I need help

[CHRISR999]

Hello, I need some advise. I have alcohol related liver disease,. I was told on Feb 2019. I was told be the liver nurse if I stopped drinking and started again my liver wouldn't take it. Stupidly a few weeks later I went for a drink after a split with my partner. Not realising the consequences. Then a few days after I became very ill with a load of symptoms. With good and bad days. Then right at the end I felt shocking then it faded and stopped. I felt back to normal. That was end of July 2019. Started to live a normal.life again. Felt well and happy. Then I did something stupid again newyears eve 2019. I'd been have some cigarettes just the odd ones. Then newyears eve I had quite a few. Then a few days later all the symptoms came back for a second time. I've got through the good and bad days. I thought it was all gone. But 2 weeks ago I started with all the symptoms really bad. Like the come on then fade. This lasts for hours. Not sure what's going on. I'm so depressed my daily life is shocking. When these symptoms come on I feel dreadful. Can any one relate to this. And is there anything I can do. I've been feeling suicidal because I can't cope with feeling like I do. Will it ever stop like the first time? I really need help.

[Fibro2021]

Hello, It's not entirely clear what symptoms specifically bother you?

[Smokey001]

Hi Chris

Evidently the Liver Nurse gave you good advice

Stop drinking alcohol

Perhaps you should arrange another visit to discuss and re-clarify the do's and dont's of dealing with ARLD.

Very Best wishes

[Readlots]

Hi Chris, I’m sorry to hear how poorly your feeling. You’ve done the right thing reaching out to this forum for support. Can I suggest that you talk to the liver nurse and/ or your GP about how you’re feeling. They will be able to give you specific advise based on your symptoms, blood test results etc. I’m sure a lot of people on here have been where you are and can empathise. The main thing is not to drink or smoke. Your liver processes all of the chemicals that enter your body. If it’s already damaged by alcohol, anything you do that makes it work harder can damage it further and cause a flare up in symptoms. So no booze or smoking. Lots of healthy food and a bit of gentle excercise if you can manage it.

[BritishLiverTrust3 Administrator British Liver Trust]

Dear Chrisr999

If you would find it useful to talk things over, our nurse-led helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm on 0800 652 7330 (excluding bank holidays)

We also facilitate a range of virtual support groups for people living with a liver condition (and their families and carers).

If you would find it helpful to speak to others with shared experience, you can register to join a group here

britishlivertrust.org.uk/vi...

Best wishes

British Liver Trust

[Dogbot]

Hi CHRISR999 I have ARLD and have had it for 19 years that was when my liver packed up and I was in hospital, the doctor then said in the morning “oh you are still with us then “ meaning that I should have not made the night. So that was when I gave up drinking it was a long road back to nearly normal, I went through all the horrors and the only thing that kept them away was stop drinking and smoking, it’s hard work but sooo worth it. I am on the liver transplant list now for over two years and have been called up once but I have a lot of complications in and out of hospital, please contact the doctor or liver team or at least phone the help line on this website you need real help. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope you find some answers 👍.

Stay safe All

Dogbot 🐶🌈

[Millie09 in reply to Dogbot]

Hi dogbot ,Very good reply, I do relate as I have ARLD ,I too was told back in 2008 that my time was nearly up ,I was quite poorly and I did not think I was .. very stupid of me to think that..

Anyway I want to say an absolute congratulations for being 19 yrs onwards since your first diagnosis and even more for your sobriety.

I'm coming up to 15 yrs in June next year since diagnosed, its not been easy.. I unfortunately did relapse in 2012 when I lost my dad ( he was my soul mate) took me 2 yrs to get off the drink ,I do however have bad cravings especially this time of year, I was crying this morning for no reason... but then back of my mind I think I know why ... anyhow my very best to you and maybe your transplant will happen soon

Best wishes linda

[Dogbot in reply to Millie09]

Hi I do understand but well done for stopping, it is hard especially when all around you people are celebrating special occasions like birthdays, Christmas,, new year or even a hot summers day sitting in the beer garden, but you must remember why you and I are where we are can’t blame anyone else. Good luck to you on your journey 💕💕

Stay safe and strong all

Dogbot 🐶🌈

[Millie09 in reply to Dogbot]

Thank you 😊

[Cornwallgal in reply to Millie09]

Keep strong, Millie. You have great supporters here who want you to live your best life. X

[Millie09 in reply to Cornwallgal]

Hi Cornwallgal. Bless you, thank you for that, it's not often at all that I ever feel the need to reach out .. but I'm struggling a little .

stay safe and take care x linda

[Richard-Allen]

Hi Chris,

Sadly, when a person ends up needing hospital treatment for alcohol-related liver disease, you will often find that there is a tenancy to treat the condition and not the person. In many areas, our beloved NHS has become so fragmented that mental health is often treated by a different healthcare trust than that of the main hospital trust, and sometimes both these different healthcare trusts don’t always work together.

