Diagnosed with Alcoholic Hepatitis

I'm almost 23 years old. 2 months ago after a heavy binge I began feeling exhausted to the point where I couldn't move. I went to the doctor and he informed me that my liver enzyme levels were very high and that I most likely had Alcoholic Hepatitis. Still I was tested for mono, and all the hep viruses which came back negative. I didn't and still don't have jaundice, ascites, or any of the visible physical symptoms. I was shocked I could have something like this being so young. He said I had to stop drinking and I should recover in about a month. I was taking lots of supplements including b vitamin complex and milk thistle and sure enough I started to feel almost back to normal. Then all of the sudden I start to feel awful again. Fatigue, diarrhea, leg cramps, weakness, trouble concentrating, pain in the area around my liver.

I went back to the doc and my labs came back normal despite me feeling awful. He suggested I was just stressed and depressed and that's what's causing the fatigue. Still I have the same symptoms I had when this began. Yesterday I felt pretty good and my energy level was good as well. I went to bed last night and I woke up feeling very weak and sweaty and really out of it.

The question I have is this: Is it normal to still be having pain around the liver area, fatigue, diarrhea 2 months into this? I've done quite a bit of reading on this and it's all very vague when it comes to healing time. Am I at risk for developing cirrhosis? I haven't had one drink this whole time, and I've eaten as healthy as I can, but this feels like a losing battle. I have an appointment with a GI in 5 days, so I'm sure I'll know more by then. I just want to know if this could become a chronic thing or if I will recover. I'm scared of Cirrhosis and I know that persistent hepatitis causes that.

I know a lot of people on here are going through much worse than me, but this is so scary for me and I feel really alone. Any commentary or advice is appreciated.

Thanks, PG.

Hi NS1,

Welcome to the forum.

Let's hope you are one of the lucky ones who quit drinking before the liver was truly compromised. Folks with liver disease can be in a real trouble.

Seeing the GI doc in 5 days seems like the right path. they will likey do a full work up on you. don't let them fluff you off. sometimes they do that with alcohol induced disease...sort of like a prejudice against those who have injured themselves. My hubby has Hep C and was a long time alcoholic, but it didn't make him really sick until years and years of abuse. At first they saw him every 3 months and were all but rude. Then when he quit drinking and stayed sober they started paying more and more attention.

There are other things that can cause liver problems other than alcohol...too much tylenol, varoius auto immune disorders, other poisonings. Be sure to have them check it all out.

Sometimes pain like you are talking about is gall bladder related. They can do an ultra sound to rule that out. Rather than a huge episide. sludge in the gall bladder can cause chronic pain before it becomes acute and needs removal.

The diet they recommend for liver disease is about the same as for diabetes or heart disease. Fruits, veggies, grains. They do recommend salt restriction and avoiding beef (which is harder for the liver to digest...stick to chicken and fish). And NO BOOZE. Increase fluids, especially water unless docs recommend a restriction for that. (in come cases a person's sodium can get goofy).

Have them check your ammonia level when you go in for the testing...to be sure you are properly extreting wastes and not having them back up into your blood.

Good luck to you. Keep us posted after your doctors' appointment.

MamaLama in Florida.
Caregiver of 61 year old liver transplant recipient and liver cancer survivor.

Found a good article with that topic: http://www.aafp.org/afp/990415ap/2223.html

Welcome Hyde1,

  Glad to hear you are following along.  I did so for about 4 months before I felt comfort posting.  But learned a lot and finally started posting.  Noted that the forum folks are caring and knowledgeable and agreeable to sharing info.  Welcome, post anytime.

Angie1953

MamaLama said...
Found a good article with that topic: http://www.aafp.org/afp/990415ap/2223.html

Thanks that did answer a couple of my questions. Is anyone familiar with how long a bout of acute AH normally lasts?

Hi Notsure1. I was diagnosed with NASH (non-alcoholic version of what you've got) through bloodwork and ultrasound. It was from being obese. I was 300 pounds and age 18 or 19... my enzymes were decently high and my GI was a bit messed up but I didn't really have fatigue or anything. I stopped binge eating fast food (it's just as bad as drinking) and lost a ton of weight (130 lbs total - also hard on the liver) and my enzymes went back to normal.

