you for looking the devil in the face.

X x

matt137 profile image
matt137

Hi guys

Ive been a heavy drinker for a number of years, and ive been 'hiding' the symptoms of liver damage by drinking more, like you said Mellow.

If i have a drink it takes the symptoms away almost.

Doctor has confirmed my thoughts, although I havent been scanned yet (its next Tuesday 12th) ... dreading it.

Bloods being taken the week after he has told me, but i know deep down what the problem is. Just hoping its not too bad.

M

chynablue profile image
chynablue

Hi Matt, Sorry to hear you are in pain. Good job, though, facing up to it and getting the doctor involved. I've heard that protein is harder for the liver to break down. It might help to switch to a bland diet or the BRAT diet (banana rice applesauce toast) for a bit to allow the liver to rest. Keep us updated on how your scan goes! Best wishes :)

briccolone profile image
briccolone

its quite common for symptoms to worsen after stopping drinking especially if you have mild to moderate alcoholic hepaptitis-certainly was my experience. It eventually improves I can assure you but can take weeks months...I'd stay away from protein shakes or any other supplements..

matt137 profile image
matt137

Thanks for the advice guys. It is really appreciated. Takes a lot of worry away aswell 😊

dckimberly profile image
dckimberly

I was sober over three years before I got sick. Really sick. I was stunned, because I thought when I quit drinking, things would just get better.

I just had 7 years sober this past September, and was blessed enough to recieve a new liver in Lat October.

I take it your seeing a specialist?

Ask them about your worsening symptoms. I had terrible pain, due to ascites.,fluid on my belly. In fact, that's what took me to the ER and its when I was told just how sick I was.

Cheering you on,

Kimberly

matt137 profile image
matt137

Thanks Kimberley, good to hear from you. I hope that LT is going well?

The route to the specialist is just beginning. US and fibrosis scans on Tuesday next week.

I Don't give bloods until the week after because I had to take 'crisis' blood pressure pills to take it down quickly.

Congrats on beating the troubles, I'm only a week in but seems OK.

Should've done this a lot sooner

Matt x

briccolone profile image
briccolone in reply to matt137

Come back with the fibriscan scores and any. Blood tests you have GGT etc there's a lot of expertise on this site.cheers

matt137 profile image
matt137 in reply to briccolone

Sure will B. Thanks

briccolone profile image
briccolone

take a look on my posts from a couple of years ago and high GGT which I think may be of assistance-sounds like you're in a similat place...

matt137 profile image
matt137

Bric. .. that is very very helpful. I'll have a good read through it all later.

I'm hoping my scans are OK, I guess next week will set the stage.

Thanks for your help.

Much appreciated

briccolone profile image
briccolone in reply to matt137

no probs that's what were here for

briccolone profile image
briccolone

btw I wasn't drinking so much I had alcohol withdrawal symptoms which I described as Paws at the time-I now know this to be alcoholic hepaptitis(low level) which displayed very similar symptoms. Because the liver is so complex-everyone how slightly different symptoms-this is what causes a lot of confusion. I consider myself luck in that my fatty liver caused me digestive issue and liver pain which was an early warning indicator-plus the ggt levels being high.

Good Luck matt

Although if you tell us how long and how much you were drinking it my help. Getting Liver Cirrhosis from alcohol alone is actually quite hard to do.

Don't forget the Liver can recover from quite a beating, as long as you haven't reached F3 or F4 scarring you should be able to come out of this ok.

matt137 profile image
matt137 in reply to

Thanks Ralph

I hope it is OK

Scans this week and blood the next so will let you know

in reply to matt137

just to give you an idea, I was a 20 year standing binge drinker. All bloods clear, ultrasound clear, Fibroscan 4.2kpa 233dbm. The 233dbm means a slight amount of fat above normal, but nothing to worry about. I didnt get into daily drinking luckily, I was into 2 or 3 binges a week normally a couple of bottles of wine each session.

matt137 profile image
matt137

HI Ralph

Unfortunately i fell into the daily drinking trap.

4-5 cans of high strength lager or a trip to the pub after work every evening.

This has been going on for many years.

Im one week and a day sober today, and its been surprisingly easy to deal with.

Feel stupid now for not facing up to it before.

Scans are tomorrow, so fingers crossed ive caught serious damage in time.

Good news is that liver pain seems to have reduced quite a lot yesterday and today.

Although im still twitchy and itchy.

Ill post results once recieved for everyone to comment and advise.

Matt

in reply to matt137

Its a bit of pot luck as to who will get affected by that. My dad used to drink 3 or 4 pints every night for 50 years without any issues. It depends how long for for, but at the moment I would say you were on about 100 -120 units a week? People like Richard Burton got up to 3 maybe 4 bottle of vodka a day and he lived to 58, yes he was diagnosed with Cirrhosis, but still it just goes to show its quite hard to get Cirrhosis. The sticking point for me is that it was super strength larger, nasty stuff.

briccolone profile image
briccolone

as a matter of interest Matt how old are you if you don't mind me asking? I'm 60 now and first started getting symptoms at 57. If yo're younger than me which I suspect is true then you have relative youth on your side so nils desperandum....

matt137 profile image
matt137 in reply to briccolone

Hiya Briccolone

Im a spritely 43!

Ive been drinking heavily for around 10 years... possibly 100 units p.w for the last 5 years and much less for the 5 years before.

I would like to add that despite my obvious weakness and downfall, I am a civil engineering professional, and Ive never let my bad habits effect my work or family life :)

briccolone profile image
briccolone in reply to matt137

dont doubt it-I'm in the newspaper business myself -that was probably what started me off on the old vino road. 43 is young so whatever the results are I would say you have relative youth on your side...

matt137 profile image
matt137

I think it was the ex-mrs that started me off!

Im hoping so Briccolone. As soon as i get some results ill post the findings

briccolone profile image
briccolone

how are you getting on?

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