Alcoholic Fatty liver likely - British Liver Trust

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Alcoholic Fatty liver likely

Millenium profile image
94 Replies

Hello all. I am new here I mainly came because I am finally worried about my liver. I went to the doctors about 6 months ago for an ear infection I told them i drink and they asked me to get blood tests. I got them done and went back a week later ad was told I am on my way to fatty liver and it is the very early stages and my kidneys are only functioning at 80% efficiency and I then got a gout attack stopped drinking for 3 weeks. I stupidly took it back up and been drinking ever since till a week ago. I got pain in my stomach the doctor believes its an ulcer and my liver may have fatty liver disease and also I think its swollen. I really am worried this is going too be permanent damage. I was wondering if anyone has been through these symptoms and can tell me what is wrong I can;t get my ultrasound the doctor asked till the end of the week and so I am a little worried and I haven't been drinking since. I am sorry for my bad grammer I am a horrible typer.

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Millenium profile image
Millenium
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94 Replies

Hi Millenium, & fatty liver is quite common in drinking populations. It is the first stage of alcoholic liver disease, but can fully resolve without permanent effects; this provided inflammation hasn't gone on for too long, where fibrosis can also occur.

If you haven't had any advanced symptoms (jaundice, ascites, GI bleeds, acute alcoholic hepatitis requiring hospitalization) then you should remain optimistic a full recovery is possible.

Most of us get fair warning alcohol is affecting our health. Some of us heed these early warnings, but surprisingly many do not. Please don't worry too much about serious damage at this time, but think carefully about whether you're ready to leave alcohol long term.

Most X-Drinkers do remarkably well, so if you're ready for this, then most likely you have no worries. If you slip back into regular drinking again, you'll need to start getting used to worrying about your liver.

Best of Luck with the ultrasound, & let us know how you're doing.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

I had a GI bleed and went up too the ER and got sent home with Gerd tablets, I have had gerd for a while and my doctor thinks the bleed as it only happened once is related too an ulcer caused by gerd not my liver and nope I haven;t had any of those other symptoms, I haven;t had hepititis as far as i know and never been hospitalized. I am really not ready I have been trying to give up since the doctor warned me 6 months ago I wanted to go to Oktoberfest in Berlin one day not looking good. I haven;t been throwing up either I just got this dull pain in my right side but toehr than that I am great. I read up on the symptoms no fatigue, no yellowing eyes, no vomiting, no nausia so I hope it all clears up. I went without alcohol when I had to GI bleed and had a few Friday night I woke up in the morning and I thought I had peed the bed because my sweat smelt like Ammonia so I went to the doctors asap which was on Sunday and he told me Cirrosis is unlikely at this point but we'll get an ultrasound and blood tests and make sure. I also have too deal with a likely ulcer. I haven;t drank since Friday night and I wont be drinking again until my liver is good and also if you have an ideas on what I should do let me know is there any foods that can help my liver or anything like that or will I just stick to water and my normal dinner which is chicken and veges.

O13B profile image
O13B in reply to Millenium

Please don’t go back to drinking, that’s what I did many times and now I’ve got end stage liver disease, I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Get support to help you stay of the drink. Good luck

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to O13B

I have heard cirhossis is quite painful and the symptoms cause extreme discomfort I don;t have any of the symptoms of end stage liver disease. I only feel some pain because my liver is swollen.

O13B profile image
O13B in reply to Millenium

Don’t get complacent I never had any pain!! My first symptom was a seriously swollen stomach, but I had been overweight so I didn’t notice any thing until I was very seriously ill and had to spend 3 weeks in hospital! Please don’t do that to yourself, don’t believe that you can ever safely drink!

Good luck

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to O13B

I wasn;t being complacent I am more hoping it isn;t anything to serious and can repair itself.

Chicken & veg is great. Choline is the liver's favorite nutrient, and eggs are the best source of this. The choline (phosphatidylcholine aka lecithin) is in the yolk, so don't fool around with egg white omelettes. Real eggs are perhaps the liver's favorite food.

Tea and coffee (unsweetened!) are also known liver tonics. No need to go overboard with any of these, but if you can incorporate these into your diet, they might be helpful.

A good apatite is a good sign! Eat all you like, but avoid simple sugars, and especially sodas (high fructose corn syrup). Fatty liver is more alcohol and sugar related, than dietary fats.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

Scrambled egg and toast instead of toast and vegemite I can live with that :) thank you.