I have a panic/anxiety disorder and get really stressed about my health. After that episode I researched liver problems and became a bit paranoid about it all. Then (and this was probably foolish) I decided not to worry about any of it and party like a college kid. I don't know what's worse... guilt/fear or denial. This year (I'm 23 now) I've tapered off my escapades, and recently I've been working to not drink at all. So far it's been about six weeks. I remind myself that my youth has spared me and every sip is playing with fire. Hoping I don't have any permanent damage... my only real liver symptom these days is occasional pale stools. (Gross, sorry.) Hoping those are because of my other GI problems (don't binge eat, kids). The rest is mental and probably anxiety related.

At the peak of my anxiety, though, my worry could mimic anything and everything. Heart attacks, strokes, you name it. The mind is powerful. But lo and behold, I'm still here.

notsure1,

It does sound like you're causing yourself more anxiety worrying about dying.  No one knows when anyone is going to die.  You can just as soon get hit by a bus.  So follow through with your GI appt and request an ultrasound.  With your normalized LFTs, I would lean towards your liver being better.  Maybe there is something going on with your gallbladder (which could also elevate liver enzymes--and not kill you).  Anxiety and depression cause quite a bit of fatigue and physical pain. 

Speak to your GI about your concerns and be honest about all the supplements you are on.  Stay on the no alcohol life and eat healthier. 

The bottom line is all you can do is try to be healthy and follow up with your doc regarding concerns.  The azathioprine I take to stay alive is a carcinogen...but I'll stay alive longer on that than not taking anything to control my disease so I don't worry about it...I'm just aware.

Glad I found this site.  Looking for some answers/help.

Friend (Ann) diagnosed with ESLD last week.  Still in hospital with high alk phos and ammonia.  Cognitive functioning is low (I'm assuming due to the ammonia), and wondering if it is brain damage?  She has really bad ascites and can't walk.  Her legs and feet are swollen even though the Doctors don't think so (which is strange).

Doctors all got together today (GI, cardiologist who was consulted for tachycardia -which he said was normal at this point from detox, urologist - said UTI but otherwise healthy kidneys, and neurologist who said "brain slowing" on EEG?) and decided to suggest HOSPICE.  She's only 49 years old!!!!!!

Yes, she did this to herself.  But she's been to rehab successfully once and was sober for over a year (I believe it was about 18 months or so), and did GREAT.   I'm wanting so bad for her to come out of the mind fog to discuss this diagnosis and see if she has a will to live.

The hosptial can be quite frustrating as urologist said she needs more fluids/nutrition when they were holding her liquids and food for almost a day waiting for another "test". 

I'm a firm believer in food as therapy and would like anyone's opinion of a really good diet for ESLD and/or it is possible for the remaining healthy part of the liver (even if its small) to function properly and if with proper diet and abstenance from alcohol, there could be hope for a longer (and productive still) life?  My friend is college educated and quite accomplished and has much more to offer.

I got the call from my family doctor on the results from the labs he ordered and they found traces of west nile virus. He wants to test again in two weeks. Still waiting on all of the other labs that my GI ordered. I still feel awful. Now it's just mainly extreme fatigue.

shame nosture hasn't been on in a while. This is nearly identical to my issue right now. I was ill and pail for about a month, could move much. I started to feel a bit better went to the doctors and said I had an alcohol issue. He did an LFT which came back as normal.

I then went back to work for about a month. I was also cycling 20milers(slowly) After a month in work I started to have doubts as there was still some pain which was later diagnosed as gastritis, then my gall bladder started playing up aching slightly and my stools were intermittently yellow, it was also making noises like it wasn't filling properly or something.

Im now nearly 10 weeks after that stupid binge and still don't have much strength, still feel aches and am thirsty for water a lot. Im staying indoors and not wanting to talk to people, I know I stressed myself looking online at peoples storys etc, but im sure I messed myself up. I keep going to the doctors and telling them I think I have cirrhosis, they keep telling me I don't an point to the LFT and they physically examined me. Im trying to get an ultra sound, im scared so much. But if I do have a serious issue I have to plan for end of life I guess, never thought I would be thinking this at 39 years old, its so surreal. my mind is doing me no favours I guess, im regretting every drink now, now I know I was an alcoholic, I thought it normal to drink 2/3 times a week. I thought aslong as I don't drink in the mornings and every day im fine. what a wasted decade it was.

praying to god for help

sott