That's great Meadow. Good for you
There are very few times that I actually miss alcohol. Maybe when out with friends for dinner and they are all enjoying a nice pinot noir that I recommended. Or, I have thought, on a Really hot day, wouldn't a beer taste great right now?
But then I think, you drink and you will die in a very unpleasant way, and order a lemonade instead
Or sometimes when I'm out I ask for a nonalcoholic beverage in the fanciest glass that they have. It's fun to see what they come up with
So many other things to enjoy about life that giving up drinking seems like a small price to pay for the chance to be healthier
I do realize that this is much more difficult for some people so thanks for sharing your experience
Now, let's figure out a way to reverse liver damage!
Hi Meadowbank , I live in the uk,you can improve your liver and live a longer life,I have in 2008 ,I was admitted to the hospital with liver failure through alcohol abuse they gave me 20% chance to live,my eyes all over my body was yellow I look like I was 8 months pregnant with ascites, which they drained,portal hypertension,hepatic encephalopathy,they did a ct scan and said my liver has shrunk in size and was badly scarred, and a Transjugular liver biopsy because I was so ill,was referred to a dietician, when the ascites went,I look like a bag of bones, I have alcoholic cirrhosis stage b-c, when I left hospital I was told never to drink alcohol ever again,6 years on, I have not drink alcohol,I am on a low salt diet, no processed foods,the only meds I am on are vitamin b,I walk every day I can't run no energy but that's the cirrhosis it don't store glycogen (a carbohydrate that produces short-term energy)I have to eat small but often every 2 hours, I don't have to see my specialist at the hospital anymore just my GP,I have a Ultrasound scan every 6 months and my bloods done to check for cancer, my doctors are very pleased with me my liver is now smooth and normal in size, I said to my doctor has the cirrhosis gone he said no the damage is in side but I've improved my quality of life and can live to a old age I never thought I could live this long but we all can just keep away from the alcohol it's hard but you can do it one day at a time I have bad days but I am thankful for every day I stay sober!
There is a drug presently in second phase of human clinical trials here in the USA - it has been proven to reverse liver scarring (fibrosis and cirrhosis) - and has generated much excitement, as you can imagine. You can Google the term "GR-MD-02" and read all about it.
I'm told (by reliable sources who are actively involved with the trials) that it has been granted an FDA 'Fast Track' status - and will likely be available within the next approx. 3 years.
Very nice to 'meet' a fellow Uk person Taz. Well done on your sobriety!
Your story really gives me hope that I can continue to live a good life for a fair few years yet. Last year I thought it was goodbye Vienna, I really did. Now everyone I meet tells me how well and happy I look.
Best wishes.
Interesting pugdaddy. I will Google.
My husband was diagnosed with cirrhosis in March 2012 following 2 years of very poor health;severe rectal and oesophageal bleeds requiring several transfusions, gall stones and acities...he was abstinent since diagnosis and in April 2014 was told his liver was compensated even though he the consultant has said he only has 10% liver function. If he continues to abstain hopefully his liver will continue to compensate. He has not been hospitalised for one year now and is relatively well. Good Luck to everyone...think of others as its not only the patient who suffers.