Liver pain

[Bob323]

Hi I’m 25. Recently experienced a lot of pain in upper right abdomen, a deep dull ache and pain at the upper back too. Especially after drinking. I have swelling in my abdomen also. I went to the drs for bloods and they came back saying something about change in liver function and something to do with enzymes. I’m terrified this is something sinister or even cancer. I have drank A LOT during lockdown. I’m so scared

[Laura009]

Sounds similar to Joshalwi...... your body is telling you it doesn't like alcohol and way to get rid of the pain and avoid a lifetime of illness and worry is to stop drinking, adopt a healthy diet and excercise regularly. You are young enough to turn this around and live your life properly and healthily without alcohol

Good luck

[Kristian]

Hi Bob,

If you've drunk a lot during lock down then its not too surprising your liver enzymes are raised. This is pretty common as these tests are there to detect if there is a current or recent insult to your liver from whatever cause. However they don't necessarily mean that you have caused yourself long term damage, at least not yet anyway.

I assume your doctor has told you to stop drinking and go back in a month or two to get retested. This is the usually protocol in my experience and on the retest, assuming you have followed their advice, the tests usually decrease significantly. The liver is a pretty resilient beasty and in most circumstances it can recover from a short term injury if what is causing that injury is removed. Hence the removal of the alchohol in your case.

So basically follow your doctors advice and I'm sure you'll be feeling much more relaxed after you next get retested. There's been many posts on here testifying that being the case.

Good luck

[Bob323 in reply to Kristian]

Hi he has referred me for an ultrasound as he was very concerned about my level of drinking. I hit depression after having my child and it has been almost a bottle of wine daily for a while now. I haven’t drank for over a week since he told me to stop completely but there’s still swelling and pain. I’m just fearing the worst because I know it’s all my fault 😞

[Kristian in reply to Bob323]

Hi again,

Thats good that your doctor has taken swift action. There are many stories on here from people that have been in your exact situation and lots that have made a complete recovery so it doesn't necessarily have to be all doom and gloom. You can't change the past, but you can still change the future. Focus your attentions on that rather that what's gone bye.

I am sure you'll get many responses from those that have been in your exact situation and i am also sure that you'll be able to take some reassurrance from those.

Good luck once again

[Hidden]

Welcome to our forum.

We appreciate you are worried, it is however positive that you now have some insight into alcohol and how it can affect your liver.

The GP will be repeating the liver blood tests to see what enzymes are not within normal range and an ultrasound scan will provide more information on liver function.

Here is our publication 'Liver disease tests explained' that may help in understanding more about the tests:

britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Hopefully you are getting some support from your GP to manage your depression and also support to manage your relationship with alcohol.

Here is the NHS page on alcohol support.

nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-su...

Keep us posted. You are not alone here.

Trust1

[youngandworried]

I'm your age as well (24). It's interesting that you get the liver pain after a drinking session. I get this as well. But whenever I've asked a doctor about it I've been told the liver can only cause pain when there's been long term damage and a simple drinking session can't cause it.

[Bob323 in reply to youngandworried]

I get horrible dull aching/burning pain that can be in the front and the back. I’m not very confident I’m going to get good news sadly.

[youngandworried in reply to Bob323]

I get the same. My echo showed a bright, fatty liver. I'm waiting for a fibroscan now to see if there's any damage.

[Laura009 in reply to youngandworried]

The pain isn't in your liver as it has no pain receptors. The pain comes from the capsule surrounding it when the liver is damaged and swollen. Without doubt alcohol can cause the problem and aggravate it if the liver damage is caused by something else. But a healthy diet and exercise and absolutely no alcohol can reduce the fat in the liver and help it to regenerate

[32malewithcolitis]

This isn’t true. My alt was raised and also ast slightly so had to have a full blood panel, rest of results were ok. I went for a scan and it picked up a bit of fatty liver. Apparently very common and 1 in 3 people live with it without knowing and have no problems. I get discomfort sometimes but also have ulcerative colitis so could be that. But they said fatty liver can cause discomfort and that at that point isn’t long term damage

I’m on holiday now so mainly cut down on fatty foods as I didn’t have a good diet. Alcohol I’ve reduced as I too drank lots during lockdown but Drink perhaps once a week now, other than at present as I’m on holiday but still cautious.x my doctor said basically my scan was normal. Also spoken to 3 friends, 2 are GPS and one does ultrasound scans, all who said they too have fatty livers and it’s due to modern lifestyle but to not worry about it turning bad (have health anxiety so automatically read about cirrhosis) but they said it’s a balance of enjoying your life and doing what you enjoy ot stopping everything completely. They said things like being indulgent on holiday and maybe once a week to 2 weeks is fine but just be in moderation the reSt of the time. So reduce alcohol intake, and eat more healthy and exercise and limit your ‘cheat’ days. Doesn’t mean you have to stop living as some people suggest, but again it depends as some people might have had worse situations where it was that or no turning back.

