Two weeks ago after relapsing on alcohol (stupid I know) I finally gave up trying to fix it and went to the doctor for help. I was starting to see the medical problems that led me to six months of sobriety last time, swelling/bloat, bad acid reflux, just all around bad. The doctor treated me for withdrawal and did bloodwork and of course it was bad again, elevated enzymes, bilirubin, some anemia, all the stuff I had before and spent months off booze fixing. A few days later after detox they ran bloods again and while not fixed they said the numbers were going in the right direction with enzymes and bilirubin dropping, platelets normalizing and such. They were still worried though about a possible infection and so gave me chest x rays, plus and abdominal ultrasound and ctScan. All of which apparently came back as normal with nothing out of order.
I know all there is to do is wait and hope my labs normalize again in time and that the US and CT scans not showing any damage or suspicious things is good but the anxiety is just killing me. All I read
Are about people who had cirrhosis that an ultrasound and ct both missed.
It will be a few weeks before my doctor followup. I’m still sober, and they started me on anxiety meds but they only do so much.
Written by
Vladimirberkov
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The trouble is that anxiety increases regardless during alcohol withdrawal. You’ve probably got more time on your hands too without drinking, which becomes another huge plus, but ex-drinkers need something to fill that time.
The best thing you can do is not worry - you’ve done all the right things by quitting and having tests - and continue not drinking. The anxiety will fade with time.
Putting the alcohol aside for a minute, have you suffered from anxiety for very long?
It would appear that liver disease an mental health issues appear to often go together pretty much hand in glove.
Back in May 2015, a 10-year old study revealed a startling link between high levels of anxiety and an increased risk of death from liver disease.
The research, carried out by scientists at the University of Edinburgh, took account of obvious sociological and physiological factors, such as alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes and class, but still, the data pointed to a clear relationship between the psychological conditions of stress and depression and the physical health of the hepatic system.
There were over 165,000 participants surveyed for mental distress. They were each tracked for over a decade during which time the causes of death for those who passed on were recorded and categorised. What was found was that those who’d scored highly for signs of depression and stress were far more likely to suffer fatal liver disease: ed.ac.uk/clinical-brain-sci...
Dr Tom Russ of the Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences stated that this study provides further evidence for the important links between mind and body, and of the damaging effects, psychological distress can have on physical wellbeing.
The work did not uncover any reasons for direct cause and effect but is the first to identify such a link between mental states and liver damage.
Previous research has described how psychological conditions can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disease which, in turn, may develop into obesity, raised blood pressure and then eventually to liver failure but, with this methodology controlling for such factors, it appears that the link is more direct than was previously thought.
Discussing this with people who also suffer from depression and anxiety, I try to establish the cause of their anxiety or depression. Many people may self-medicate with alcohol to lift the mood. But with alcohol being a depressant in its self, the problem is then compounded and a vicious circle of events can occur, to a point where alcohol addiction takes a hold.
In understanding and controlling the cause of anxiety or depression, the need to self-medicate is no longer there.
Some people can have an anxiety attack of just fearing what is to come. The fear of the unknown can cause a person to withdraw and become alone.
It should also be remembered that certain anxiety medication can take up to six weeks to kick in and work, and then it is very much a case of finding the right medication that is right for you. So, these things might take time.
Just try and hang on in there. If you were by any chance self-medicating with alcohol in the past. Then allow the anxiety medication to start working. Then, in time once your feeling better in yourself, I would try and question what is driving the anxiety.
When it comes to alcohol abuse, it’s very much a case of, “Cause and effect”. By identifying and treating the cause, the effect is no longer there.
You have to take the positives in this the fact that you results are going in the right direction bilarubin falling platelets on the up these are all good signs. Ask your medical professional if they are happy with the way things are going band do they have any concerns if the answers are either we would like to see them fall more significantly or despite the blood results they have concerns ask for a Fibroscan
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Worried I’ve damaged my liver and anxiety is taking over! 
Disease or Health Anxiety?
What are your symptoms of regenerative nodular hyperplasia and is it worth doing a CT scan?
