soberlife123

I know this sort of anxiety is normal in early recovery....but how normal is it to have cirrhosis and no symptoms? My family doctor has refused to give me an ultrasound because my bloodwork came back normal except my AST was slightly elevated. Given this was the day before the first day of my recovery (I'd actually had been drinking up until several hours before heavily)

she said just quit drinking and it would come down. I'm freaking out because the AST was slightly higher then the ALT and from what I've read on the internet this is indicative of cirrhosis? She did not seem concerned at all and did a physical exam and said everything was fine just quit drinking and refused my request for an ultrasound. Another doctor I visited did the same

Anxiety is very common in early recovery and even though the AST was only slightly elevated (57) and ALT and all other bloodwork was normal (except GGT slightly raised but that is common in alcohol abuse?) and I have no other symptoms i've convinced myself I have cirrhosis and the anxiety is so overwhelming.


What can I do, aside from never picking up a drink? I'm driving myself crazy

Does anyone have any experiences they can share? Especially with having a slightly higher AST but normal ALT, ASP, Bilirubin and all the other stuff?


Not looking for medical advice just others opinions.

soberlife123

Or maybe just some reassurance... this anxiety is crippling

Coldfusion

It is important to remember that the liver is the most resilient part of the body.

suki44883

The worst thing a person can do is try to diagnose using Google. It leaves one absolutely positive that they have a life threatening disease. If you've seen two separate doctors and they both tell you that your levels will come down if you quit drinking, then quit drinking and go back in a few months for another blood test. I'm sure that will put your mind at ease.

ScottFromWI

We can't give medical advice here Lawgirl. But common sense would tell me that if your doctor says you don't need a scan, you probably don't need a scan. Cirrhosis is a pretty serious thing though...I would assume that if your doctor saw signs he would want to investigate further. You could always get a second opinion.

I would also say that I had horrible health anxiety in the first few weeks after I quit. If I had a headache I assumed I had a brain tumor. If my stomach hurt, I assumed I had some kind of impending liver or kidney failure, or some horrific tumor.

Talk to your doctor about the anxiety too - they can help.

PurpleKnight

My blood figures were up a bit, but a bottle of whisky a night will do that, my doctor didn't refer me for a scan, time was the healer and after a few months my blood work was fine.

No one simply drops dead with cirrhosis without knowing about it, if your doctor says all is fine, I'd trust his assessment of the figures!!

soberlife123

I know I wasn't asking for medical advice just shared experiences...the further into sobriety I get the worse the anxiety I'm scared to go on any medication for anxiety for fear of liver damage, ironically.

Jupiters

You've seen 2 Dr's who both didn't feel a need to send for a scan
just don't drink!

soberlife123

Dr Google is a scary thing!!! reading you can have cirrhosis and no symptoms

ScottFromWI

Quit reading google. Listen to your doctor(S). You can convince yourself that you have ( or don't have ) just about anything and find a way to prove it on Google.

Jupiters

If I believed everything I read on GOOGLE - I'd be in a padded room for life by now! LOL

trust the 2 Dr's you saw

Stoogy

On google every lump is cancer etc, does not matter which ailment you search for you will find a related horror story, I am similar being very anxious with any ache or pain I experience, I was always a bit like that but being sober has made me worst too.
being sober is worth the anxiety it may bring to me.

Thepatman

I'm sure you will be fine, If in doubt go back to your doctor! Try not to over worry ;-)

LBrain

I'm dating a French model. OH? Met him on the internet. Everyone knows if it's on the internet it must be true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_CgPsGY5Mw

soberlife123

LOL at the youtube video!

Tiptree

I've learned that when I am very stressed I will find one thing to concentrate my fears on, be it rational or not. I think that may be what you are doing, and if it wasn't your liver, it would be something else you would obsess about. I hope you can, and do, seek some counseling for this. It has helped me.

soberlife123

I'm seeing my therapist tonight (at 6) so hopefully she will help me out

soberlife123

I've had a habit of this in the past (my doctor calls it 'googlechondria' ) obsessing I had HIV, cancer, Hep C etc. when I didn't.

Stoogy

Let us know how you get on.

Have a great day.

Mountainmanbob

we have similar threads here from time to time
oh yes how we worry when we sober up
might be guilt thoughts caused by our past ??

best to -- stay sober -- try to relax -- thank God for what we still have

more than many alcoholics -- life

Mountainman