Do you think my liver is damaged?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: St. Somewhere
Posts: 45
Do you think my liver is damaged?
I have been drinking since I was roughly 18 years old only on the weekends. When I got about 24 years old I started drinking almost daily. The last two or three years I was drinking real heavy about every day. I would go through a gallon of vodka in 7 days. Now 29 I am doing my best to stop drinking. I have dried out abot 3 times and seem to keep going back. Right now I am sober and scared that I have ruined my body.. I feel healthy now but when i was drinking I looked terrible and felt terrible.
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Walden CO
Posts: 151
See your doctor. There are 3 stages of liver damage: fatty liver, I forget the 2nd one,and cirrhosis of the liver. The first two are reversible with abstinance from alchohol and proper nutrition. The 3rd is not. I had the same concern and went to my doctor. It requires a simple blood test to check your liver function. If it looks like it might be advanced, they can do a biopsy and tell you exactly where you're at.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Follow Directions!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Fredericksburg, Va.
Posts: 9,730
nanita nailed it, see your doctor and get the blood work done, I was beyond lucky in my case, simply a fatty liver that is fully reversable. I drank for 40 years so I was real lucky.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: St. Somewhere
Posts: 45
This is interesting
I do noe have enough posts to link to the site.
Alcohol consumption. Excess alcohol consumption is a primary cause of cirrhosis. However, only 10 percent to 20 percent of alcoholics develop cirrhosis (Beers MH et al 2004–2005).
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Walden CO
Posts: 151
Jeffery - I really don't know how much I drank, but I'm guessing approx. 24 drinks a day. Mostly wine and beer. I took many years before my liver functions were elevated, and even then, not alarmingly so. But - within another six months, they had elevated to 3times what they were on the previous blood test. Like Tazman, I only got as far as the fatty liver stage (sure wouldn't want to go any further).
Yes, your regular dr. can do the blood work. My ob/gyn did the first round and then sent me to an internist. The internist remains my preference.
Yes, your regular dr. can do the blood work. My ob/gyn did the first round and then sent me to an internist. The internist remains my preference.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: St. Somewhere
Posts: 45
tracee1010 Wow I cannot believe what is going on in your body. I am also like you. I am afraid to see what the doctor has to say. I did have blood work last year for life insurance and it came back okay.
Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Walden CO
Posts: 151
Tazman is right. Standard blood tests do not test your liver - and it's very important to get that done. It you catch it quick enough, you can stop it. Once you reach cirrhosis, it's too late. It's really not a big deal - just like any other blood test.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 2 (0 members and 2 guests)
