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Posted 2/11/2007 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,

I'm new.  Short history (Very Short!):  Suspected of having cihhrosis two years ago but GI did tests and said that he could not find anything.  The concern was because of ascites and I WAS a drinker.  Proceeded to drink, thinking nothing was wrong.  This year I drank heavily and a week ago woke up to yellow eyes.  I have been to another GI who diagnosed cihhrosis.  When I asked him about when the jaundice would go away, he said it might take a month.  I have been sober ten days.  I feel fine other than the yellow skin and eyes.  I'm looking for anyone else who has had experience with jaundice.  I go back to the GI in a month to see if my liver panel has improved, but am anxious to know anything I can learn now.

Thanks in advance!

I also could not find where you enter a thread on the home page or I would have typed in "Jaundice" there.

mel

Posted 2/11/2007 11:12 PM (GMT 0)

Welcome to the forum!  SOMEONE typed in jaundice!   :-)    Usually that's done when you start a new topic.

Anyway...I do not have experience with jaundice or cirrhosis.  I do have hep C and liver cancer.  I also have over 20 years of sobriety in AA (yay me!)  So congrats on your 10 days.  It is very important that you not drink anything alcoholic.  You already have serious liver problems, and you will die way before you should if you continue to drink.  I recommend AA for support of your newly found sobriety, and for the tools you will need to remain alcohol-free.

Best of luck, and let us know how you are doing!

Connie

Posted 2/12/2007 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply. Some of us are not AA types - I have kicked several addictions on my own - I'm a very private person. I have a good support group in my family and friends, especially my daughter.
I think the jaundice means advanced cirhhosis, at least that's what I have found on websites, but boy, it sure crept up on me! I had absolutely no symptons or pain until I woke up "yellow".
I will be proud of myself when I can say I have been sober for one month - and look at you! You're a hero!
Marilyn
Posted 2/13/2007 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Mel,
My husband woke up yellow one day about 10 years ago. It did go away for a few years At that time he was diagnosis with hep C. At that time we were not married. He continued to drink. about 8 years ago he was diagnosis with cirrohsis. He continued to drink until he had his first encephalothapy epizode over 2 years ago. He also had no symptons until then. He is yellow again. And now I don't believe it will go away unless he gets a liver transplant.
He wasn't the A.A. type either. He's is like you. A very private person. But his liver got so bad that he needed a liver transplant. Guess what. Even if you quit on your own and haven't drank in over a year and you need a liver transplant, it is still one of the requirements that you need to do. My husband started out hating the meetings. 7 months later after going at least once a week..... he loves them. Shocked me. I would have never believed that he would go, much less like them. Cirrohsis doesn't go away. You can control how fast it progresses but once it kills part of your liver that part will not come back. And besides alcohol there are alot of medications that can damage your liver more. You have to be very careful on what you take. Please follow your doctors orders as this disease is no joke. Hope your normal color comes back soon. Take care..... Pink Grandma
Posted 2/13/2007 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know that there is an AA "type." I've known people to quit on their own (and I've also quit some other addictions on my own, the last being cigarettes a little over 4 years ago--and I still get cravings occasionally.) Also know some who have been able to quit drinking through involvement in church (that's not for me.) I will tell you that nobody is required to talk...you will just get more out of it if you do. I don't think I talked at all the first 4 months. And Pink Grandma is right--you must go to AA to qualify for transplant.

Hugs and prayers,
Connie
Posted 2/15/2007 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Marilyn,
I too woke up yellow one morning in May 2004 (May 16th to be exact) I had been feeling unwell for about a month before, and was waiting the results of bloodwork. The diagnosis, (after about 4-6 weeks) was autoimmune hepatitis with cirrhosis. Since then I have been fortunate that medications have returned my liver results to almost normal and I feel well (apart from a recent bout of depression) which is also being controlled by meds.
No alcohol is the instructions from all doctors and specialists I have seen. I was not a drinker so i have not found giving it up too hard. One or two drinks twice a week is not hard to stop, although I miss the relaxed feeling that comes with a few drinks and don't always enjoy myself as much as those around me who are drinking.

I hope your second tests show improved liver enzymes etc. and wish you well in your quest to cease drinking.
Take care.
Marg
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