| Well, that depends.....
To answer your last question about permanent damage, that depends.
An ultra sound image of your liver will tell the doctor quite a bit about the condition of your liver. Liver cells damaged by alcoholism or other similarly toxic material (in large quantities over a long time, like alcohol) can recover up to a certain point, that point being different in every liver. However, if the image on the ultrasound or a specialized MRI show certain information (that a qualified radiologist can interpret), the answer is that you have permanent damage. However, liver cells do undergo permanent changes from chronic alcohol consumption if it is heavy. Those changes are IRREVERSIBLE after exposure reaches either a certain level or lenght of time. Again, every liver responds differently to alcoholism, but swollen liver is generally a sign that your liver is WAY taxed and it is WAY irritated and you need to STOP all alcohol consumption.
Why would you even consider the opinion of a nurse if it contradicts a doctor? If you had a contractor building you a house, would you let the guy digging the trench for the foundation tell you the design of the structure was in violation of the National Building Code? Or would you let him tell you how to wire the house?
If your liver and pancreas are swollen, I assume they did some diagnostic testing of some sort, at least a blood draw with appropriate testing (there are a battery of liver function tests that are non-specific in terms of pointing to one cause but will, if unreasonably high in value, lead a doctor to tell you to immediately stop consumption of alcohol). Ask your doctor. AFTER you stop drinking.....
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