Still waiting to see a consultant

[Dogsareme]

Hi all, I am new here so please bear with me. I've been a heavy drinker for 25 years, now that I've stopped I don't know why I bothered as I feel so much more alert and with it but (and I'm not blaming anyone else but myself) as I was known as liking a good time and the majority of my friends are drinkers I felt as if I had to have a drink when I was out even if I didn't fancy one....does that make sense? Anyway, I had blood tests done in May which showed elevated liver enzymes so had a CT scan, the problem is no one has given me an exact diagnosis, the Dr left me a voice message on 4th July to make a "routine appointment" which was four weeks from then (I can't even remember when I need to go), I didn't mind as I had an appointment booked with the consultant for the 7th of July but they cancelled this on the day, the earliest they can fit me in is the 18th of August! (I'm thinking of going private to get an earlier appointment). In the meantime my stomach started to really bloat so I managed to get an appointment with a different Dr to the one that did the referral, she could not/or would not discuss the results of the CT scan, she said I had Ascetis but said it wasn't bad enough to refer to the hospital for draining, nor could she prescribe any water tablets as she said I needed to see the consultant before any treatment could be administered. Basically I am in limbo, I haven't had a drink for 4 weeks, I've changed my diet by cutting down on salt and increasing (or trying to increase) my potassium by eating more fruit and veg. I didn't have any bad effects from giving up the alcohol (my purse is looking pretty healthy lol), I'm just concerned am I doing the right thing with my diet? Also I had breast cancer 6 years ago and am on Tamoxifen (which I've read is not good for the liver) so I've stopped taking it, apparently I should have been having regularly blood tests to check everything was ok and the Tamoxifen was not affecting my liver (only what I've read online mind you) I never had one blood test, my reviews were normally over the phone and they just asked me how I felt, I'm not a complainer and was glad to have beaten the Breast Cancer and very grateful to the NHS so always said I was fine apart from hot flushes. I'm not a pushy person but I feel like in one way its good that they don't seem too concerned and are not rushing to see me but also what if it is bad and the delay in treatment of any kind has a detrimental affect on the outcome? Sorry for going on, like I said I really am in limbo so any advice would be gratefully appreciated. Apart from the bloated stomach and looking like I'm 6 months pregnant (which would be a miracle in my 50s) I feel fine, I'm eating fine and people say I look fine, is there anything I can do to speed up a diagnosis?

Thanks for reading

[mtk0925]

Glad to hear you beat cancer that’s such an amazing feat! And no easy one. Your dr should have been checking your liver enzymes the whole time. Mine is checked constantly while I was on adderall and Prozac and they both made them go up.

[Dogbot]

Hi Dogsareme I think you have been through a lot with the cancer and well done for beating it, now giving up alcohol it’s fantastic to hear because I know how hard it is 👏. With your ascites , I feel you should go back to the doctors and be just a little bit more assertive telling them it gives you pain, difficult to sleep and anxiety I know this because I have it. If you know which hospital you are being referred to maybe you can ring them and tell them. I do understand what pressure the nhs is under and appointments are a nightmare but I think a ring to them explaining this might help. Good luck to you and once again well done for giving up the alcohol 👍. All the best.Stay Safe All

Dogbot 🐶🌈Dave

[Dogsareme in reply to Dogbot]

I've booked myself in for an appointment with a private consultant tomorrow as I was getting nowhere fast. Keep your fingers crossed for me x

[Dogbot]

I will good luck 🤞 😃