Worried about alcohol damage

[Hayleypop]

Hi, I was diagnosed in 2018 with fatty liver via ultrasound and raised enzymes. At the time I was drinking quite a bit, I did try to cut down a lot but probably could have done alot better.

Fast forward to this year and I go to the doctors for stomach pains, I have the usual blood tests and she books me in for a ultrasound. Blood tests show ALT at 45 everything else normal. Ultrasound still shows fatty liver.

A week later the doctors request a Alt/Ast ratio blood test and a fibrosis4 blood test. I go in to a panic thinking something must have flagged up on the ultrasound for them to request these!

I cant speak to my doctor until next week. I'm very worried about fibrosis/cirrhosis

I have massively cut down alcohol to recommended amounts, I will probably just give it up completely as it's not worth the worry!

Thanks

[Aotea2012]

We’re not qualified to interpret results so I think it’s important you talk to your clinicians if you are worried. What I will say are that those blood results are all normal. Your ultrasound shows you have fatty liver...that’s a bit of a warning for you as it can progress into something nastier. You can fully reverse it by cutting out alcohol completely for a while and then returning to it at recommended levels. Look after your liver and it will look after you. Good diet, low or better no alcohol and exercise and you’ll be fine.

[kensimmons in reply to Aotea2012]

I concur completely with Aotea212 you are probably going to be just find if you eliminate alcohol, exercise and improve your diet. Of course I am not a doctor and only a doctor can say all this for sure, but I am pretty confident that is what you will be told. Good luck!

[Joules2022]

I have given up alcohol completely, as like you I had stomach pains. I was found to have raised GGT levels & enlarged red blood cells due to alcohol abuse. I am waiting for an ultrasound. I am also B12 deficient & have 3 monthly injections. If I was you I’d stop alcohol altogether for the time being, as it’s not worth it. X

[idyllic420]

In same shoes as you. I was diagnosed with fatty liver in November 2020. My ast alt that time were over 350ish as I was drinking like a maniac. I did not touch alcohol and cigarettes for 12 -14 months. Then last month around may 15th I went full throttle back to alcohol on the weekends like consuming 8-10 drinks in a night. My problem is that I don’t eat much when I drink. I’m having diarrhea from last 10 days and pain in my stomach. Have body aches and weakness. Booked an appointment with my doctor tomorrow to figure out and diagnose the current symptoms. It’s not worth the worry like you said. I’m here in the first place because of my abusive relationship with alcohol. In my mind I will like to think that I will go to bar, have couple of drinks , eat , hang out and come back. The reality is complete different , I’m the last guy to walk out of there and then again I’m looking for after parties. I read about some people posting here about non alcoholic drink and going to a bar occasionally. It’s a freaking slippery slope and it’s very easy to have a relapse after your liver recovers

[briccolone]

Hi Hayley-can I ask how long you've been drinking at excessive amounts? I've been a heavy drinker for most of my working life-I'm 66 now and still working. I've just had a u/s and the diagnosis was fatty liver -repeat blood tests in 6 months. All my bloods are normal other than raised GGT -low 200s. I haven't drunk anything since early Jan. My symptoms are low grade increasingly diminishing itching and pale-ish stool although it varies. I'm pretty sure myself that I've done some damage to my liver. It may recover. I think I've been luck so far. I really miss my wine but I'm not tempted. I've lost 6 kgs and plan to lose another 10. My fib4 blood test was inconclusive but I'd be astonished If I didn't have some fibrosis. Good luck-keep posting.

[Hayleypop in reply to briccolone]

Probably 10 years of excessive drinking, before the 10 years I drank socially but not daily . I have my results back from the fib4 and they are normal apparently! I suppose all we can do now is try to be as healthy as possible and hope that there is no lasting damage

[briccolone]

ok good to hear on the fib4 test