Alcoholic Hepatitis, Heart Palpitations, and Gout

[Vmax]

I am 36 yrs old and have been a relatively heavy drinker for the past 15 years. I was diagnosed with elevated liver test results about three years ago. I had my first hepatic pains at that time. I was seen by a liver specialist and had a biopsy done. My biopsy showed evidence of a fatty liver but no fibrosis.

I have been seeing both the specialist and primary care doctor on a fairly regular basis since then. Both obviously suggest I slow my drinking and eventually stop. I am able to slow the drinking at times but find it very hard to stop. I know it's going to be a life or death decision.

I frequently get pain in my right abdomen which I believe is due to alcoholic hepatitis. My question - am I forming fibrosis with each inflation or attack?

I was also diagnosed with gout. I am on allopurinal which has lowered my uric acid to a normal level. I still get gout-like attacks. Can this be due to poor liver performance?

Last of all, I have developed frequent PVC's. Atenolol helped during the first two or three hours after each dose but the PVC severity and frequency increased between doses. I am now off Atenolol but still have frequent PVC's lasting for hours and even days. Can the PVC's be related to poor liver performance?

I wish I took the adverse affects of alcohol more seriously when I was younger!