Vegemite has some good stuff in it too (B-Vitamins). Don't know if it goes well with eggs though! Perhaps you can alternate?

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

I don't think they would go together well nay so i'll probably have a vegemite sandwich for lunch. :)

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

oh btw can I eat red meat? I wanted too have some Hamburgers tomorrow night

Hello Millenium,

May I first of all welcome you to this site and hope you find some of the answers you are seeking.

Do you mind if I ask a few questions please, just to try and clarify a few things.

Are you a male or female? I ask this as quite rightly a persons gender shouldn't make any difference, but it would help to understand your life style a little better.

You say you won't be drinking again until your liver is better. If you know that alcohol is causing you problems, then why would you want to continue to drink this poison. I say poison because like so many others, alcohol has now become just that to your body.

Are you living in the UK? I ask this as you referred to vegemite. This isn't a widely used spread over here. I ask this because there are so many different stories and advice sites on the internet and some can be almost spurious and alarmist. The UK medical profession acknowledges alcohol-related liver disease as a mental as well as physical condition. Other countries like America see this as being a self-inflicted problem. So, some people on this site could well be offering you some advice that may not be available if you are living in another country.

I hope I haven't offended you by asking these question.

Good Luck

Richard

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

No offense taken they are fair questions. I am a 32 year old male and I am Australian I came on here because its the only site I could find that is most similar too Australia and may give me answers as waiting a week is torture. I don;t intend too take up drinking as a hobby again but it would still be nice to have a few with my mates sometimes on the weekend its our culture here.

Hello again Millenium,

I must confess to being a little disturbed by your outlook, but I realise that this may very well be a culture thing stereotyped by the The Paul Hogan Show. Aussies with their cans of Tooheys or Fosters type thing. So please forgive me if I sound a little blunt as this maybe due to me not understanding the culture differences here.

Those of us who have damaged our livers through alcohol abuse, have always looked upon these ramifications as a wake-up call. Because the liver doesn't tell you of the damage that's being caused a person is ignorant of what is actually happening. Once the damage has happened, more often than not it's irreversible (i.e. fibrosis, and cirrhosis).

When a person realises the damage they've have caused, they gain a lot more respect of their livers and do anything not to cause any further damage.

When the liver becomes too badly scarred, other conditions start to appear due to the restricted blood supply. I had variceal bleeds, (not to be confused with GI bleeds), and went on to develop five tumours on the liver. At this point a liver transplant is the only viable option. Over here in the UK when a person goes for an Liver transplant assessment, they are assessed by a team of medical experts who look at both a persons medical and emotional history and their view point. They certainly wouldn't recommend someone who had little or no respect for there own liver, as they wouldn't respect a donors liver.

This liver problem you now have is your wake-up call. You need to adopt a different life style approach. To be able to turn around an say, that you want your liver to get better so you can drink again is in my view totally irresponsible.

You can still have a good time with your mates, have a laugh etc, with alcohol-free drinks. Life's not so bad without alcohol. Once your friends realise that you can't drink alcohol any more they will respect that and do all they can to support you. A true friend would say, "If see you with one can of beer in your hands, I'm going to kick you from here into next week". The so called friend who says, "go one, have a beer mate. One's not going to kill you". That's not a friend, but a person who has little or no respect for you.

I'm sorry for sounding out like this, but this is now something I feel very passionate about. I didn't know about the damage I cased to my liver, I was ignorant. Now I'm left with completely different outlook on life. I will never allow any damage to come to this liver I now have, as I owe this second chance of life to my donor.

If you are still interested in this subject, I have put together my own website of awareness into alcohol-related liver disease. There's a lot of useful information there, especially the videos. I hope it may be of some use to you: taep.eu

Good Luck

Richard

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

I respect your candour. I don;t want my liver to get better just so I can go drinking again I really want too be healthy again. I also want to hit the gym and get back in shape but like I said I wish I could still have a few beers with my mates I will miss this. I understand you are looking out for me I most likely have a way back from this and you didn't and I appreciate your concern.

monicalynn profile image
monicalynn

good day I know its a scary thought as your liver works everything in your body including your brain muscles and every other organ relies on it for functioning in some way. having to go through any transplant is the hardest thing in life to have to go through and some just don't make it through. the best advice is to just stop drinking any alcohol at all. I know its a hard life change and it has been a lifestyle choice for a long while but there are always ways of hanging with friends on going to social functions without having to put alcohol into the equation.i have friends in Australia and yes it is part of the culture with the mates but im sure your mates would understand if you were trying to save your own life. anyway good luck with it all and stay healty

Lara86 profile image
Lara86

Hi Millenium!

