Worried about liver damage

Thanks for your kind reply Addie, this binge started over the loss of my job and split with my long term partner.  At first it was to numb my pain, now I'm worried about my drinking also and any damage this binge may have done.  As I say I am tapering down as I am worried about withdrawals.  Thanks for your help it is much appreciated.

Hi Mark, can definitely relate to drinking to numb the pain. Losing your job and partner is pretty emotional stuff. Don't beat yourself up, we can't change the past but we can control the future re drinking. If your really worried see your GP, and explain your concerns. Most GPs are helpful and supportive. Addiex

Thanks again, hopefully seeing my GP next week.

Thanks for your kind reply.  I've just got myself into a vicious cycle of drinking to numb the pain and now that I'm trying to taper my anxiety is playing all kinds of tricks with my mind.  I am jus worried trhat after my sporadic binges in the past that one this long will have pushed me over the edge.

Also I've read that fatty liver develops in all drinkers that drink heavily for this period, so I suspect ikt's likely that I have developed this.

That would depend on all of your previous binges. A month long binge on its own, would not cause it.

Fatty liver is not that uncommon in adults in Western countries where alcohol consumption is normal.

Russia for example, in 2012, 30% of all deaths were attributable to alcohol. And between those that die in the 15 - 54 group, alcohol accounts for 52%, plus a quarter of all Russian men die before the age of 55.

Fatty liver is the first stage, then Fibrosis is the second stage and then comes cirrhosis and that has three grades of seriousness.

Thanks again for the info, I just read that all heavy drinkers develop fatty liver even after a couple of weeks binge.  Does fatty liver always develop into cirrhosis? Thanks again for the helpful replies.

No, you don't get one and then keep moving along all the stages. It requires years of heavy daily drinking to get cirrhosis. Also it depends what you drink. Stick to regular beer and it is hard to do, go on to the strong stuff and spirits and you'll get there a lot quicker. Fatty liver can be reversed, once it gets to fibrosis, it cannot. That doesn't mean if you get fibrosis, you automatically get cirrhosis, it means you can lose fatty liver, but not any stages after that.

People who went to the pub after work everyday, for their whole life, but just having a couple (2) of regular beers, would be unlikely to develop anything.

Thanks again for the info, it is very much appreciated.  I only really drink beer or cider, strongbow, rarely touch the hard stuff, never developed a taste for spirits.  I have put on quite a bit of weight over the last five weeks though, but I suppose the Guiness and fast food will do that to you!!

Thanks for interesting info RHGB. God only know what my liver is like! What's scary as well is that you can have normal LFTs and still have liver disease and know nothing about it until you eventually develop symptoms.

Well, I developed, jaundice,  subconjunctival heamorrhage (red eye), a brain haemorrhage (bleed on the brain) and loss of usage of limbs in about 24-36 hours and a load of other symptoms. Three years later, I am still up and about and leading a normal life, although I do take a lot of daily medication.

My GP won't refer anyone to the liver clinic unless they have irregular blood tests, even with a history of heavy drinking, which seems crazy as Addie says you can have regular bloods and still have liver damage.

 

That must have been so frightening and scary for you. I'm presuming that you had no symptoms prior to this, or maybe on reflection there were little things health wise you ignored, thinking it's nothing. Great how you've recovered and are  leading a normal life, that's wonderful. Has your liver recovered from the cirrhosis? I have read cases where cirrhosis has reversed when the cause is removed, although specialists seem to have different opinions on this. Hope your good health continues on. I suffer from health anxiety and it affects my everyday life, a constant battle! Addie.

Mark, you're right in that GPs don't want to refer you if your LFTs are normal. Unfortunately it's all about saving money with NHS, and I don't think it's going to get any better. You could try another GP if you're really concerned. I do think your liver is ok from what you've told us re your drinking. Everyone's metabolism is different, some people can drink to excess and don't develop liver disease, my Mother is one of them. She's 90, still has a vodka & tonic now and again, a heavy social drinker in her younger years. Not everyone is that lucky though!

Thanks Addie, I'm trying to get to see another GP next week, fingers crossed, on the last day of my taper so hopefully I can get the willpower to kick this monkey off my back.  Thanks again for your kind reply.