Rickh54

Good evening to all, Hope you had another better day.
I am not asking for medical advice with this question just sharing of experience.
I had my liver tested about 3 weeks ago. The Doc called me in to tell me of his concern. He gave me some numbers which I really don't understand.
He said a healthy liver would have a reading from 0 to 50. Someone that has abused the liver with alcohol for a number of years may have a reading north or 1000 and the liver may never heal itself. My reading was 80. Not sure what the test was and have just confused myself more by self diagnosing on google.
He basically said the test results were a red flag for me and a shot across the bow. Make some changes to my drinking habits or it will only get worse.
I am a long term one day at a time binge drinker. Started when I was about 16. Turning 60 in March. I have drank at least a couple of beer over those 44 years.
Question, has anyone had a better liver test reading after abstaining for a month or so?
The liver test is only one issue. I am enjoying my sobriety for 14 days now and have not felt this good in years. Sleeping, eating, mood, more $$ in my pocket.
Any sharing would be most welcome.
Peace
Rick

ScottFromWI

Sound like you caught things while you can still do something about it. Glad you are enjoying sobriety too, is your plan to stay quit permanently?

Rickh54

Thanks Scott, my plan is to not drink alcohol again. 1 is too many and 12 isn't enough was (is) my problem. I love beer and lots of it. I have a great family, great career and money is not a factor. Although I did factor in what I could do with the $10K a year we spend on liquor each year. I have 2 little grandsons so far and I would plan to be at their college grad. And hopefully their weddings. I also plan to attend those events sober.
Thanks for asking.
Peace
Rick

ScottFromWI

Sound like a great idea to me. I was a beer drinker of similar quantities and family was a huge motivator for me as well. Best of luck, there's lots of support here.

jaynie04

My liver tests weren't too bad before I got sober in June. I got a new doctor right before I got sober and the first thing she did was test my ammonia levels, apparently they were pretty high, I guess our livers remove ammonia, and high ammonia levels can cause brain damage.

Not giving medical advice, but what I didn't realize is the constellation of factors involved with dosing ourselves heavily with a neurotoxin each day. I went home that day and googled ammonia/liver/brain...and read about something pretty scary. But the fact is I had been sticking my head in the sand for years. Those hangovers were telling me something, my body simply couldn't handle it anymore....I kind of cringe now when I think that I was willingly doing that to myself. There are times I still miss it, but the longer I go, the easier it gets and the more I realize how scary it really was.

digdug

When I was hospitalized for alcohol withdrawal, my liver panels were off the charts. Literally, they had never seen someone with levels so high. Within 3 months of sobriety, my levels were back to normal. I still see a liver specialist every 6 months, but I know that as long as I don't drink, I have nothing to worry about.

miyako

Your liver will get better in time, but I don't know why you are asking about what happens in just one month (??) Sure, no doubt there will be some improvement in just one month, but it takes months and months to significantly reduce the fatty deposits that build up around the liver. If you have scarring (cirrhosis) that might never go away but your liver will eventually learn to adapt and function around it. If you keep drinking, then the liver will get more and more scarred and damaged and eventually you will have zero liver function .... the result of which is death.

When I stopped binging 11 months ago, I went through about 3 months where I could really tell that my body was going through a major purge. I'll spare you the graphic details, but I could tell my body was ridding itself of the toxic byproducts (acetylaldehyde, ammonia, etc) of 17 years of vodka guzzling and trying to heal itself. Then the changes gradually started to taper off and I settled on a new "normal" for my body which is more like how it functioned when I was 20 years younger.

At six months sobriety I went for a physical and was proud as hell when my blood panels came out GREAT. They were perfect! Not many people in their 50s could boast of such good results. Of course I had been exercising and drinking lots of water too, to help get rid of the toxins from drinking. BUT ... I do believe that unless you are at the point of almost total liver death, you can probably rejuvenate yourself from the damage in time.

But not in one month. No.

Rickh54

thank you for the insight. My one month comment was in regards to the next blood test the dr. has ordered for me. just wondering what if anything to expect.
I also take a statin for cholesterol which I understand can affect the liver as well.