A couple of issues regaurding alcohol and the liver

[GoStarsBDH]

I drank everyday for about 1.5 years. Usually I would drink a very good amount, sometimes till I blacked out. Other times just a few beers. Since then it's been about 2.5 years, and I've been drinking off and on, but not NEARLY as much as I used to. Sometimes I'll drink a LOT and get blasted drunk, sometimes just a few beers...but I can go a week or two between drinking sessions.

Like last night I had about 5 beers, but hadn't drank anything in a week or so.

Ocassionally, but VERY RARELY I'll get what feels like a sharp muscle cramp on my right side and if I breathe in too deep it hurts real bad, but it goes away after a few minutes and it's happened maybe a total of 3 times in my entire life, so not very often.

I also led/lead an extremely stressful life style with a really stressful job, and I developed what I believe to be hypoglycemia....some have told me that's more likely to be stress related, but I also do know that that can be related to the liver too.

I was just wanting to ask how long it generally takes to really damage your liver from drinking, and if you think I should be worried? I'm only 21, going on 22. I've been drinking since I was 17.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

It would vary from patient to patient.  Of course, the more and longer you drink, the more rapid the progression.

I would consider obtaining liver function tests as well as liver imaging.  These can suggest either inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis) or cirrhosis (which is permanent liver damage).  A liver biopsy would give the definitive diagnosis.

If there is evidence of liver damage, I would abstain from drinking.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[Kalio1]

The reason binge drinking ( drinking a lot at one time) is so bad for you is your liver can only process so much per hour.
No one can tell you what damage you could have caused so far without testing. Over time you don't just harm your liver, what do you think is happening to your brain during a blackout?
If you can't have fun and drink moderately at the same time then drinking will continue to damage your health and your life, not just your liver. If you choose to eat right, exercise and stop binge drinking your liver can heal itself at your age most likely. If you are worried, go have your doctor do a blood test and check your liver enzymes and definately tel him about the pain and any other sym ptoms you have, itching, pale stools,felling tired all the time, dark urine are all signs. The pain you feel could be from swelling and inflammation caused by excessive drinking.

[PowerUser1394]

If there's a possiblity of Liver Damage, while you're getting your doctor's testing out of the way, I'd do my best to do a 90-day Liver Detoxification  and start a fairly aggressive Liver supplementation program using one or two premium Liver supplements such as :

http://www.newrootsherbal.com/pages/product_detail.php?prod_class=107&prod_recipe=V50

or

http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/canada/products/1565.asp?CategoryID=19&ImageFlag=1#1565

Milk Thistle, Dandelion Root, Black Raddish and other herbs have shown to be beneficial to some folks with Liver issues.
Just make sure whatever product you buy, is "standardized".