Cirrhosis

Hello Dr. this really is wonderful of you to take the time to help us with our questions.
On March 23, 2010 I was diagnosed to be in the final stage of cirrhosis from alcohol abuse. I am 38 and i stopped drinking immediately. I was drinking 24 beers a day and once diagnosed it was no problem to quit. I never even experienced any withdraws. I truely think god has been helping me. August 3, 2010 was my last lab result and all my restults were in normal range except my Platelet count was 88 and my ammonia level was 60. Since then they put me on a pill called Xifaxon 550mg tablets twice a day to help control the ammonia level. My AST is 32 and ALT is 15. Can you suggest anythink else i should be doing other than watchin my protein and iron intake? Also would you still consider me to be in the final stage? Am i making good and fast recovery or should i still be trying to get use to the ideal that i might someday need a transplant. I have all of my medical files so if there is anything else you need to know please tell me. Thank you so very much. You are a good man and god bless you!

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

patients can normalize their liver function with ongoing sobriety.  you may have early cirrhosis that could be contributing to the low platelets.  keep up the good work.  you may need to get regular screening for liver cancer, occurring in the setting of cirrhosis.