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worried about AST/ALT ratio.....

Hi, I'm 22-years-old and throughout all my years of drinking, I don't think I've drank  more than the average girl my age; I actually know friends who have had more. But, I've had my liver enzymes tested before, they were elevated a couple years ago, so I just had them tested again because in the past 6 months I've been having issues when I attempt to drink...I get sick before I get drunk, I'm always hungover, and it just feels like I'm having issues handling/filtering the alcohol. Anyways, my recent levels were AST 43, ALT 15, which equals a ratio of 2.86. I've read this is ridiculously high, I'm quitting drinking for a while obviously, but should I be concerned about other more serious issues with liver disease? Again, I'm young...any other tests I should get? Or just continue monitoring the levels...Thanks :)
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1305762 tn?1311548999
Jacker has a point: Don't compare your habits with others. Everyone's body is different and reacts to substances differently. Eveyone has a different "breaking point" so to speak when it comes to harmful behavior.

You know how everyone knows someone who smoked 2 packs a day for 50 years and never so much as had a cough? It just happens sometimes. Meanwhile a billion other people have the same habit, or even less of one, and develop lung cancer. It just happens that way. Alcohol and pot are much the same. Some people will drink their whole lives and never develop a problem. Others will develop non-alcoholic cirrhosis. This happened recently to my friend's father. He was diagnosed with non-alcoholic cirrhosis and a week later he passed away. He was never a big drinker in his life. Ever. And through the roll of the dice he developed what is commonly considered to be the big, number one drinker's disease.

But you're playing a dangerous game with your vices and don't count on being the exception instead of the rule. You've already seen enough signs that you're not going to be the type that beats the odds. High liver enzymes, physical discomfort, and a general feeling of not being okay? All warning signs that something isn't right. You have insight to this, though, and that's good.

We've said this many times here on this board:

People who have a problem don't wonder if they have a problem. They don't sit around and question their habits, they don't come on internet message boards to research their behavior and see if they have a problem. People without a problem? They just don't think about it because its not an issue.

You're young enough that it's entirely possible for you to get this behavior under control and still lead a very happy, normal, healthy life. Any damage done to your body may, I say MAY, be able to be reversed or at least controlled. But you're going down a dangerous path here. And like any path, the longer you stay in one direction the longer it will take you to back up and take a new one.

I don't know how long you've been drinking at your age. It seems you've probably been drinking heavily for longer than is legally allowed, 21. There is no upside to heavy drinking. Given time, heavy drinking is going to have negative effects on your body. Your heart, liver, pancreas, brain, kidneys, skin, etc... name an organ? Alcohol will do damage to it.

But start on a path to health. And start right now. Each day you abstain from putting harmful substances in your body you will feel a little better about yourself and you'll feel better physically. That's not to say you won't experience some discomfort, even pain, for a little while. Your body needs to detox itself from the constant barrage of harsh punishment you've been serving it. But that too shall pass.

Take it from me. I started drinking when I was in my late teens. Then once it was legal I started drinking heavily. I thought I was young. I thought I'd grow out of it. I thought I wouldn't do any damage to my body. Then I started feeling the same way you're describing. I told myself I'd quit eventually or cut down my drinking tomorrow, next week, next month, eventually, etc... Then I look up and I'm 27 years old and starting to feel like crap all the time. It's taken some time to get things under control but it can be done and you will feel better for doing it.

Don't wait until later to make a change for the better NOW.
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
Gotta get off the crazy train.....The others have given you excellent advice and i believe you are a smart girl so please listen to them.   All the best         sara
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The liver is one of the most regenerative organs in the body if you don't push it too far. If you do, then you're in for a nasty future.

Don't spend time comparing yourself to others though.  Some of this is in our genetic make-up, and it's possible that your liver has absorbed enough in the way of toxic substances for your physiology.  If you look at two people with cirrhosis, you'll find that they often had very different drinking habits......but they still ended up with the same problem.  

See a doctor and get a scan of your liver if possible (CT scan or ultra sound).  Stop drinking, stop smoking pot, and do not take any drug with Acetaminophen (Tylonol, etc).  These drugs are liver killers when combined with alcohol or other substances.  
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Avatar universal
COMMUNITY LEADER
most average girls your age don't drink a lot......don't have elevated liver enzymes and aren't addicted to marijuana!I used the think they way i drank and smoked pot was normal/AVERAGE....due to the heavy drinkers/pot smokers/drug users i associated with!that was normal and average to me!Westguy and Rod have given you some excellent suggestions as they always do in this forum....u'd be wise to heed them!
Helpful - 0
999891 tn?1407276076
you have a problem now and the remedy is to stop........for good. If you drink again it could do permanent damage to your liver.
You need to be under the care of a Doctor, to treat your medical issues you need to give a complete medical history including your drinking habits and the fact you use marijuana. If you do not you will be only kidding one person and that person is you.

AA will help with your Alcohol addiction problem and the changes you need to make in your life......

Ray  
Helpful - 0
1305762 tn?1311548999
Clearly your body is trying to tell you something. Definitely stop drinking for a good period of time, at least a few months, and see if that doesn't help get things in check. I'd reccomend taking a B-Complex vitamin that has Folic Acid and Thiamin. This should help a little. Also some Symerian Milk Thistle would be good for your liver.

But it seems like you have some insight that you're going down a bad addiction path and at your age that's good to have. You can work with it. I'd reccomend checking out some AA meetings in your area. It'd be a good step to take.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Also....just in my everyday life, I haven't felt "100%" in months. I'm slightly nauseous all the time and am now dealing with what I feel may be a marijuana addiction because I can no longer eat without being high first. And I can't tell if it's because of a potential substance addiction or I'm unconsciously self-medicating because I'm nauseous from some other (liver?) issue....
Helpful - 0
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