I have liver fibrosis from non alcoholic fatty liver disease and I'm so aggravated that I was never advised it could get to this point. I was told a few years ago that I had fatty liver and I should try to lose weight, that' was it! Now I have what seems to be permanent damage!

Please try to see this as a gift. You know the damage you can cause and you know it can can be reversed. I'm not an alcoholic so I can't fully understand the struggle of addiction but I know it's with the effort to at least try to do something! Even if you go back sometimes, idk. I wish I had an answer for you. But please try to use this as a wake up call.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Lara86

thanks and I agree with you. I need to look after myself also having gout is kind of a sign too that I need to start doing the right thing.

Hi,

Welcome to the forum.

You may find our publication 'Alcohol and liver disease' useful to read;

britishlivertrust.org.uk/wp...

With regards to diet, if you have a liver condition, there are some special considerations you may need to make in your diet to stay nutritionally well and to help to manage your condition. Some of these are specific to certain liver diseases, others relate to how advanced your liver disease is. We would therefore suggest that you discuss your dietary needs with your liver specialist in the first instance. they may then choose to refer you on to a hospital registered dietitan.

You may find our publication on diet and liver disease useful to read;

britishlivertrust.org.uk/wp...

We hope the links are helpful and that you can see from our brilliant forum members how vital it is to look after your liver,

Best wishes

Trust1

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

thanks mate

I have gout too so my diet had to be changed and i am on a diet primarily chicken and veges as my primary diet. I cant eat a lot of red meat because my gout will come and say hi and too be honest I would rather have liver cirohosis than another gout flair.

Roy1955 profile image
Roy1955

If you have fatty liver it can repair itself if you quit drinking.

If you continue drinking you never know what glass full is the one that's going to tip your liver from fatty (repairable) to cirrhosis (unrepairable) it might be the very next drink that does that!

With average luck you caught it in time but if scans and blood tests return to normal and you resume drinking there's every chance that next time you have what appears as very mild liver symptoms you actually have end stage liver disease! and that's exactly what happened to me!

Kpexxx profile image
Kpexxx

How long have you been drinking for?

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Kpexxx

I been drinking on and off since I was 18 I wouldn't say I was always a heavy drinker either I only drank beer but beer led to gout 6 months ago.

briccolone profile image
briccolone in reply to Millenium

Beer I’m afraid is pretty bad for gout. EAt cherries for that.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to briccolone

yup gout is the worst pain you can ever endure I hope I never get a flair again. or anyone else for that matter

Carper1 profile image
Carper1

Hi Millenium or should I say G’day!

I know how you feel I am waiting for an ultrasound and feel my life has already changed.... I don’t beleive I am an alcoholic but drink regularly and don’t give my liver a rest. I actually asked for a AST gamma test with some recent bloods and it has come back at 142. First doctor said I need a scan but apart from that liver function is ok, spent last week convincing myself I am riddled with cancer and went to see my normal GP yesterday. He told me my drinking days are over or else...... quite a shock. Ironically recently I have been sorting myself out mentally to change my lifestyle. Perhaps too late.... I have felt discomfort in liver area and he says it is enlarged. I just hope and pray that it i haven’t done too much damage but I just think about not being able to have a pint with my 2 boys when they are older, that said I do want to see them when they are older. I am 44 and have no other signs of hepatitis etc apart from recently feeling tired after a session. I am so annoyed with myself that I have been such an idiot for years and got into the routine of drinking most nights, not spirits just a beer and glass of wine....numerous at weekends. Good luck mate hope we can both make our livers good again. Must admit I am scared and had tears this morning with the wife. I am active and trying to keep a positive mindset but it is a shock, although I am not stupid I only have myself to blame and expected it....thanks all for the comments and help you have given millennium and me. X

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Carper1

I have my ultrasound tomorrow morning. I don;t really have any symptoms except a dull pain on my right side under my rib cage I don;t feel fatigue or anything like that. I really am worried but I am trying too be optimistic about this and all though I am expecting the worse I am just going too have to lump it and see what happens. I have only drank beer since I was 23 before that I was drinking hard liqour went through withdraw and promised I would never ever get addicted again and quit the drink for a year took it up again at nearly 25 and drank till about 6 months ago when i went to the doctor for gout I had tests done and was advised too stop drinking my liver is under a lot of stress and I will only have another gout attack. I cut down but didn't stop until last week haven;t had a drink since. I would say I have fatty liver I don;t think I could go from the very early stages of fatty liver to Cirrhosis in 6 months but you never know. I have Irish family kind of been around beer all my life so this is a real kick in the head for me mate but we'll see how we go.

