Newbie worried sick about possible liver damage

[Fiddlesticksandfigs]

Hi there,

Im worried sick I may have cirrhosis. I have blood tests booked for January but in the meantime I’m really anxious and could really do with some advise and hearing from people with similar stories so I have some kind of idea as what to expect.

To give some history, I’ve a female and have been an on and off heavy binge drinker for the last 20 years. My normal amount would be two bottles of wine in the evening approx 2-3 times a week. Some weekends in the past I would do 4 bottles of wine and perhaps a small bottle of whisky resulting in me being drunk for the entire weekend. I haven’t done the weekend binges for a couple of years now though. I had a couple of bottles of wine 1 week ago, nothing since.

since my last binge a week ago I’ve had mild nausea, just a strange queasy feeling in my stomach which I’m still feeling now. I also had stomach pain after eating and excessive belching though that seems to have calmed a bit now. Ive had joint pain for some time now in my ankles, knees and hips but thought it might be menopausal. I’ve recently developed high blood pressure, a bit breathless (but I put that down to smoking), and my stools are loose, fluffy and orangey-brown. A week ago they were bright yellow.

I’ve made the decision to never drink again, not a drop. And I’ve now gone 7 days without touching alcohol. I’ve also started to make adjustments to my diet, cutting out sugary processed foods and eating more fruit and veg. I’m gonna try and cut out tea and milk and replace with green and peppermint tea.

I’m just terrified my alcohol abuse may mean I now have cirrhosis. I’m hoping it’s Alcoholic fatty liver as I know that with work this can possibly be reversed. I’d really appreciate it if any of you could give their accounts of early symptoms that miggg sound similar to mine and what your outcome has been?

Thank you

[Smegmer]

Hi, try to chill out. Go to the doctor and get some blood tests as soon as possible; that's the best way to see where you are.

Your story sounds all too familiar. I have been binging around your level for 25 years, mostly about 30-40 units a week, but periods where I did 50-60 units a week. At 38yo I ended up with Gastritis, a bad case. My stools went gold and yellow, and the food was undigested; I lost weight at a shocking speed. I couldn't make it to the toilet. I was so tired I used a big Coke bottle by my bed for Urine. I googled, and I imagine like you, zoomed in on Liver Disease; it was terrifying! I had no idea Alcohol could cause such illness.

After convincing myself I was about to die, I went to the Drs and got the blood, and told them I was a binge drinker. Well, all bloods were normal and "perfect" normal. Still, in a state of anxiety, I got an Ultrasound, and it was all clear. Then I got more bloods and a Fibroscan, again all clear and 4.2kpa. They diagnosed me with Gastritis after a Dr eventually palped my stomach, which caused me to scream in pain as she grabbed it in a claw like motion. My stomach lining was red raw I would think. I got given some stomach acid inhibitors to try and make things easier on the lining. For a few years, I would get a stomach ache after drinking and would just not drink for a while; I foolishly didn't take the hint that my binge drinking was making my stomach lining inflame. Thats the insanity, I just used to laugh it off as part of "getting old" but continue to binge, but less frequently.

It took me 6months to start to feel better and it was a very testing time, but in short, it usually takes ALOT of alcohol to cause Cirrhosis. But that doesn't mean it can't mess you up in other ways, like it did me.

[Fiddlesticksandfigs in reply to Smegmer]

Thanks Smegmer for taking the time to reply. Thanks for sharing your story. I guess all these years I’ve kept my head buried in the sand. I’m only now researching since I’ve had symptoms and I never realised there could be so many health problems due to drinking, that it affects so many parts of our bodies. The gastritis you had sounds horrible, I’m glad to hear you’re feeling better now but six months of it must have been agony. I’m still staying off the alcohol and it’s my intention to not touch a drop ever again.

[Smegmer in reply to Fiddlesticksandfigs]

You have the start of what sounds like Gastritis or possibly an ulcer. Mine took years to turn into full-blown Gastritis and an infection. It was a rough 6months, really bad; I was reading about people having Liver transplants and recovering quicker than I was with a minor issue in comparison, you would think. Thats why I had all those tests.

Truth is not everyone can get to a stage where they drink so much their Liver dies, stomach and intestine issues are likely 1st. 14units is a very low amount. At the moment, I drink ~25 units a week; in Spain, I am well below the safe limit of 35 units; in the UK, I would be a "hazardous drinker." I try not to binge anymore and I did stop booze entirely for 3 years.

[Aotea2012]

Your consumption is about 40 to 60 units a week. This is higher than is recommended but not ridiculously high. Abstain and eat a well balanced diet and then see how much better you feel. I guarantee you’ll not want to go back to your old ways after you feel the benefits. Try to get your bloods done sooner so that you are not worrying but I suspect they’ll be fine. The liver is forgiving.

[Smegmer in reply to Aotea2012]

Yes. I was studying the "J" curve for mortalilty and units drank. A tee total person has the same rate as someone on about 50units a week. They suggest 14 units because they dont want to say 50Units because people will be on 100Units.

If i was living in Spain I would be well under their limit of 35Units a week. in the UK I would be considered a "Hazardous Drinker" on the verge of failing organs etc.