Alcohol/Liver/Paranoia or Real

[Vynl]

I am a 35 year old male in pretty good shape.  I workout approx 4 times per week minimum.  I was a collegiate football athlete I might add.  I drink three to four times a week.  Sometimes more, sometimes less.  I usually drink Chardonay, but will turn to scotch occasionally.  In a night of drinking I will have about two bottles of wine.  If it's scoth I could easily polish off a half pint or pint.  Recently, I have started to have a dry mouth and my lips crack/chap and split at the corners.  My bottum lip close to the corners is looking dark and not like the normal pink. Sometimes when working out I get a heat rash. In the last 3 weeks I've gained about 10 lbs.  I must admit my diet has slacked some.  Do I have liver diesease?  Is this a result of the alcohol?  About two years ago I had some test done and was told that I had an excess enzyme consistant with mono or something.  After that I quite drinking for a year.  I started drinking again a year ago picking up where I left off two years ago.  Lastly, I take all sorts of vitamins everyday, (C, B Complex, Multi, 2k mg Omeg 3, green tea, zinc, lutein, milk thistle, ginko biloba, glucosamine, st john's wart.  Think thats it...  And when I drink, I smoke.  I chew tobacco regulary.

Thanks!

[Lasharon]

If you feel worried about your liver and liver disease see a doctor only he/she can run the tests and tell you whether you have liver disease or not. I'm unqualified to tell you if you have liver disease or not but by the sound of it you could have the start of a liver damage because 2 bottles of wine a day 3-4 times a week plus scotch is a lot for your liver to handle (that's quite more then what i drink which is 3 bottles of wine a week) if you're worried see a doctor and he can tell you if you have liver disease or not.

[Jacker]

I can't answer that question for you- go get a blood test if you want to know whether your liver is functioning properly. I can tell you that it doesn't matter about the quality of the alcohol or whether or not you work-out.  I'm an avid runner, cyclist, and dabble in various forms of horseback riding and I used my physical condition as a form of denial about my drinking (ie: I can't have a serious problem if I'm in good condition and do all these things).  

In the end, I had to deal with some cardiovascular issues and a liver problem from my drinking, but thankfully I caught them in time.

As far as the vitamins, that's good but your body will not properly use or absorb them if you're drinking that much. Tell me this- are you capable of drinking a truly moderate amount? If two drinks simply wet the appetite for more, than you may have answered a big question in your life.  Be careful- some of this stuff is permanent.  

[Jaybay]

Nobody here can tell you if you have liver damage or disease.  You need to see your doctor and have a liver function test run.  Being an athlete and taking supplements doesn't give you a get out of jail free card.  Alcohol is still doing its work on your liver, pancreas and brain.  So would you rather be fit and healthy or keep drinking?