Re-occurring Alcoholic Hepatitis

[MissS_Zebra9]

Hi All, just wondered if anyone has had or knows anyone who has has re-occurring episodes of acute AH. My partner has had 3 in past 2.5 years, each time going yellow and requiring a prescription of steroids with a weeks stay in hospital. Unfortunately he will not give up the drink (a decision he has made despite our pleas and commitment to try and get him to see sense).

I'm just wondering how long someone can continue to get this for as consultant just said he could get it time and time again but surely each time is doing more damage to the liver?

[Kath5050]

Hi! I’ve had it twice in two years with the same as your partner. Jaundice with no other symptoms. First time, I was in hospital for 3 weeks. The second time I was in for a week. I’ve seen a consultant too and expect to see him again in 6 months. Any time I have spoken with him, he has been adamant that I should not drink alcohol and that the survival rate for AH decreases each time. The best thing your partner can do is to go sober - obviously. My consultant said that both times I was lucky to have recovered and respond so well to the treatment but that that might not always be the case. I’m not willing to risk those odds.

[MissS_Zebra9 in reply to Kath5050]

Thanks for replying and well done on your sobriety, I only hope my partner can see sense. Can i also ask whether you suffered a fast heart beat at anytime as his is way over 150 bpm at resting.

[Kath5050 in reply to MissS_Zebra9]

No, I didn’t have a high resting heart rate. But it can differ for everyone depending upon how much damage and where the damage is. Has the consultant not iffy any further tests? Mine had to wait for the initial inflammation to go down first before doing so.

[Aotea2012]

Kath is spot on. If he continues to drink then the risk with each episode rises. His liver is objecting to the level of alcohol he is consuming and reacting. Each episode damages the liver a little more. Depending on the level of underlying damage, if he abstains from alcohol then he can reverse things. He is playing a game of Russian roulette, however, by continuing to drink. Each episode of acute AH carries a high mortality risk…at some point it stops being a risk and becomes a reality.

[MissS_Zebra9 in reply to Aotea2012]

Thank you for replying ❤️