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Some advice needed on Liver related issues

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Posted 4/14/2013 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hello friends,

I am new here. Read some threads but I thought would explain a bit of history so that someone can help me better understand my situation.

I am 32 years old male. Slim.

I used to drink like every 2 days back in 2004 and it continued for 6 months and then I suddenly stopped.

Last year in 2012 I started drinking again and this time I was drinking 1 litre beer per day and sometimes half a bottle of whiskey per day. This lasted for like 120 days.

I stopped that kind of drinking since Jan 2013 and now it is more then 90 days since I have been on any binge drinking. Infact I can exactly say that in last 40 days I have had 5 beers and half a bottle of whiskey.

My issue right now is that I am suffering from mild jaundice and I read it online that people usually die within 30 days of getting this.

I am not understanding it because right now I have even stopped drinking totally. From last 15 days I haven't taken a drop of alcohol and neither plan to take any. But just worried on what next steps should be taken.

I did went to the doctor and she looked at the blood reports and told me that it is mild. Gave me some liver tonics and some tablets.

Does anyone has any similar experience and can anyone suggest what I should be doing next.

Thanks.
Posted 4/14/2013 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
You need to have a whole lot more information than that. The others will chime in. Jaundice alone is not the indicator. What other tests were run and what other symptoms have you had. You can't believe everything you read on the internet. Read up in the resources. Read some of the older threads. Search for jaundice.

Sandia
Posted 4/14/2013 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
Three tests

SGPT
CNC
Bilirubin

Physical examination was done and after the reports came in the doctor told me that the symptoms will be there for next 10 days or so. Gave me a strict diet guidelines and all.
Posted 4/14/2013 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
I had jaundice for 6 months, turned brown.

I just cleared mine, it took 3 months after I had issue fixed.

Mine was from a blockage not alcohol. It can take up to 6 months to clear if function comes back.

See a liver specialist and get a CT scan and biopsy.
Posted 4/14/2013 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, John, and welcome to the forum. The information you gleaned from the Internet is incorrect. Having jaundice alone is not fatal. Stick to resources such as the American Liver Foundation site and this forum.

You must stop drinking altogether. I applaud your 15 days of sobriety, but you must continue it. Drinking alcohol is like throwing gasoline on a fire for those with sick livers. For help with staying stopped, go to AA.

What were the results of the tests you had?

What are the names of the meds you were given?

You really should get a referral to a hepatologist (liver specialist), as primary care physicians do not have the knowledge to deal with liver disease. It is not the amount of alcohol you have drunk in the past year, but ALL of the alcohol you have consumed in your life that has damaged your liver.

Hugs,
Connie
Posted 4/15/2013 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
John,

I agree with others. You need additional information about liver disease and your own situation before you just take your meds and get on with your life.

There are many ways to destroy a liver. And you could have more than one of them at work. This episode of Jaundice is a wake up call. Please know that once a liver is destroyed, there is no dialysis or artificial organ...you die, or you get on a liver transplant list and hope you get a turn before it is too late. Bar transplantation, a person with End Stage Liver Disease will die a sad difficult death.

I don't say this to frighten you, but to urge you to take this "wake up call" seriously.

Those with any kind of liver disease need to follow some basic rules, which your doc may have gone over:

No alcohol at all.

Low sodium diet.

Stay away from raw seafood or other undercooked proteins.

Healthy diet.

The other ways a liver can get in trouble:

Hepatitis A, B, C, D, etc

Autoimmune Hepatitis (where your own body attacks your liver)

Fatty Liver (Non Alcoholic) Disease -- which is unlikely as you say you are thin

Hemochromatosis (too much iron in the blood, often a genetic disorder)

Too Much copper in the blood (from the environment)

Other poisons (some mushrooms and venom)

Tylenol....yes, everyday Tylenol taken in excess can damage a liver.

Heptocellular Carcinoma (though once this was a death sentence, there are effective treatments for some liver tumors these days that can buy enough time to get on a transplant list.

Idiopathic liver disease (of unknown origin)

Your doc should be sure you are inoculated against Hep A and Hep B.

Those who have had a wake up call as you have can have many happy years IF IF IF they don't do more damage.

Let us hear from you and we will try to answer your questions.

I am partner with a liver transplant survivor who had

Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Hepatitis C

Heptocellular Carcinoma

The Hep C remains and will need to be treated.  He has some other problems, but after the "you have 3 months to live if you don't stop drinking" he is here 2.5 years later!!!!!  Sober and ALIVE.

Best,

Mama Lama

Posted 4/15/2013 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Mamalama just said it best.

Take care of yourself and get a liver doctor.
Posted 4/15/2013 1:21 AM (GMT 0)
Whew... the calvary came to the rescue.. we make a great team guys.. anyways John you got the scoop. Congratulations on your sobriety!!

See a liver doctor..don't believe everything on the internet...

Sandia
Posted 4/15/2013 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Just because you stopped drinking, livers fail for unknown reasons sometimes. Alcohol use could hasten all kinds of problems. The advice others have given you are to the point. Get to a hepatologist, asap. There's nothing to freak out about, just find out where your liver is at and act accordingly.

One correction, Wilson's Disease (too much copper) is genetic.
Posted 4/15/2013 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks David, I will adjust my notes...like Hemochromatosis can be genetic. Who knew?

Did you now Mike was diagnosed with Hemochromatosis at one point and we had all the genetic relatives tested. And then he completely changed and has had several bouts of iron deficiency anemia...odd, huh? That is can change like that?

Carol
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