Fibroscan, AST/ALT ratio, and such part II

[txguy07]

I apologize for the long post in advance... If you haven't read my previous post I've been a very heavy drinker for 12 years. I've been through withdraw, I've lost relationships, and just overall made some stupid decisions. I'm blessed in that I've managed to hold a great job and marry my beautiful wife but, behind all the smoke and mirror is a long-standing problem with alcohol. 2.5 months ago I stopped drinking due to some concerning symptoms that have been ongoing since I stopped. I thought I had reached the end of the line and finally went to see a doctor. I had a battery of tests to include 3 sets of liver blood test, an ultrasound, and a CT. All came back normal... The problem is the internet told me that these tests might not catch cirrhosis or ALD. Furthermore, I calculated my de-ritis ratio (AST/ALT) which was 1.7 at one point. I'll do my best to avoid throwing test result numbers out there but here me out because there is a point...

So basically despite what my doctor said and, what all the tests said, I have convinced myself I was very sick. And to be honest, I have been. Sitting in front of a computer or a mirror for hours a day is truly sick and so is drinking the way I was. Today I got the results of my fibroscan back. I won't say the actual number but in the notes it says F0-F1, and I'm going in tomorrow to check in with my doc to discuss these results.

There's no doubt in my mind that my drinking has done some sort of damage to my body. That's not the point I'm getting at. What I want to share, I'm by no means an expert, I only recently joined this forum and am new to sobriety, is that you will do a lot of damage by trying to diagnose yourself or compare your story to someone else's. I am guilty as charged when it comes to this and I sincerely apologize to those people who are bravely fighting cirrhosis, ALD, or any disease for that matter. I just wanted to share this, not to be the subject expert, or the guy on the pedestal , because I'm not. I've just read a lot of posts similar to mine and felt like sharing. I know it's terrifying, especially if you took your best friend booze out of the equation. So many people on the forum have caught on i.e., "listen to your doctor, stop reading on the internet, stay sober". I hope I can be one of those people.

I know this post has been long and probably a little bit preachy. It's mainly geared toward the people who are scared they may be sick because the folks who have a diagnosis, while scared, seem to have their reality in check much more than I do or did. I hope its appropriate to stay a member on this forum despite having all normal tests. There's a lot of truly knowledgeable and inspirational people posting. It also spreads awareness of something that is right in front of us but somehow stays covert to society.

Thanks

[Gag233]

Hello txguy07,F0-F1 means your Fibroscan result is 6 kpa to 8 kpa,there are four stages in Fibroscan test F 1,F 2,F 3 and F 4,mine was F 3 with 11.8 kpa,what is your Ast alt numbers.

[txguy07 in reply to Gag233]

Last set of labs AST 23 ALT 18. Several weeks after my last drink. My scan was 5.11 kpa. Basically everything scans and blood work was normal.

[CocoChannel]

Hi txguy07, you wrote this:

“I hope its appropriate to stay a member on this forum despite having all normal tests.”

Absolutely. You were concerned, had the tests done with good results and have stopped drinking. You would’ve inspired me a year or so ago when I was a heavy drinker, and you’ll inspire others.

Good news on the excellent results. Are you now confident all is OK? No more drinking?

[txguy07 in reply to CocoChannel]

All is okay and no more drinking! I think anxiety is part of kicking booze and that's what I'm working on now.