hepatitis to cirrhosis

[Kaydee21486]

Is it possible for an alcoholic to progress to cirrhosis without ever having alcoholic hepatitis? What are the chances of someone who heavily drinks to get cirrhosis without warning signs before it gets to that point?

[Braveheart65]

“Alcoholic hepatitis is a type of hepatitis caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over many years. The condition is common in the UK and many people do not realise they have it. This is because it does not usually cause any symptoms, although it can cause sudden jaundice and liver failure in some people.”

Nobody ever diagnosed me with alcoholic hepatitis and other than the almost overnight appearance of symptoms such as rectal bleeding and cramping in my arms/legs, I had ZERO symptoms. No ascites, no jaundice, no varices…… I was anticipating a diagnosis of bowel cancer. I drank two bottles of fizz 6 days out of 7, never missed a day at work, ABSOLUTELY DID NOT FUNCTION AT 100% but got by, lived a reasonably normal life (work, marriage, holidays, children etc). Then an instant diagnosis of cirrhosis, stopped all alcohol, low salt diet and 14 mths later a liver transplant. I’m 2 yrs post transplant.

I still find it hard to consider myself an alcoholic but no I wouldn’t trust myself to drink alcohol again as (1) I’d enjoy it too much and (2) I clearly don’t understand the word “moderation” where alcohol is concerned!

So in my own experience, in answer to your question, a big huge YES!!

[Kaydee21486]

thank you for all of that info. I haven’t been diagnosed with any liver disease but I am a heavy drinker and I see some changes in my liver blood work like low BUN and lower CK level and my ast/alt ratio is 1.2 although they are both in the normal range so I’m not sure if I’m just looking too far into it

[Braveheart65 in reply to Kaydee21486]

Talk to your doctor, sooner rather than later. Not because of any details you’ve referred to re blood work but more to answer the questions that are obviously niggling in your thoughts.

[Kaydee21486]

thank you best of luck to you

[Rshc]

Hi Kaydee, I so wish that I hadn’t ignored the little signs that there was something up with my partner. He drank heavily for years but functioned pretty well and it was only a couple of months before his decompensated cirrhosis diagnosis that I noticed little things that I should have mentioned. He wishes so much now that he had been brave enough to seek help for his drinking sooner. I think almost the hardest step to take is admitting you drink too much, it is very hard for a person who has a dependency on alcohol to accept that, you have done that. Please take that next little step to get some support, if you are in the UK I promise that our wonderful NHS will treat you with the same compassion and care that they do for anyone with any illness. My partner has never been judged and neither have I, we have been taken care of in the most amazing way. My partner is now 13 months drink free and it’s hard to believe he has managed it but despite his cirrhosis diagnosis we have a much nicer life in many ways, so so much calmer at home for a start.

I wish you all the best

[Badger12345 in reply to Rshc]

If you don’t mind sharing, could you elaborate on what the little signs were that you say you ignored? Thank you!