Carper1 profile image
Carper1 in reply to Millenium

Yep fingers crossed for us both👍

in reply to Carper1

Hi Carper1. While I'm pleased that it seems you have seen the light and are turning your life around for both yourself and your family, the comment you made about not being able to have a drink with your boys when they are older really worries me. It sounds as though you were planning on taking them down exactly the same route that you've been heading ... is that really what you want for them? Is this what goes through all men's heads when they have boys or just an alcoholics I wonder? Sorry to say this but thankfully my children were below the legal drinking limit when they saw their father , my husband die of alcoholic liver disease and multi organ failure which made them realise what a deadly substance alcohol is and consequently never have touched the stuff and I as their mother have steered them through a far healthier lifestyle, one dances the other is heavily into sports and we all have a healthy diet for which I feel very proud because believe me watching your husband slowly kill himself and have to pick up the pieces of the mess his illness and death leave behind is one of the toughest things a family can face. Please consider them through your life changes. I wish you and your family well

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

It is not exactly rare too have a drink with your son or daughter when they turn 21 its been tradition in the west for a long time now but I agree with you too a point I think spending money on the gym is a better way too use your time and money than being drunk as a clown and passing out in the gutter. I am going too be going too the gym when I see my doctor and my gout goes I think its time too straighten out my life I got hugely motivation this week when I looked in my bank account and found I had a rather large sum of money because I didn;t spend it on booze.

in reply to Millenium

Great stuff well done 💪👍

Carper1 profile image
Carper1 in reply to

Laura, Sorry to hear that and I understand your comment I do, I am certainly not going to lead them down the same path. I am out 6 days a week coaching them they are football mad and I run 2 of their teams. Thank you for your wishes.

in reply to Carper1

Great news... I'm so pleased ☺👍

Millenium profile image
Millenium

I had my ultrasound but they wotn give me the results until i see my dotor which is wednesday

mschantelle profile image
mschantelle

Yes that’s very normal, the receptionist is not qualified nor is it her job to explain your results, plus when you get your results it’s best to be with a doctor so you can ask any questions you have and have him/her explain the results thoroughly to you

Don’t worry.. this is all standard procedure x

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to mschantelle

Yup but now I gotta wait a freakin week too find out. I hate this waiting and suspense

mschantelle profile image
mschantelle in reply to Millenium

😟unfortunately that’s just something you will learn to live with.. the wait.

On the plus side you could always think, well I’m pretty certain they have found nothing horrific otherwise you would most definitely have had a callback.. waiting for me now is them reassuring me I have time to wait x

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to mschantelle

I don;t think the doc cares if my liver completely stopped functioning he'd not care until I went too see him. I don;t know how it is in the UK but its very difficult too find a doc here in Australia that gives a shit all they want is your money.

mschantelle profile image
mschantelle in reply to Millenium

Well at the end of the day he’s not there to care, him caring changes nothing, he does however have a care of duty which my doctor has failed on so many levels.. that’s another story 🙈 try not to over stress the situation, I’m not a doctor and we’re not allowed to offer medical advice but I do know this.. they call you in right away if the scan is ominous x this is the first in a long line of waits you’ve got to face soon so for you I think finding a coping mechanism for these times would be a good move x

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to mschantelle

So this is my life now? waiting on doctors I would almost rather cirrhosis.

AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireK in reply to Millenium

Please don't use lines like you would 'almost rather have cirrhosis' - trust me you wouldn't.

