4 months sober and still in pain - British Liver Trust

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4 months sober and still in pain

JMG24 profile image
21 Replies

So I’m nearly 4 months alcohol after finally realising and removing the trigger to my alcohol use on the down side I still feel awful! I no health anxiety & doctor google do not help in any way shape or form! I recently saw my gp who did bloods which all came back normal but I still have right burning red hands, pain in the upper left and ride side of my stomach which moves around my back what is worrying the most is my stomach feels uncomfortable and I swear to for I can feel/ hear water sloshing around this has made me extremely frightened! I went to a&e although they said to see my gp. I have a scan booked for a couple weeks. What I’m trying to ask is can you feel ascites?

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JMG24 profile image
JMG24
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21 Replies
Luca17 profile image
Luca17

Is your pain worst after eating and worst at night time also are your stools normal

JMG24 profile image
JMG24 in reply to Luca17

Thank you for the reply no it doesn’t seem to get worse whilst eating maybe at night but that might be anxiety. Constant tummy noises as well

Luca17 profile image
Luca17 in reply to JMG24

You have same pains as me left and right it might be your pancreas like mine won’t show in bloods and if it’s early it won’t show on scans either only on stool tests

JMG24 profile image
JMG24 in reply to Luca17

Have you had a scan? I don’t no about you but i feel absolutely awful, I’m still waiting for a scan.

Luca17 profile image
Luca17 in reply to JMG24

In 6 months I’ve had 2 chest X-rays one ultrasound only found out last month that they could not see my pancreas clearly in which they don’t tell you I’ve had the camera down and I paid for a private mrcp scan in which they check liver pancreas kidneys spleen and so on also every blood test going which scan you having

JMG24 profile image
JMG24 in reply to Luca17

Oh really and they haven’t found the cause & your still in pain? An Ultra sound next week, I no it sounds silly but I feel very strange in myself and lots of heart palpitations & tremors.

Luca17 profile image
Luca17 in reply to JMG24

Me too the pain is always changing forms when you go for your ultrasound make sure to ask them that they can see your organs clearly because they will not tell you like in my case good luck

in reply to Luca17

Good advice. Mine always come back that a lot of gas obscured the scan !!!

Kettl profile image
Kettl in reply to JMG24

I am 3 months sober and am exactly the same. Palpitations, tremors and stomach issues. I’m booked for gastroscopy/colonoscopy next Wednesday and a fibroscan in a month. Ultrasound showed fatty liver and mild course echotexture. Your post really resonated with me.

JMG24 profile image
JMG24 in reply to Kettl

That’s amazing I’m hoping everyday that I stay sober I will feel better regardless if there is anything wrong! Good luck I’m not really sure where to go now 🤷‍♀️ I just know something isn’t right, but I’m guessing I should be reassured my scan came back okay. I really hope you feel better soon! X

Jay986 profile image
Jay986

Google ascites test and you can learn how to do one

JMG24 profile image
JMG24

Thank you, I have but I’m not too sure, my gp felt around and said everything felt okay although I’m certain when I move I can see it.

Oxman profile image
Oxman

Good luck with your scan. I have similar pains and had a clear us last week. No alcohol for 2 months but still back and side pain and more so if I bend over or twist. Be interested to know if you pains are getting any better as mine seem unchanged or slightly worse. That said many people comment it can take some time to feel improvement as liver recovers, if not too late. Hope you get good news and feel better soon. US will see any fluid re ascites if there is any.

JMG24 profile image
JMG24 in reply to Oxman

Thank you! It’s the waiting that gets to me! I completely understand there are people in more need, health anxiety is awful & I keep hoping I’ll feel better but I’m just not. I also no the extent of my drink history and it’s been a rocky road. 4 months sober has been amazing and the thought of ever touching it again scared the life out off me, I’m just hoping I’ve quit in time and it’s not too late. Thank you I hope you start to feel better soon! As reading people post US is a pretty good indicator so I’d be pretty happy with your results x

Oxman profile image
Oxman

Hi, I am sober now 2 months almost , can I ask when did you red hands start and any sign they or your pain / ache is easing. We are all different but no really improvement for me yet. Cheers Ox

JMG24 profile image
JMG24 in reply to Oxman

2 months is amazing, I first noticed my hands burning 3 about 4 months ago they go red and blotchy. My side pain hasn’t improved I’m pretty sure it’s getting worse. As many people on here say it take month or even years to recover. If you have anxiety it makes everything worse, I suffer really bad with it and sometimes I can’t work out if it’s actual pain or anxiety if you know what I mean. I really hope you start to feel better soon x

Oxman profile image
Oxman

Good luck with the scan. Let us know how u get on. Get my blood results on Friday. Just wondering do find movement bending stretching can trigger pain or aching? As you say could be months before improvement I guess. Also I have red hands and fingers , r you the same. 4 months is impressive , stay strong. Cheers Ox

JMG24 profile image
JMG24 in reply to Oxman

I had my scan and from what my go says everything seems normal apart from a bit of scaring on my kidneys... I’m really really surprised they haven’t said anything about my liver because my gosh I lived for the drink. I don’t no wether I should be relieved or worried they’ve missed something. Yes the pain especially when I stretch or lye funny, it’s more of a burning/ churning feeling in my tummy and my goodness my arms ache! I’m really hoping something improves they say it can take a while! Hope you are feeling okay & not stressing too much! The amount of time we stress, we’ve lost doing beautiful things x

Ewife profile image
Ewife

CT scans can pick up ascities, it is quite obvious when you have it though. Don't find yourself questioning if it is or not much. Good way to keep an eye is by weighing yourself regularly. Fluid isn't light! I've heard a lot say that it takes a long time to feel better from abstinence. Something I wish we had been told, although in my husbands case, it was found other toxins were causing the problems in the end. However, I would say that 6months is still early days. Everyone is unique, but it takes a long time to truly start feeling better once abstaining.Atb

Xx

JMG24 profile image
JMG24 in reply to Ewife

Thank you so much for you kind reply, it’s the living in limbo which is the worst part. I’m hoping if there was anything like that that they would have seen it on the ultra sound. Yes you are right I can’t really expect to feel fight as a fiddle as I’m sure my body has taken quite the bashing. Other than an ultra sound I’m not to sure where to go from now. I hope your husband is okay x

MLB_77 profile image
MLB_77

I’ve read on here that someone said their doc said to plan on about a month of recovery/repair for every year you drank. Probably not exact science but that seems like reasonable timing to me.

Plus you feel more when. It masking.

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