I drank heavily for the past 2-3 years increasing in volume to roughly 8-12 beers a day over the last two. I had my labs done two weeks after quitting and everything came back normal. AST-18, ALT-14, Billirubin-1.5mg/dl, Albumin 5.2g/dl, Globulin 2.4g/d, Protein 7.6 g/dL, Alkaline Phosphatase 46 U/L, and GGT 23 U/L.
Having said that I have developed an itch about a week after quitting that is all over my arms legs and face mostly but with no rash and pins and needles feelings at times. Also have been having yellow stools.
My doctor says that it's not liver disease as all of my labs came back normal. My question is has anyone else had a similar experience and ended up with cirrhosis? I find it hard to believe my labs would have gone down this much after only two weeks of abstinence and I have signs of liver disease. Red hands, upper right quadrant pain, yellow stools (used to get blackish ones occasionally when drinking), urine used to be dark when drinking, possible terry's nails, cramping muscles in hands and feet.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
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Gringo8675
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I have heard where people's lfts have been fine but they've still ended up with cirrhosis. I would mither them to do more tests and research. Please take care. Lots of love Lynne xxxx
Liver "function" tests return to normal within a few weeks if the primary cause is removed so it's possible. Most liver tests only show inflammation and cell death, not actual liver function. The only true liver function test are bilirubin, albumin and INR. These are usually normal until late stage. All my blood tests so far have been normal yet I've been getting no end of symptoms.
My GP categorically said I don't have a liver problem. I then had a fibroscan done after reaching my wits end and it was quite high. I'm now waiting for my referral to gastro.
Sadly GPs are not trained in liver disease yet. (This may change since liver disease is on the rise). So they go off out dated blood tests only good at picking up automatic immune disorders.
Don't want to scare you but you deserve to get to the bottom of it. Get a fibroscan done and pay for it if you have to. If it's normal then you know for sure nothing is wrong. If it's not then you get actually do something about it.
First I have to say that none of us here can give medical advice as we aren't qualified and for that reason we are discouraged from sharing specific results.
The symptoms you describe could be due to withdrawal or other things.
The yellow stools is not something I have come across, I would have been more worried about the brackish as that can be a sign of internal bleeding.
It does sound as though you have been checking Dr Google to self diagnose which is always a bad idea I'm afraid as it can convince us we have all sorts of diseases.
That said if you are so concerned you should ask for further tests- GPs can order ultrasound scans etc where they feel necessary. Or you can be referred to a consultant. I do strongly suggest that you speak to doctor about your fears as he may be able to put your mind at ease. As the others have said it is possible for things to look well when they aren't. Your Dr would usually be able to see jaundice without needing tests.
My husband developed alcoholic fatty liver disease and was specifically told that by going teetotal it would heal in 4-6 weeks. (He was taking part in a trial as a control group - I am the one with cirrhosis and I never drank)
Try not to over think and if you need information I suggest you check the British Liver Trust site as they have accurate downloadable leaflets.
I do hope you are wrong about your liver but should you need support we are here. I know this reply may not seem supportive, but your post seemed to be looking for information this time.
Thanks all, I fully understand that no one here can give medical advice. I'm just a bit perplexed as the itching and jaundiced stools didn't start until after I quit drinking. I also don't think it's withdrawal as I am still itching 2.5 weeks after quitting.
I will definitely have another blood test done. Do you all have any suggestions for what specifically should be tested for in the blood outside of what I got done above? I'm worried that my GP won't know much about what else to order.
Geffy22 to be clear my levels were never high, hadn't gotten them checked in two years. They are just looking normal as of the first test and I still have symptoms. I'm very sorry to hear about your husband. Did he ever have elevated labs? Were you aware he had cirrhosis before he died?
I'm so glad your levels are good - but I honestly am not sure if they give a good enough indication of the problem. My hubby drank normal amounts. He got MRSA following an op, it wasn't diagnosed for 1 year, so he was floating on various antibiotics, then once diagnosed he had to have shed loads intravenously. He never had elevated anything until he started on antibiotics. When his liver function went mad and he had a grand mal seizure, he was asked to abstain from everything for 3 months. Sadly his test results stayed the same ie the damage was done. Around 12 months later he was completely jaundice and after being diagnosed with pneumonia and being put on strong antibiotics, 2 weeks after he finished the antibiotics he died. His bilirubin levels dropped by 35% in the last 3 days of his life as his liver started to recover from the antibiotics, but it was too late.
Life gives us hard lessons - my life motto now is live like every day is your last. You become a much nicer person and have much more joy.
I'm so sorry to hear that but am inspired by your strength and positivity. The fact that you are sending some of it my way after what you have been through is absolutely incredible. Best of luck to you!
Well i get yellow stools and right quadrant pain and had an ultrasound done and showed that i have fatty liver. You said you had black stool, were you drinking any red wine at the time? That could cause it. I would ask my doctor to do an ultrasound just to rule out chirrosis.
Thanks Kpexxx! I think I'm just in anxiety reduction mode more than anything at the moment. The itching is what's really scaring me in conjunction to the other symptoms.
Hey there, sorry for the late reply. I had an ultrasound done with came back clear. Stools normalized mostly to a brown color. Still having itching though and pain/cramps in hands and feet.
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