I've got a lovely hubby here who has never had a drink in his life and yet 6 years ago next month ended up in High Care Unit after throwing up blood, requiring transfusions and being told how close he came to death. This came almost out of the blue with no warning that he had changes in his liver and that was because he has an auto-immune illness which has quietly gnawed away at his liver until it became end stage cirrhotic. Now only 56 years old he can no longer work, no longer drive, can't concentrate on things for long, has difficulty processing information, can't sleep at night so doesn't share a bed with his wife, has never been able to make love to his wife, can't do the long walks which were so much part of his life and generally can't live the life he hoped. He can't make plans from one day to the next and is in a limbo of sorts - not well enough to live life to the full and not poorly enough for transplant. He waited 10 months on the liver transplant list for a transplant call that was never, ever going to come 'cos in reality he was never 'poorly enough'.

Please don't use throwaway lines, unfortunately you do have to wait your results - there is a lot of waiting involved when you have an illness. Hopefully on Wednesday you'll get your results and if they come back as an inflamed liver or fatty liver then you know where you stand and you CAN do something about it and CAN turn your life around.

Best wishes to you.

Katie

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to AyrshireK

I didn;t mean it that way but I am a very independant guy and I don;t know how I could cope having too regularly visit the doctor its just not in my make up even getting an ultrasound was an extreme annoyance and too 99% of people its nothing too get an ultrasound just walk in and have someone ub oil on your stomach basically.

AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireK in reply to Millenium

Hopefully you are going to get the diagnosis of fatty liver, you can then knock the booze on the head, live a better lifestyle and hopefully turn your condition around. My hubby never had that chance and there was no one more independent than my hubby or fiance as he was at the time of diagnosis. He lived for the hills, 400 mile holiday walks, working hard, driving all over the place for challenge walks then WHAMMO, end stage liver disease which he neither could have forseen or prevented.

Hopefully you've had a warning and you can turn it aroung because a diagnosis of cirrhosis will bring much more in the way of hospital trips. My hubby hardly ever visited the doctor prior to becoming ill with this. For last 6 years his diary has been planned round 6 monthly ultrasound scans, 6 monthly/3 monthly/5 weekly clinic appointments, endoscopy every 5-8 weeks (now annual), waiting for biopsy results, waiting for scan results, waiting for transplant clinic outcome etc. etc. etc.

He's totally reliant on me and is scared to death if I go out for the day or go out on shift in my volunteer role in case I come back hurt or worse and he is left to cope which he knows he wouldn't be able to do.

I do hope you get good news on Wednesday and that it is a warning and you can turn it around.

Best wishes, Katie :) x

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to AyrshireK

best wishes too your husband

mschantelle profile image
mschantelle

I don’t mean to be blunt here but yes.. that is probably what you’ll be doing for some time, and you saying ‘ it’s not in your makeup to visit a doctor ‘ and extreme annoyance of having to have an ultrasound? I can’t really take you seriously to be honest, that scan that is so terribly annoying to you ..some of us here have been on long waiting lists for those scans just to find out whether we’re a little improved or will it be bad news.

You don’t have to let these bothersome appointments affect your life in the slightest, you can go.. or not go, depends how much you want to stay alive, I know this for me.. if they said go climb that mountain every morning before your children wake and you’ll stay alive.. I’d do it.

I want to live

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to mschantelle

You are right but its just the way I am.

mschantelle profile image
mschantelle in reply to Millenium

Well obviously I hope you get good news at your scan results and this is just a warning at just how much damage you are doing to yourself and you grab the opportunity to learn from it. If however the news is not so good you might not think it but you will naturally adapt and these appointments.. yes it changes things but you will learn to be grateful for the appointments.. there’s not many countries like ours that you can just go to hospital and be given ‘ life saving’ medical attention.. I need the appointments, for me it is a reassurance that I won’t die during the night and my children won’t find me dead after school.. I need to hear that often because my head sometimes plays tricks on me and has me thinking irrationally.

I will check in soon and see how you are doing.. good luck

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to mschantelle

the wait it torture and thank you :)

mschantelle profile image
mschantelle in reply to Millenium

It’s not so bad.. find something else to focus on 😀 it’s only about 95 hrs till results morning lol x

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to mschantelle

eh i will focus on my entomology

Hi Millenium, most members here have covered pretty much what I wanted to say. You mentioned earlier that cirrosis is painful; I think it depends on how it affects every individual’s symptoms. I was diagnosed this year after years of drinking red wine. My experience has been painless, even as I see pure blood pouring out my mouth twice in 8 months. And now the money I am saving from staying sober, I am having to spend it paying my GI doctor and the banding of varices.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to

I am just going by the symptoms is all and I haven't had any I hope you get better I really hope I am ok

Millenium profile image
Millenium

Update I went too see the doctor today but he was at a meeting for most of the day the lady at the desk told me that its not urgent and I should come back in the next couple of days so more god damn waiting :(

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

Hi Millenium,

I’m also Australian. Spent 20 years in the UK.