[Bob323 in reply to 32malewithcolitis]

I was kind of hoping that my enzyme levels were out because I had drank the night before my bloods but because I’ve been having so much pain I know it’s looking like it’s something serious and it’s making me feel even more ill. I’m sick with worry thinking about the worst. I haven’t touched a drop since I was told to stop but I’m not feeling any better for it which worries me too

[32malewithcolitis in reply to Bob323]

It does take 30 days + to heal itself. Health anxiety can make the symptoms seem worse. I had that when I was convinced I had bowel cancer then when I realised I hadn’t, magic. , pain eased / went

[velvetunderground in reply to 32malewithcolitis]

Alcohol is a very emotive subject as many people are strongly bought in to one side or the other for various reasons. However, I'd like to highlight a couple of facts ...

Firstly, any alcohol damages the liver. A healthy liver is good at repairing the damage if it's given the chance. However, too much alcohol or a compromised liver and the repair process might not be able to cope.

Secondly, giving up alcohol does not equate to stopping living. Actually many will report quite the opposite.

Everyone needs to make their own call. I'm not saying that everyone should stop drinking completely and forever, but be conscious of the effect it has on your body and be open to the idea that you don't need alcohol to enjoy life.

All the best

Paul.

[Dogbot]

Hi Bob323

I definitely am one of those people who found life after drinking but I was a very heavy drinker if you see any of my posts you will know.

But with what you say about your pain has anyone mentioned gallstones because what you have said points to it , I have them and the pain is upper right going through to the back, not saying it is but a bit surprised the doctor didn’t want ultrasound to check it.

Oh and just to touch on the alcohol thing I have been without for 17 years and besides all the medical problems alcohol caused which is a lot the wife and I are having the best years of our lives.😃

Stay Safe All

Dogbot 🐶🌈

[Bob323 in reply to Dogbot]

I was originally referred for an ultrasound on the gallbladder because that’s what he thought the pain could be until I mentioned I had been having a bottle of wine almost every night for over a year and then he said he thinks I’ve severely damaged my liver and wanted it checked so I’m pretty terrified now. I haven’t drunk since he told me to stop or even wanted one. I just hope this hasn’t hurt my health too much. I want to be a fun fit and healthy mum and be around for a long time for my kids. Just want to cry all the time thinking about what I might have done to myself

[velvetunderground in reply to Bob323]

The liver really is incredibly resilient and can recover from a lot of damage. Assuming your symptoms are alcohol related then you have removed the cause and you are still very young. You have everything going for you. This forum has plenty of people much older than you who have turned round their liver health.

[Dogbot]

It’s easy to say don’t worry but hard to do, but please try to not let anxiety take over ,if you have a partner it’s a really good time to be really honest and tell them you are anxious it does help.

Worry about your fitness a bit later, good luck 😃.

Stay Safe All

Dogbot 🐶🌈

[Bob323]

Sorry but another one... did anyone else have really sore shoulder blade pain after drinking alcohol. Everything I read points to cancer

[AyrshireK in reply to Bob323]

You can get a referred shoulder pain (right shoulder) if you are having liver difficulties. Stay off Doctor Google because looking up any symptoms on line ALWAYS leads to some sort of worst case scenario suggestion.

Wait and see what your ultrasound shows before you start panicking. Hopefully you are laying off the booze completely now and should be seeing a reduction in symptoms and hopefully a major improvement in blood tests next time you have them.

Best wishes

Katie

[Bob323]

Hi everyone just been for my ultra sound. The lady said she is seeing nothing concerning or anything showing up in my gallbladder kidneys or liver so it’s best to investigate the stomach area etc with my GP. Should I stop worrying it’s my liver now?