Could I have Cirrhosis?

[Rich04101]

I know this may sound like a stupid question as anyone with my history could have . I'm a 47 year old male with a long history of drinking since my early 20's I started becoming symptomatic about 12 years ago with the upper right quad pain. I was given ultra sounds, and labs and they aways came back normal. I was so obsessed with the possibility of liver disease that I would get LFT's about once a month all normal but continued drinking. The doctors told me I had an alcohol problem but not a liver problem and needed help with my drinking and that physically, I was fine. About 5 years ago I finally had elevated ALT and AST and everything else was normal .I went to a gastro and he ordered and untra sound which came back norm but he said I possibly had mild fatty liver. His conclusion, I had mild fatty liver and needed to stop drinking but "probably" had no permanent damage. I kept on drinking the last five years and have never had any symptoms except the mild upper right quadrant fullness.

Over the last two to three weeks I finally noticed my skin being itchy, getting some fatigue, and nausea. All seemed to come and go with time of day, and drinking did not make them worse. I've finally stopped drinking for a week….I know this is not much but the symptoms don't seem any better or worse. I know I need to stay away from drinking and be seen. I'm just scared that I might have advanced liver disease and was asymptomatic until the last few weeks of drinking. I'm not jaundiced and never have been. I've always been able to eat and have not lost muscle or any weight. I look find to myself and others. My question is while I know I need to be seen and need to never drink again maybe i'm over reacting. Has anyone ever heard of someone with late stage liver disease that has never been jaundiced, never been really sick, has been able to eat, and looks and feels ok aside from some intermittent  nausea and itching? I know cirrhosis can be asymptotic but has anyone heard of being diagnosed with end stage liver disease when they are still looking and feeling fairy well? Yes, I have the occasional itching and nausea but have had colds in the past that have made me feel worse than this. Also, where do I start? Should I go to an ER or try to find a Gastroenterologist?

thanks everyone.

[CML2014]

that your comments don't sound like you are trying to convince yourself you do not have end stage liver disease........but I wonder if  the interesting reason for this is not that you are worried about the outcome,. rather you want  to be reassured that "Oh your fine so far, so go ahead and keep drinking"  Yea, you probably have a good 2 or 3 years before it gets to that point.

IF you were truly worried you would have stopped drinking 12 years ago when you became asymptomatic....or 5 years ago when your liver enzymes  were elevated.

I think you are looking for a reason to continue to keep drinking until it REALLY becomes SERIOUSE......like it isn't already. ....but you along with other alcoholics think this way, it is part of the stupidity of being a drunk.

......and yes , I am a recovering alcoholic....a drunk , all the same. I stopped
30 years ago and just found out I have fatty liver. My Gastroenterologist actually thinks it could be from my previous drinking. Can you believe that--30 years of abstinence and she is still relating it's cause to my previous drinking.

SO stop now or don't stop, just don't make it sound like you really care if your at "that POINT" of killing yourself....I think you may still have some more time to keep on drinking!

Forgive me if I seem blunt, but I think you are in need of a wake up call.
I sincerely do wish you the best and hope you do not have anything serious going on....for now.
You need to have an ultrasound of your liver and perhaps a liver biopsy to know for sure what is going on with your liver. I would do it.

CML

[onthefence]

i would encourage you to talk to someone about anxiety,
i am a 48 year old male , lifelong alcoholic and drug addict, i would drink to relieve lifes anxiety, only to create more anxiety about my health focusing on my liver also, had the raised enzymes in tests years ago was told to stop drinking in the 90's by a couple doctorsm would get drunk every few days then when sick the next day have severe anxiety that i had gone to the point of damaging my liver, it is totally self sabatoge, then would turn around and do it again,
after detoxing off opiates i continued to drink , had some law trouble and made the choice to quit all mind altering substances and work a recovery program, now my anxiety  90% less i am learning to embrace each day as it comes and stay in the moment, counseling has helped.
I really haven't thought about my liver lately, but i am also aware that i am not assaulting it with alcohol. i feel very fortunate ,
i think you have to start somewhere , stop the alcohol intake with the help of a detox center if needed then face your anxiety with the help of counseling and a recovery program, posting is a great start , keep moving fwd. and remember it is what it is with your liver but its never to late to quit and feel better.

[Jinx_777]

if you stop now your liver may be able to repair itself or at the very least not disease any further.  you would need the medical treatment for cirrhosis though.  
end stage liver disease is NOT something you do not know you have.  it is very obvious to everyone.  you will bloat around your belly area so much that you need to have liters of fluid drained often, you would be jaundiced, etc.  
you are at a critical stage where if you continue to use you will get cirrhosis, if you stop now, you may be able to stop it.

i highly suggest reading the forum on here about cirrhosis and thank God you are not there yet, but will be if you continue

[gyspy09]

Maybe go get tested n go from their. I totally understand by u use to keep drinking my liver hurt me all the time then I quit I feel alot better now

[bahamamama13165]

I would post your question in the cirrhosis forum. They will have and answers and advice for your question. I'm glad you decided to stop drinking. It's obvious you've known for many years that is what you need to do. Easier said then done, I know. Even if you find out your liver is still in decent shape and can repair itself, I hope you choose to quit FOREVER now. Your liver won't hold out forever and liver failure is a gruesome way to go. Good luck.

[TTinKKerBBell]

I have no idea if this means cirrhosis although I am sure there are those here who can - and will - advice You  

I simply want to know (for my own curiosity) - why did You "push" it this far?? !!

You make the statement that You were "so OBSESSED with the possibility of liver disease that You would get LFT's once a month"

BUT

You continued drinking !! ??

HUH!!??

I totally don't understand!!  One might as well say "I'm afraid of snake venom 'cuz I know it can kill me - but I'm going sleep in this pit full of snakes so they can inject me with their venom and eventually kill me".  Or " I think I'll step in front of this 60mph moving vehicle on the freeway, 'cuz I know it will kill me".

This is not in the least helpful to You regards cirrhosis BUT I'm asking something of You - I truly am curios to understand what Your thinking was (is) 'cuz I wonder:  are You STILL drinking?? ??  Just how "obsessed" (afraid?) am I supposed to believe You really are??

Obsessed is a pretty strong word, You know, coming from someone who ALWAYS/still has CHOICE.  None of my business BUT I'm more than a little mad at You for this - so "worried about cirrhosis" but challenging it anyway ??

If we're afraid of something that can kill us it wouldn't it be wise to avoid it rather than to take it on.

I sincerely want to know - ARE YOU STILL DRINKING?