I went from you have a fatty liver to 80% of your liver won’t repair itself within a short time frame. I now have end stage liver disease (cirrhosis). I wouldn’t ask for my worst enemy to have it. If you don’t buck up your thoughts mate, you could end up like me, a lifetime of doctor appointments and ambulances. It is a very serious and could be a life shortening disease. Cirrhosis can be managed though but please don’t EVER get to that stage. Your liver is sending you a little warning. I spent about 30 years drinking, and now (hopefully) I will spend the next 30 years living with what I have done to my body.

Take good care of yourself mate.

Cheers,

Brett

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

thanks mate. I understand trust me. I am not taking this lightly but what else can I do but wait.

Danubian profile image
Danubian in reply to Brett11

what time frame and how much drinking Brett?

Brett11 profile image
Brett11 in reply to Danubian

I was on a bottle of vodka a day or three bottles of wine.

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

That’s true.

What part of Australia are you living?

Brett

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

South coast NSW

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

Nice down there. I grew up in Sydney. Now live in flooded Cairns. It was the best move ever. OK, my health went downhill the moment we landed here 5 years ago, but what better place to be sick in lol. Should have moved here years ago.

Brett

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

LOL beautiful place too grow up here good people, its fairly safe and its right on the beach but unless you are an elderly and got in and bought up back in the 60's theres really no way to get ahead here and naturally us boys want to better ourselves when we can thats why i want this thing sorted out so i can get back too my life. I feel comtentment with the checkout babe telling me its not urgent but i still want this sorted out. I am glad you found your place mate home is where the heart is and a lot of us never find it.

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

That’s true. And another great thing about living in Cairns is that most of my rellies live in Sydney and Darwin. Just far enough away haha.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

Yup people family or not just turning up is a major pain in the arse especially because they usually turn up when I am busy doing things oh and I am guessing you did all your drinking in England not hard to out drink a pom and they are usually more fun too get drunk with then yanks.

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

Nah. I was born in Darwin. Was addicted to speed in Sydney when I was 19 ish. Stopped the drugs to replace it with alcohol. Loved being with friends at the beach or at the park (UK). Best time of my life. Now I have replaced the alcohol with stay alive drugs.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

I have never done drugs not even smoked a joint my demon has always been alcohol, curse of the irish i guess.

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

I get you. I loved Southern Ireland. Cork etc. beautiful place. I’ve never been to the north though.

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

I’ve got Scottish and Australian blood. Snap with the alcohol

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

I got irish, scottish, english and pitcairn islander. I am decendant of a first fleeter too :)

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

Gosh! We are all doomed lol

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

probably LOL

Millenium profile image
Millenium

CONCLUSION finally seen doctor

Report: The gallbladder is normal and the biliary tree is not dilated. The liver has severe increase in echogenicity and is enlarged. Portal flow is antegrade. The pancreas is poorly seen. The spleen is enlarged and measures 16.6cm in long axis. The kidneys appear normal. The aorta is of normal calibre. No mass or free fluid is seen.

Comment: The changes in the liver indicate severe fatty infiltration and the presence of splenomegaly raises possibility of cirrhosis. Correlation with LFT, platelets, etc is suggested.

So I am screwed :( fuck

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

Too many big words for me to understand lol? Are you screwed or not??

Cheers

Brett

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

I have severe fatty liver and a swollen spleen which increases chance of cirrhosis

Brett11 profile image
Brett11 in reply to Millenium

See. It’s recoverable then?

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

Well i hope so I need too see a specialist for liver function a gastrolitionist or whatever the hell they're called.

Brett11 profile image
Brett11 in reply to Millenium

Gastro~lit~ion~ist lol. I’ve called them worse. It seems like there is hope out there for you at the mo. Just put the booze to bed and keep up the healthy lifestyle maybe?

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

that doesn;t make me feel very optimistic mate.

