Early symptoms: Hello, I'm a 32-year-old... - British Liver Trust

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Early symptoms

purple_purple profile image
12 Replies

Hello, I'm a 32-year-old male.

Been a heavy (I guess?) drinker for 14 years. I don't drink daily, but I do binge drink frequently, and I mean truly binge drink.

Anyway, I've been getting increasingly concerned about some symptoms. I've been bruising easily for the past year, and the bruising seems particularly pronounced after binge drinking.

I had a very heavy session last week, and I've been really fatigued ever since. I've also started getting a vague ache around where my liver is. It's usually so vague that I can't work out if I'm imagining it, but every now and then it will jump up to a short, sharp stab.

I was worried about my liver before the 'pain' started, so I have no idea if it's psychological, like from anxiety?

I feel silly talking to a doctor about this, as the symptoms all feel so vague and indistinct, but I don't want it to get worse. I know that I drink to a harmful level.

What were your early symptoms like, and would you recommend seeing a doc?

Thank you.

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purple_purple
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12 Replies
AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireK

I would whole heartedly advise you see a doctor and get yourself checked out - obviously be completely honest about your level of intake. One big problem is that liver disease can be silent - by this I mean the liver is so resilient that it can sustain serious damage before symptoms start to show. Early identification and intervention is key so get yourself checked out.

Katie

Positive001 profile image
Positive001

You MUST see your doctor be honest about your drinking habits and l strongly advise you to give up completely before you become horribly addicted to alcohol. Be honest with yourself too.... can you manage to give up for yourself or will you need help? If the latter, talk to your doctor about that too. Your doc will not judge you, the more info you can give him, the easier it will be for him to help.Best of luck.

Laura

purple_purple profile image
purple_purple

Thank you Katie and Laura. I needed to hear that. I will make an appointment with my doctor tomorrow morning.

Cat-B profile image
Cat-B

Ok first thing everyone is going to tell you is to stop drinking ( it’s easier said than done, I needed a lot of support, even after I nearly died!) You need to talk to your doctor, your so young and could live a long healthy life, only you can decide if you want to fight or die! I know that’s blunt, no one can stop drinking for you! I’m 8 years post decompensated diagnosis and have normal liver function so it’s possible. Get to your doctor, get your bloods done and hopefully an ultrasound. Please don’t use Dr Google! Let me know how you get on once you have seen your doctor and I will help as much as I can. Good luck

CHanse profile image
CHanse in reply to Cat-B

Hi Cat-B

I never realised you could have a normal liver function after a decompensated diagnosis. This gives me hope for my freind.

kensimmons profile image
kensimmons in reply to CHanse

It's called "recompensating" and it can happen if a person stops doing what he or she is doing to cause the problems like drinking, poor diet. In cases where drugs can turn back viral cirrhosis, like with Hep C patients, they can recompensate as well if it is early enough in the course of the patients illness.

It's not right to say it happens "all the time" but it certainly is not a super rare "one in a million" event either. Then once recompensated the trick is not to fall into bad habits again; "I'm better now, I'll just have a few drinks, I'm sure I will get better again next time also....".

If you do that all bets are off.

Please note I am not a doctor, always listen to doctors not message boards.

Aotea2012 profile image
Aotea2012

At 32 with just 14 years drinking behind you, if you stop now you can have a healthy life ahead of you. Liver disease has no or very few symptoms in the early stages, the liver is resilient and carries on working. By the time serious symptoms appear then the disease is pretty progressed. What you describe are vague symptoms that may be down to a grumbling liver...gallons of alcohol won’t be doing it any good and it won’t be thanking you, but a visit to the doctors now will do two things; it will help you to stop drinking and will get you checked out to see what damage has been done. I have cirrhosis caused by alcohol, I was decompensated and had acute on chronic liver failure caused by a very deep rooted infection. I stopped drinking, ate correctly, exercised and took my meds. I’m now meds free, run a couple of miles a day, work, have normal bloods and feel very well. The only real symptom I have is a bit of tiredness if I do too much. I wish I’d knocked the booze on the head at 32 and I’d have no damage at all. As it is I have damage, but I’ve put my liver through a lot. It’s forgiven me though and is behaving itself now that it isn’t being beaten up everyday by having to get rid of a blood stream full of alcohol. Go and see your doctor now they won’t judge you, quite the opposite in fact, they’ll be pleased that you are seeking help at a stage where they can help you.

teletonetapper profile image
teletonetapper

Please take on board what the above Forum Members have advised you to do. They are very knowledgeable and honesty with yourself must not be dismissed. You can have a brilliant life but remember, alcohol certainly is not your friend - it will eventually take over your life. Stay positive please and THINK!!

MLB_77 profile image
MLB_77

Probably experiencing some anxiety for sure. The mind can definitely start playing tricks on you. There is no better thing you can do for your health and gift your mental health than ditching the booze.

I would start listening to “This naked mind” podcast and read the book.

It has completely changed my outlook on alcohol and made stopping drinking just be a natural thing I WANTED to do.

Changing one thing (alcohol) changes everything

You can listen to the podcast starting today, free and anonymous

purple_purple profile image
purple_purple

Hi everyone. Appreciate the time you've all taken to reply, thank you!

I have an appointment with the doctor on Wednesday. I'll be sure to come back here and let you know how it went. I will be honest about my drinking.

Full disclosure: I was planning to not drink on Friday night, and then somehow convinced myself that I could have one or two (I'm sure you're all familiar with the thought pattern).

I did stop after 4 drinks, which is much better than usual, but I would rather have had none. I didn't drink at all yesterday or today, though, which I see as progress.

I agree that stopping drinking is the best thing to do, but it's challenging when your entire social life is built on it.

Thank you MLB for recommending This Naked Mind. I downloaded it on Audible and listened to the first 3 hours on the train this afternoon - really interesting stuff.

Wishing you all the best, and thank you again. This is a great place.

MLB_77 profile image
MLB_77 in reply to purple_purple

I’m so glad to hear! With “this naked mind they don’t even consider “relapse” a bad thing. More of a “data point”. It gives you something to work with. Something to dissect.

Science based approach was one I could connect with

My sister had been sober for one year and decided that she could “control” her drinking after the year was up.

After a few disastrous benders she became so depressed and down on herself.

I told her that those “relapses” were the best thing that could’ve happened to her because it was then she realized that she could no longer control her drinking and NOT drinking was the only chance of freedom

Aotea2012 profile image
Aotea2012

Keep us posted. Don’t give yourself a hard time because you drunk on Friday....Rome wasn’t built in a day. The important thing is you’ve recognised it’s a problem and you are doing something about it. You may be able to control your drinking, but don’t kid yourself like I did. I used to convince myself as I’d not drunk for a few days that I could have those alcohol free days rations all in one go! I used to bargain with myself about drinking! I look back now and see the madness of it, but at the time it seemed a perfectly rational thing to do. The important thing is to be honest with your doctor when you see them on Wednesday. They will have seen it all before..alcohol misuse is remarkably common.

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