High Liver enzymes

[dan_79]

I've been drinking a lot for years, last few months 80-120 units a week. Doc said my Liver enzymes are 300 when they should be no higher than 40. Told me to cut down and have more blood tests in 2 weeks. Is this something thats likely to be reversible if I cut down? Thanks. Dan.

[B3nnen2015]

Yes. Definitely.

It depends how damaged your liver is though.

I was in the very same boat. I drank far too much daily, didnt think it was hurting me until i had a blood test for somthing unrelated and my enzyme levels (ALT AST and GGT) were very high. This signals liver injury, in our case by alcohol.

I stopped the drinking and eventually (took about 10 weeks) they went back to normal ranges thankfully.

I also lost some weight which fixed my fatty liver then y numbers went down to 'perfect'.

Pack in the drink (for the time being atleast) and eat a good diet.

Ben

[CocoChannel]

As someone who drank 70 units a week, which is already a pretty deadly amount, I’m sorry to say that you’re likely to be alcohol dependent. This means you won’t be able to cut down to sensible levels. Thousands have tried but all end up at their old levels of drinking. The option, as unthinkable as it may seem, is to stop. However, it’s the easiest option.

Apart from liver health and risk of cancers, it can’t be pleasant to drink that amount? Evenings must be a blur, and mornings can’t be fun either. I quit 20 months ago and wished I’d quit a decade earlier. Life is 100s of times better without booze.

[dan_79 in reply to CocoChannel]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, I'm aware I have a problem with drinking, I'm probably more worried about that than my liver if that makes sense. I've been furloughed since April, before then I could go a couple of days without drinking, or have 3 beers on average a night. At the moment, I can easily have 7 or 8 throughout the day pottering around the house. I feel a little drunk, but not to the point where I cant remember things, I think I have got used to it. I have cut down last few days and already feel better for it but it doesn't help my anxiety and sleep. I'm going to try and have no alcohol between now and my next blood tests. Doc said about 5 years ago my levels were 177, then in 2017 they dropped to 39, even though I was still drinking more than I should, so hopefully cutting down again will make them drop.

[CocoChannel in reply to dan_79]

I have to admit I would’ve struggled with lockdown if I’d still been drinking.

Bizarrely I always had normal blood test results, but an ultrasound picked up a mild fatty liver. This cleared up within months after I quit. After drinking 70+ units a week for years, I’m very lucky not to have any permanent damage. A friend of a friend has just been diagnosed with alcohol-related cirrhosis, and it’s not looking good. There but for the grace of someone go I.

By all means, cut down, but if it’s hard to keep below 14 units (which is set as it’s the point where cancer risks are lower), quitting is surprisingly the easiest option. Good luck 👍

[Hidden]

Hi Dan,

Here is our information on Alcohol and liver disease:

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

In order to find out more about your liver, we would suggest it may be a good idea to discuss having an ultrasound scan and fibrosis testing- fibroscan or specific fibrosis blood tests with your GP.

You may also need some help and long term support from the community alcohol services, again the GP should be able to organise this.

Keep us posted, we hope you find our forum a supportive place to visit.

[Laura009]

You will have to do more than just cut down. You really do need to give up altogether. If you find it hard, speak tp your GP about getting professional help. Best of luck, look after yourself.

Laura

[Eurotrash]

Hello there!

It's very difficult to even contemplate giving up alcohol if you're drinking at those levels.

However, stopping altogether it's much easier than to moderate your drinking.

My suggestion would be to stop altogether for a few weeks. If you have withdrawal symptoms, your doctor might prescribe a benzodiazepine for a few days to help out.

Once you're settled, speak to your doctor and get new blood tests and a liver scan.

Moderation is possible and it means generally drinking within the guidelines, perhaps a couple more in very special occasions like Christmas... However, if you have an alcohol misuse disorder, I'd do that with help.

Also if you're diagnosed with a liver disease, drinking is a no for many of them.

Your doctor is the person who can give you proper advice.

Don't be scared of having tests and getting better. Knowledge is power. Ignoring this is likely to cause you serious problems in the long term. And by serious, I mean really serious.

We all mistreat our bodies in a way or another. There's nothing to be ashamed of.

But whatever condition your liver is in, you can make changes that will lead you to a healthier and longer life.

I wish you the best and please follow the advice of the BLF. It's an amazing resource.

[CocoChannel in reply to Eurotrash]

I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I’m not convinced moderation is possible for someone who’s been alcohol dependent. I haven’t had any alcohol for nearly 20 months, and as a result luckily the urge to drink has 95% faded. If I tried to drink moderately, those urges would increase dramatically. I’d end up drinking every day within a couple of weeks.

A lot of people my age and drinking history ended up with permanent damage, so I still have to pinch myself as to why I got away with it. However, I did dodge that bullet, so to drink again for me (and I’d say any alcoholic) is a very bad idea.

[Eurotrash in reply to CocoChannel]

I think you are probably right.

It's difficult for people who drink to contemplate abstinence and for some trying moderation leads to abstinence if that fails. As you have your Eureka moment.

Moderation is working for me but I was a binge drinker.

I think anything that anybody does to drink less is positive. However I read the original post again and the number of units is quite crazy. I used to have less than half that per week and it made me feel like death.

[Hidden in reply to CocoChannel]

Yes I agree wholeheartedly Coco, I compare it to a shark with blood, just a sniff or one drink ill be back on the booze without question, so I know i can never touch it again as I'm not well enough for one, and the other im not strong enough to just have the one. I wouldnt be in this mess if I could of moderated my intake unfortunately but i live and learn the hard way.

[Hidden in reply to CocoChannel]

Can i please ask how old you are?

[CocoChannel in reply to Hidden]

I’m a bit wary to answer because people ten or twenty years younger might then think they have a few more years of drinking before they give up. People on this thread will tell you problems can happen at any age.

As you asked, I’m 50, but I wasn’t really a very heavy drinker until age 35 or so.

[Hidden in reply to CocoChannel]

Thank you got your reply.

I’m very aware it can happen at any age - I suppose some are just luckier than others.

[dan_79]

Thanks your your responses everyone. Didn't drink yesterday and already feel better, except for non alcoholic beer, which the doctor said was ok. Has anyone had high enzymes results hitting 300 before?

[Lucky87 in reply to dan_79]

I have and I don’t drink as much! I’m 33 female. I only started to drink a few years ago never drank before really. Then

Now I can maybe drink a bottle or two of wine a week.

[faizreh]

hi dan_79

liver is the only organ in our body which reverse itself . if u stop drinking and eat the green vegetable avoids fatty food then you can easily recovered and your elevated enzyme level come down .

don't forget to do 30 minute exercise daily and take the healthy food .

[dan_79]

Quick update. Had 2nd lot of liver blood tests on Tuesday, just called doctors, only spoke to receptionist, she said levels have gone down significantly, but still room for improvement. She read out the figures, but there was about 6 different results and didn't write them down. Doctor didn't feel he needed to speak to me so just going to carry on as I am. Had 1 glass of rose in the last 10 days and that's it, other than non alcoholic beer. So, good news, and shows just a couple of weeks of no drinking helps massively. Hasn't even been that hard! Anxiety is nearly zero, shitty feeling in the mornings has gone, and sleeping better once I finally get to sleep. Will update after next lot of tests. Dan.

[mtk0925 in reply to dan_79]

any more updates my liver enzymes have been kinda up and down. are you still drinking