Brett11 profile image
Brett11 in reply to Millenium

I cut out the booze now for 18 months now. It was very hard at first, denying my addiction to alcohol. I was waiting for the offie (bottleo) to open at 7am to get my vodka fix sometimes. But there was nothing wrong with me? All my mates were doing it. Then I got the sack for being hungover and stinking of booze every day. But I still wasn’t addicted?? Hindsight is a great teacher. I know you are no where as bad as what I was. I still have dreams about drinking with friends. 18 months after I stopped. See what the real doctors suggest for you and keep us posted. There may be drugs that they prescribe for you that I have had in the past so that I can let you know how they affected me. Everyone on here has been thru liver issues before or has cared for someone who has liver disease. They can offer you much more advice than I could. I can only base my observations on what I have gone thru. I personally don’t know anyone else who has it to compare my journey with.

Susanm446 profile image
Susanm446

In all the tests...did they check your iron by chance?

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Susanm446

no :/

Susanm446 profile image
Susanm446

Okay. Was just curious. Trust me I know how you feel on sooooo many levels. My husband has always had kinda high liver enzymes and slightly low platelets. After a few years of our regular dr getting tired of him asking if his low platelets were normal (duh Dr!!) She sent him to a hematologist who then found sky high ferritin numbers...then a hereditary hemachromatosis diagnosis...then slightly enlarged liver and spleen. So life right now is phlebotomies...testing...waiting...testing and it "blanking" sucks. To be carefree and having fun to BAM one day bluntly being told NO MORE BEERS EVER really blows. It's such a social thing for him. Plain and simple. He's not had a beer in 90 days and some days it hits more than others. Watching tv...a baseball game...commercials come on glorifying the fun of friends gathered round beering it up. Well that's all just bullshit. Time to stop going to the party now...for us anyhow...and try to enjoy life sober and healthy. It does suck...but we will take getting better anyway over puking up blood, severe pain and the indescribable fear of dying.

I feel for you my friend. You'll get thru this....

Susan in Orlando

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Susanm446

Does your husband have cirrhosis is he alright?

I agree with you though I had a great time during my 20's in my 30's its time too quit and move on too different things I just hope this isn;t too late.

Susanm446 profile image
Susanm446

No cirrhosis...yet. Like you...the stage of fatty liver and enlarged spleen and to top THAT off...severe iron overload. Something most people never know about or worry about. Hoping everything stops now and "regenerates." It's just...wow...you never think this shit will happen or "that day will come." For us it was always knowing that we should stop drinking...and then to get a health checkup and be TOLD that. Just hits hard and takes getting used to. I am healthy knock on wood . But I've changed MY life for him and so I stay healthy. Can't imagine being someone who struggles and being with someone who doesn't really help that struggle, if that makes sense.

I hope YOU have a good support system (for everything in life...not just health)..At least that one person who is strong for YOU. If not, just know you have total strangers who absolutely care about you and are here for you no matter what. We are all fighting some battle. :) susan

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Susanm446

I am more the loner type don;t associate with people very well. I think thats the hardest part with giving up the booze its a friend that has always been there for me, through funerals, weddings, birthdays, christmas, easter and now its gone but my liver is my friend right while the alcohol has been trying to kill me my liver been keeping me alive so maybe its time I took care of my friendly neighbourhood liver :P and flicked the booze. I wont drink anymore I don;t like the part where it says swollen spleen increases chance of cirrhosis., that part is really bugging me.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Millenium

since i quit the booze I have lost 3kg already LOL if my liver is still good i'll be golden in 6 months

Susanm446 profile image
Susanm446

Well you've got the best mindset now! Someone should make a cartoon about "the Neighborhood Liver " That made me laugh!! Stay in touch. You'll be fine and dandy I am sure.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Susanm446

I feel great just a mild pain in my right side probably the spleen.

Millenium profile image
Millenium

I got my fibroscan on monday so now things are heating up

Millenium profile image
Millenium

Had fibroscan came back as 4.4 kpa

livers good to go :)

phew what a relief

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

That’s not an excuse to go on a bender lol. That’s great news. Well done your liver.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

why would i go on a bender :)

Brett11 profile image
Brett11

Lol. Good man.

Millenium profile image
Millenium in reply to Brett11

look after yourself bro :)

i see this is my second chance

jojo23pink profile image
jojo23pink

Hi luv i have just read ur post as i am also new to this. Today actually lol. U posted that 2months ago and said end of week for ur ultrasound so im just wondering if u have had ur scan and if it showed anything? Also why are u on ur way to fatty liver? What did ur results show? X

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