Alcohol abuse is both a physical and mental condition and both need to be addressed at the same time. It’s a bit like, “Cause and Effect”. If the “Effect” is the liver damage, then there is no point treating the “Effect” if the “Cause” isn’t dealt with too.

As we go through life, we learn to associate alcohol with being a drug that makes us feel happy and reminds us of happier times. Weddings, parties, etc. We are also conditioned to see alcohol as a quick-fix remedy in times of stress. “Oh that was lucky, I need a drink”. After a while, our need for alcohol is a bit like having a best friend. After all, it’s always there when we need it, and it tries to make us feel better and cheer us up. So, it becomes a quick-fix form of self-medication.

So it’s easy to understand why a person can often turn to alcohol at times of stress and depression.

But at this point, we need to understand what is driving this depression.

Once alcohol addiction starts, this too becomes a mental health condition. So, to stop drinking, you first need to have that understanding as to why you need to drink in the first place. This once again is the “cause and effect”. Also, it needs to be remembered that alcohol is also a depressant. So a vicious cycle can begin. You drink because you’re depressed, which in turn makes you more depressed so the next morning not only do you have a hangover you’re feeling even more depressed. so you start to drink more and earlier in the morning. You are now self-medicating just so you can function.

Alcohol has now taken over your life. You are now drinking not because you want to, but because you have to.

There is little point in a hepatologist or gastroenterologist trying to make the body better if the mind is still damaged and goes untreated. That cycle needs to be broken, and it all starts with wanting to understand, and about to wanting to make a change. You have to break this cycle because you want to. Not because someone has told you to, or someone is using emotional blackmail. It has to be YOUR choice. Then you have a goal and something to build upon.

Your GP is your best port of call. He/she will oversee your treatment and liaise with the various healthcare trusts. They will make referrals to other outside agencies to get you the best treatment you need both mentally and physically.

If you end up in hospital on a ward for a short time. You may get a visit from the Alcohol liaison nurse. Most hospitals now employ an alcohol liaison team. They will also put together an action plan of what needs to be done to aid your recovery. They will also send a copy of this to your GP so that everyone is working together. This is where the cold light of reality needs to sink in as you now have to come to terms with the fact that for you, alcohol has become a poison and that you need to agree to a life of alcohol celibacy.

But, none of the above is going to happen unless you want it to. Your life and your future are in your hands.

Sorry if I sound blunt, but this really is your wake-up call, and only you can make the decision. Many on here have been where you are now, and we are alive today because we made that decision. And do you know what, life is so much better without alcohol?

Make today, the first day of the rest of your life and remember this golden saying, “I am my problem, but also my solution”.

If you need any support, please feel free to send me a private message.

Good luck

Richard. (You can do this)

[Millie09 in reply to Richard-Allen]

Wondeful reply Richard.. as always

[CHRISR999 in reply to Richard-Allen]

Hi Richard. I don't drink. I've not had a drink since 12th Feb 2019.

[10864]

Hi,

This isn’t meant to come across as abrupt in anyway but I don’t think it’s clear what the current situation is, what the symptoms are, where you are upto with alcohol etc? The original issues were (I think?) ARLD but then you mention smoking brought backmsome symptoms 3 years later?

We’re here to help if we can do maybe jitsu clarification would help do that?

X

[teletonetapper]

Hi there Chris. Some very good replies to your message, particularly the post from Richard. He is very knowledgeable and professional in his responses to all on this Forum. It is good that you have opened up and posted. You really need to seek help as you seem to be constantly thinking about various issues and "Why you are feeling like you are". Please contact the medical profession and really let your inner thoughts known. Take care.

[Alibaba80]

Hi Chris. I also have a lot of symptoms that are very very debilitating and constantly keep coming back. It's very physically draining but also mentally. It has had a very detrimental impact on my mental health. The physical symptoms themselves are also dreadful I can barely eat because of them.