Emotional Wreck

[Nneely]

I am a 38 year old female. I have drank for 10 years and of the last 4-5 mostly everyday (average 4 glasses of wine). I have bloodwork frequently as a have hypothyroidism. My blood work about 1.5 years ago showed a very slight lowering of my platelets. Next rest they had raised and my doctor wasn’t concerned. My last bloodwork, a month ago, showed my ALT at 37 and my AST at 42. My doctor just asked I give blood again in 3 months. Truth be told I am an emotional mess. I have read tons on the internet and am scared. Since the results came I initially slowed and since 7 days have not drank a drop. I have had no withdrawal symptoms. I am considering going to a lab just to check my levels again this week just bc I feel my anxiety is causing me symptoms. Has anyone noticed mild occasional pain on both sides of the rib cage? Also I have noticed throughout the last 2 years ever so often I’ll have an itchy skin feeling. Usually though it’s when I read and get myself worked up. Anyone with a similar story?

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[jojokarak]

Hiya 😊 firstly your bloods are fine they are in normal range

Secondly you are very lucky that they are that is a lot of alcohol

You should carry on with your abstinence as you won't be so lucky in the future drinking that much alcohol and it won't be helpful with anxiety or depression..

Congrats on stopping and stay strong and in a few months you will feel like a new person 😊💪

[Nneely in reply to jojokarak]

Some days less and some days more 😔 but I’m completely at peace with never drinking again if it means i can be around for my two kids! Its true it is a lot and such a stupid way to deal with anxiety and stress. I’ve really been trying to exercise, eat better, take liver related vitamins but again I almost feel worse. Not withdrawal symptoms per se just no energy, obsessing with reading, mind racing, dual aches in both sides and now this lightheaded feeling. I really appreciate you responding though. Helping me not to feel alone.

[jojokarak in reply to Nneely]

Your not alone on here 😊

When I stopped drinking when I got diagnosed and I was a social drinker, I was very surprised at how many withdrawal symptoms I suffered with for about 3 months and just because you think you're not in a few months when you look back on this time you will realise that you did withdrawal x

Vitamins don't do anything liver consultants advise us not to even bother we get all the vitamins we need from a balanced diet and if you have a low one the gp will prescribe a proper one 😊 so don't waste your money...

In a few months if your still being bothered by the pains then go to your gp but I hope you will be feeling a lot better...

You can still get some support to keep you on track with the alcohol I used a local one to me for a few months and it helped, we didn't talk about booze but more about getting things off my chest but I already had cirrhosis and didn't know what was coming x

[Owlie]

Hi, didn’t want to read and run. Basically what JoJo says. Channel your energy into living a healthy lifestyle and looking after your two kids, sometimes it takes a scare, this has happened to me too, to set you on the right path. It’s hard and it takes time but don’t give up or give in. Also, don’t Google or you will scare yourself silly...I speak from experience! Owlie

[kurtymac]

Your blood labs don't seem bad, now remember blood labs really aren't the most accurate way to gauge liver health. They only show new or ongoing damage to the liver. AST can also be found in other tissue within the body, not just the liver. Platelets are highly influenced by hydration status, I'm not sure if you drake a lot of water prior to the lab. Many people tend to do that, thinking they will get a clean lab result. AST is on the very minimum end of elevated. You have drank a lot and your liver needs a break, so stay away from the alcohol and hope for the best. Itchy skin and the pain can be an indicator that you're liver is starting to take a beating. The good thing about the liver is it CAN bounce back if you stop and if you have't got to F3 fibrosis, your liver can go back to normal. I was in your shoes in 2016-2017, my liver was not doing very well. Nice low range AST and ALT, no more pain, no more itchy skin, fibroscan in mid 4s. The key here is stopping and staying stopped once the dust clears.

[Oldred]

I don't have any experience of your situation, but just wanted to say good luck, be healthy and remember you are loved.

PS. If you smoke stop when you can or cut down.

[Nneely in reply to Oldred]

No smoking here