Health Anxiety over liver damage

[Santababy89]

Hello,

I’m 34 year old female who has definitely over indulged in wine the last few years.

my husband and I were living the expat life prior to 2020 and drank a lot with friends and at home.

i have had a few breaks since 2020 which was about 10 months in 2020 and nearly 12 months in 2022.

Since March this year I have drank again and it’s probably been about 3- 7 bottles of wine a week depending on the week. I know that’s bad and I need to cut right back or stop completely.

I recently had my LFT done a few days ago and these were the results. I’m just worried because I keep reading how Liver Disease can go symptomless for so long, should

I go get any further ultrasounds or fibroscan or consider myself healthy and stop stressing myself out of my previous drinking habits.

A lot of posts on this forum have scared the living crap out of me.

Current results (range in brackets)

ALP 44 (30-110)

GGT 13 (5-35)

AST 15 (5-30)

ALT 13 (5-35)

platelets 262 (150-450)

Thank you for any advice!

[Aotea2012]

You can be symptomless with cirrhosis….but your blood results are normal. You’ve also had extended abstinent periods which will have allowed your liver to recover. Whilst 70 units per week (7 bottle of wine) is not good for your liver….people drink more. I would lay off the alcohol/reduce to 14 units a week, and forget about your previous drinking. Worrying about it now won’t help. The liver fortunately for us is a resilient organ and I suspect yours has weathered it and is fine. Look after it now and it will thank you.

[Santababy89 in reply to Aotea2012]

Thank you so much for the reassurance.

I’m definitely going to be more mindful of it from now on and don’t plan to drink much or at all anymore. My party days are over.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

[Friendlychic]

what amazing results.

[Santababy89 in reply to Friendlychic]

Thanks. I was mostly worried because I read so much about having “normal” LFT results and still having damage. I scared myself on Dr Google.

[LemonMeringue15]

I'd take these normal results as your new start and think about knocking the drink on the head, knowing you are starting from a great position.Stopping altogether is much easier than trying to moderate or have rules around your drinking. You've been given a great opportunity to protect your liver for the future.

[Santababy89 in reply to LemonMeringue15]

Thank you!

It’s definitely time for some big changes. Alcohol hasn’t been serving me lately anyway. It just became a habit but sends my anxiety through the roof and it’s not worth it anymore.

[LemonMeringue15]

I stopped 3 years ago and one of the first things I noticed was that my anxiety was loads better, is definitely worth it

[BritishLiverTrust1 Partner British Liver Trust]

No one on the forum is medically trained and your own health care professional is best placed to answer this question, as only they have access to your full medical history.

We suggest talking this through with them again.

Best wishes

British Liver Trust

[AyrshireK]

Hi Aps_January, I note from your profile that you state you are of Black/African/Caribbean ethnicity. Have you perchance had the tests necessary to rule out Sickle Cell Disease which is more prevalent in persons of your ethnicity and can cause periodic episodes of symptoms (crises) some of which may tally with your episodic symptoms. Photosensitivity isn't a symptom associated with liver disease but eye issues can arise due to Sickle Cell.

You may have had this checked out in your bloods already but if not it might be worth investigating.

Kaite