I have end stage liver failure and was a drinker for most of my life since the age of 17. In 2005 I was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and quit drinking for a year. The psychologist who dx'd me with bi-polar noticed I didn't have any physical of alcohol with drawalsymptoms leaving the hospital. He said it was up to me whether I called myself an alcoholic or not but recommended AA.
In January of 2009 I quick drinking for the first time due to symptoms (acites) appearing. The PC doc referred me to the GI doc. He did an upper GI and felt my liver. He did some labs. He said I "probably have an injury" and that I need to quit drinking. So I did. But he did not get a CAT or colonoscopy. I quit felt great after few months and sought out a psychiatrist for a new medicine for my bipolar since I had stopped taking Zoloft and I was symptomatic again. So the psych put me Cymbalta in August or so of 2010. Not good but he said alcohol was fine but no more than a glass a day of red. Soon thereafter the drinking started again in late 2010.
As of Sept 2011, I was dx'd with ESLD. They said 10% of my liver was left and seek out a transplant after I've quit for 6 months. So now I worry about bleeding out and other symptoms due to blood thinners. Last monday night I was diagnosed with bleeding hemaroids in the UCSF. The doc said it was good that I came in with the blood I had on the toilet paper but its not internal bleeding. Whew...
When I presented in the ER I told the doc I was dizzy which is why I thought I was bleeding. He said that because I'm on Cymbalta and I am receiving a exaggerated dose of it because of how slow it leaves my system...he said my therapuetic levels could be dangerously elevated on Cymbalta and he said I can't come off unless I hospitalized. He quickly tried to get me a hepatology referal, but he couldn't at midnight. So now no hospital until I find another doc this week. My condition is way too dangerous. My Bipolar is cycling hourly now...and I can't sleep or eat. I have emotiional outbursts...I swear...somebody should shoot me!
So what do I do?..I am stuck on this drug that is killing my liver while waiting to get into the hepatology clinic UCSF in two weeks...first on the list. My family practice Dr. told me that I should feel lucky to be alive and to be patient.