Alcoholic Cirrhosis after quitting the... - British Liver Trust

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Alcoholic Cirrhosis after quitting the Alcohol?

idyllic420 profile image
24 Replies

Is it possible for the ALD to become full blown Cirrhosis , months after quitting alcohol? I have read here that people had fatty liver, quit alcohol and it progressed to cirrhosis in months or years.

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idyllic420
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24 Replies
Str8jacket profile image
Str8jacket

If you have no scarring, it's highly unlikely. Cirrhosis takes years or decades to develop through many stages of scarring, and simple fatty liver should resolve with lifestyle changes.

Do you have any symptoms? If not, and you haven't been diagnosed with cirrhosis, go enjoy your life.

idyllic420 profile image
idyllic420 in reply toStr8jacket

I'm losing weight and muscle!

Str8jacket profile image
Str8jacket in reply toidyllic420

Your prior post doesn't suggest problematic weight loss. 20 lbs over 8 months with healthy eating? C'mon. So, what's your drinking history? Any specific symptoms of liver disease?

idyllic420 profile image
idyllic420 in reply toStr8jacket

I can probably write a book on my drinking and drinking episodes. I first had beer when I was 13 or 14 and now I'm 37. Last year and half I have been drinking everyday. Beers+ whiskey or vodka. I could easily have 350ml vodka in one sitting. Before that I had a tough marriage life and I will turn to alcohol when ever shit hit the fan but then there were also days in a week when I did not drink at all. I did stay physically active by going to gym in between when I was not drinking. I don't have any other major symptoms at the moment. I'm eating ok. I lost 10kgs out of 91 kgs since November of last year!

Str8jacket profile image
Str8jacket in reply toidyllic420

Heavy drinking for 1.5 years is very unlikely to result in cirrhosis. Usually takes 10+ years of nearly daily drinking, though there are exceptions of course. If you're noticing serious muscle loss/weakness, tell your docs. You haven't mentioned any specific signs of serious liver disease so far.

idyllic420 profile image
idyllic420 in reply toStr8jacket

I have an appointment with gastroenterologist on August 24th. I will be bringing this up to him. I will probably see my family doctor after the visit to GI. The problem is that when I was drinking and smoking daily then I was not scared and now I'm scared :/

Str8jacket profile image
Str8jacket in reply toidyllic420

When you finally accept you're fine, channel your memory of your fear to do something positive for liver disease. There's not enough advocacy for liver disease out there. Good luck.

You may have underlying issues that led you to drink, perhaps consider addressing those as well.

idyllic420 profile image
idyllic420 in reply toStr8jacket

I will but first I need to get proper diagnosis of my issues!

Str8jacket profile image
Str8jacket in reply toidyllic420

Anxiety, trauma, depression, compulsion...possibilities are many. May want to seek therapy. I wish I had many years ago.

idyllic420 profile image
idyllic420 in reply toStr8jacket

anxiety, environment and maybe genes!

idyllic420 profile image
idyllic420

I was also smoking cigarettes in addition to drinking heavily!

Str8jacket profile image
Str8jacket in reply toidyllic420

You have a diagnosis. You feel fine physically, you mention no physical symptoms. Relax, go enjoy your life.

SevereFattyLiver profile image
SevereFattyLiver

Have you had a Fibroscan?

idyllic420 profile image
idyllic420 in reply toSevereFattyLiver

No. An ultrasound before quitting g alcohol in October last year and earlier this month.

Jay986 profile image
Jay986 in reply toidyllic420

What did that show?

SevereFattyLiver profile image
SevereFattyLiver in reply toidyllic420

What were the results of the US? They were able to see I had fatty liver by the US. The Fibroscan allowed them to determine the extent of the fat and the presence of any fibrosis.

idyllic420 profile image
idyllic420

In November 2020 : FINDINGS:

Liver: Normal in size and mildly increased in echogenicity. The liver surface contour is

smooth. No focal lesion.

Intrahepatic Bile Ducts: There is no intrahepatic biliary ductal dilatation.

Extrahepatic Bile Duct: There is no extrahepatic biliary ductal dilatation. The common

duct measures 3.9 mm in maximum diameter.

Gallbladder: No cholelithiasis. Negative sonographic Murphy's sign.

Pancreas: The visualized portions are unremarkable.

Right Kidney: Measures 10.0 cm, cephalocaudal. Renal parenchymal echogenicity is

normal.

There is no nephrolithiasis or hydronephrosis.

Ascites: No free fluid seen within the right upper quadrant.

IMPRESSION: Mild hepatic steatosis.

In June 2020: slightly echogenic with shiny appearing surface possibly due to fat inflitration

idyllic420 profile image
idyllic420 in reply toidyllic420

In June my ALP went from 134 to 172

in reply toidyllic420

I have moderate hepatic steatosis

Meteocal1 profile image
Meteocal1

I stoped drinking and in the process of my liver healing I developed scar tissue that led me to have severe esophageal varices, which ended up bursting and putting me in the ER more than 4 times in a one year.

idyllic420 profile image
idyllic420 in reply toMeteocal1

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I hope that you are doing much better now. May I please ask you what was your liver diagnosis before quitting the alcohol and then what was it after you had varices? Were you diagnosed with Cirrhosis then? I have been alcohol free for 8 months now and I'm losing weight rapidly which concerns me.

Roy1955 profile image
Roy1955

If you peg it I think any one of us would be happy to have your liver!

Tia2021 profile image
Tia2021 in reply toRoy1955

🤣🤣 we just gotta keep a sense of humour, couldn't of put it better myself x

Hi there. It’s now 8 months since you posted. Which would make it 16 months since you quit booze. I’m on day 1. I hope you are well. And I hope you don’t mind my replying to you. I was reading your comments and thought to ask, how are you feeling these days…. And say I hope that you’re keeping well. And I hope you reply. Best regards

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