Hi, Long story here but I really need some advice I’m a 38 female with a history of heavy drinking and smoking.
When I was 22 I noticed a few what I thought were spider naevi on my inner forearms, I went for liver tests at the doc and all came back normal I tried my best to cut back on drinking and with some pregnancies thrown in the mix I managed a few dry years.
Fast forward to 32 and drinking started to increase again, I’ve had a few liver tests over the years and a few more of the red spiders appear but been reassured but doctors that they are nothing to worry about, in the past I’ve had about 8-10 red spider marks at a time.
In 2019 I had another blood test still normal but it helped me to try and cut back on my drinking.
During last years lockdown my drinking really increased together with my anxiety and I now appear to have about 10 spider naevi on my face neck, arms and hands.
I recently took a home Thriva liver test and all results came back very normal, I’ve made a massive breakthrough in my drinking and do my best to keep it to 40 units a week but I’m left so scared that these red marks have been such a shadow over my whole life as I’m so scared I’m going to die and although I have some stomach bloating I feel fine! I just need to get to the bottom of what they are and not keep getting dismissed by doctors as nothing.
It’s such a vicious cycle of depression thinking I’m dying/ drinking to relieve the depression and so on ....
Does anyone think they are spider naevi ? And how do I convince my doctor to take me seriously given that I’ve had them for 16 years!! But also drank heavily for 20 years!
Thanks any advice gratefully received , and to be clear I am doing my best with the drinking and do think sober life will eventually be my life before I hit 40 if I’m lucky enough to live that long!!
Thank you