Feeling concerned

[Winnie73]

Hi,just looking for some reassurance/advice again. I've posted about my history before, but here's a summary. I'm a few months sober, have had two sets of normal blood tests but a few symptoms are still worrying me. I've had unexplained itching since Feb. Still ongoing. In the last few weeks I'm noticing discomfort in my abdomen and I'm also passing pale stools ( like peanut butter) sorry for the graphic description. I've got an appt with a gastro soon but should I talk to my doctor again? I called about the discomfort in my abdomen but they said the gastro will discuss this. The pale stool has me scared stiff tho!!! Thanks in advance. Winnie x

[jojokarak]

Hi Winnie congratulations on staying sober 😁 symptoms you describe is a sign your bilirubin was elevated it can take months for that to go down and it would of been high because of your drinking but your noticing now because your sober. If your really concerned go your GP ask them to explain bloods and maybe another blood test and ask what they were last time and what they are now I am sure they will be declining and carry on with the no drinking x

[Winnie73 in reply to jojokarak]

Thanks for the reply. That's the thing, I've had all the blood tests. Some of them twice. GGT, bilirubin, albumin, AST....everything! All normal. Going to doc tomorrow due to recent change in bowel habits and going to push for a scan as advised by BLT.

[Lozzafis in reply to jojokarak]

Hi winnie ur symptoms are similar to mine, my stools can be like this and dont seem to form either, my itching has settled down now but it will be back, if u dont mind me asking how many units were you drinking a week? I was drinking a bottle of wine in theevening to relax, which in all fairness is 3 glasses but theres 9 units x 7 = 56, im now trying my bedt to have 3/4 nights of a week, like i said on here previous my gastro shouted at me and said my pain in my liver area n side is not my liver but wat the hell is it

[Winnie73 in reply to Lozzafis]

My drinking was exactly the same as you Lozzafis. Once kids were down I'd crack open the vino and pour a glass to unwind. I wasn't working so I'd have a couple more. Probably 5/6 bottles a week. I started work in Jan and cut my drinking by about half at that time. The itching started in Feb, I saw the doc. Bloods were fine so I carried on drinking. Went to a different doc in May as still had the itching, she suggested it might be a bit of fatty liver so I cut back to the recommended 14 units as she suggested. Still no improvement so I went to different gp in july and she said it might be an allergy to histamine in alcohol so I went teetotal for 5 weeks. Still had the itch, had more blood tests which revealed low b12 and vit d but all LFT's again fine. So October I had a few nights out when I drank a few glasses of wine but I've been dry again since beginning of November. The last couple of weeks is when the pale stool and abdominal pains started. Hence my concern. I've cut back a long time ago and new symptoms coming now. Seems weird. I've also lost about a stone in weight just in the last month. Docs won't do anything more than blood tests but the locum has finally referred me to a gastro. How are you doing now? Any answers for your pain?

[Winnie73 in reply to Winnie73]

Sorry just realized read your post. I see you're also still none the wiser as to why you feel uncomfortable. Hope they get to the bottom of it. It sucks not knowing. x

[Ronin990 in reply to Winnie73]

Hey Winnie, sorry your still not feeling right. I’ve had a similar experience I can only suggest paying for a fibroscan like I did. But maybe your gastro will do one.

[Winnie73 in reply to Ronin990]

Thanks Ronin, I went to a GP yesterday. She was concerned and has ordered a full set of bloods and an urgent ultrasound. She was great, which was a very welcome change! I might well ask to be referred for a fibroscan too. I need to know what's going on. Hope you are doing ok?

[Kpexxx]

Are you saying your stool has the same color as peanut butter or its texture is like peanut butter?

[Winnie73 in reply to Kpexxx]

I meant the colour. They are quite loose.

[Kpexxx in reply to Winnie73]

Well pale stools arnt peanut butter color. Your having yellow stools which is typical after quitting alcohol

[Winnie73 in reply to Kpexxx]

Right, thank you for that. It's actually reassured me a bit. What do people mean by pale stool then? Whitish, grey?

[Kpexxx in reply to Winnie73]

Yeah whitish or clay colored

[Wendy57]

Hi. Just a comment about the itching. I used to scratch my itchy spots until they bled. I understand your grief with it. I found the best solution was E45 cream. Use at least twice a day after showering. Worth a try. Good luck. X

[Winnie73 in reply to Wendy57]

Ah cheers Wendy. I just keep having baths as it helps but I have some e45 so I'll give that a go. Hope you are doing ok. x