New Here - Scared

[Healthanxiety]

Been lurking for about a week. 43 year old woman. Been drinking 3-4 beers a night for about 5 years. Maybe 6 on weekends. Suffer from depression and anxiety. Went to doc for bloodwork. AST 30. ALT 39. GGT 63. Doesn’t seem too high. ALT only slightly elevated (0-30) normal range. GGT range is (0-60). AST range (0-40). Doc suggests possible fatty liver. Notice the outside of my palms are red. Getting an ultrasound in two days. Should I be more concerned about cirrhosis? I’m freaking out.

[Hidden]

Hopefully you have quit drinking and if so I can understand your anxiety. Getting sober is hard enough without health anxiety to deal with too. It's easier said than done but try not to worry until a doctor gives you something to worry about. Trying to google and self diagnose will only lead to more worry and will not help your overall state of mind. Focus on eating reasonably and exercising and I'm confident you'll be fine good luck with your ultrasound and let us know how it goes and for what it's worth the red hand thing was something I was sure I had but given some time and perspective they don't seem so bad.

Truly

Boone

[Healthanxiety in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much. So are you saying you had red hands and you didn't end up with cirrhosis?

[Hidden in reply to Healthanxiety]

No I don't have Cirrohsis but do have an unknown amount of damage my point is you really can't self diagnose. Trying to compare your hands to pictures online is impossible I'm sure lots of people have red palms but no liver disease. Follow up with your doctor and follow their advice and in time your worries will lessen. I have found over that past 20 months that it's best to be aware of your health and symptoms but not obsessed with them.

Truly

Boone

[Hidden]

I wouldn't be overly concerned by the slightly red palms. Palmar erythema is not necessarily a sign of cirrhosis. It's a sign of a liver problem and if your slightly red palms are palmar erythema it's a mild case. Your blood test result show that your liver isn't inflamed. Your drinking history may mean that you have some damage (fibrosis) but you wouldn't have cirrhosis unless there were other factors besides drinking that stressed your liver. Now would be a good time to stop drinking and start exercising and eating healthy. If you do that then based on my experience you'll likely find that anxiety is less of a problem.

A FibroScan or elastography after having the ultrasound would probably be a good idea to determine if you have fibrosis and if so how bad it is. Your doctor may be reluctant to order one if the ultrasound finds no problem but if you explain your drinking history he might agree. If he doesn't then you could try seeing another doctor for a second opinion and ask for a referral to a specialist for evaluation of the health of your liver. In the meantime try & stop worrying and imagining the worst. I'd be willing to bet that you don't have cirrhosis and that if you clean up your lifestyle your liver will thank you & you'll be able to enjoy a long healthy life.

[Danubian in reply to Hidden]

My right hand is redder at the bottom on little finger side from resting on the table holding the mouse googling symptoms hours upon hours everyday for the last five months

[Hidden in reply to Danubian]

Hahaha.

Got to say how pleased I am that you are now convinced you are fit and healthy. Enjoy your life to the full now xx

[Hidden in reply to Danubian]

☺

[Hidden]

Hi HA

Whatever you do please don’t “freak out” I know it’s so hard not to and the waiting to find out things is the worst thing ever. Boone is so right there!

Yes and yes don’t google! (But we all do I bet 😀). If you must though then try and stick to the NHS website and, imho, the Mayo clinic one in America.

None of this is advice of course- we are not allowed to 😀 - but is my own experiences...

Good luck for everything

Miles

[AmericanDemocrat in reply to Hidden]

Hello, Health Anxiety -

I am from the US and want to second Miles' suggestion of using the Mayo Clinic site (in Minnesota) or the NHS in Britain. Mayo is the absolute best in the US, in my opinion. Also, it would seem your ultrasound was conducted two days ago. Do you have your results? I hope they are reassuring. Take good care ...

[Healthanxiety in reply to AmericanDemocrat]

Had to reschedule. It is now Monday...

[Hidden]

Please remember alcohol causes anxiety so if you've been drinking thinking it will make your anxiety go away you are very much mistaken. Hopefully now youve stopped drinking it will help in your anxiety recovery.

Good luck x

[jbrking]

Please don’t worry, those numbers are barely raised. My were x4 of those 10 years ago and even on medication they are double. You are drinking way too much so listen to your doctor and take any help offered. Good luck.

[Hidden]

Just to let you know, I shall be sending you a private message.

[Healthanxiety]

Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement. I had to find an outlet. I’m driving my husband crazy with all this cirrhosis talk!

[Danubian in reply to Healthanxiety]

yeah and I'm driving myself crazy!

[Healthanxiety in reply to Danubian]

Doctor Google killing you, too?

[Danubian in reply to Healthanxiety]

yeah

[farranccc]

If you google ‘palm of hand pics’ and look through the image you’ll notice that most of them show variations in the colour of skin on the hands, usually a redder or darker area exactly where yours are. Mine go redder when I’m warm or have been leaning on them and I don’t have any diagnosed liver illness.

As the others say, don’t over-think or over-research it and wait to speak to the quack!

Cheers

[Hidden]

Your AST/ALT inversion ratio suggests non alcoholic fatty liver disease not Alcoholic if it represents anything at all. But I am not a doctor so I cant diagnose you. Just offer my advice. Palmer erythema (red hands) is not a specific symptom of liver disease. It can be caused by many things and is believed by doctors to be a cause of hormone changes, namely estrogen. So whilst it can be a sign of liver disease, again it can be found in many things including genetic predisposition and women who are post meno pause (which im aware the latter likely doesnt pertain to you lol). Also not everyone gets red palms from cirrhosis. I would serve to be an example of that.

[Sotirissotis]

I am sure you have nothing. Nothing to do with liver issues.

[Hidden]

My ggt was over 500