I think I have cirrhosis...

[Nela35]

Hi,
I'm 35 yrs ol female, 6 years heavy drinker(1-2 bottles of wine nearly every day, sometimes more, some days off drinking in between, depending on stress,problems,...), I completely gave up 2 months ago when I went sick with diarrhea after a treatment with erythromycin and paracetamol(3 grs/day) that lasted 10 days,I drank alcohol during the last 3 days of treatment, I had the diarrhea the last day,since then,haven't had a normal BM, pale stools, then turned to a dark green  alternating constipation, loose stools, malabsortion, now colour is a bit more normal, but there are tiny size black dots on them. I have lots of gas,flatulence, my stomach keeps growling all night and during the day after I eat
My doctor did a full blood test for anemia, FLT's, total protein,bilirubin,..and a stool test,all of them came back normal. I notice my eyes are yellowish , but he says the bilirubin is fine, so I'm not jaundiced. For the last few months I noticed I have pin point size red dots on my arms and abdomen, he says this is petechiae and is due to the alcohol intake, I also bleed when I brush my teeth, but doc. says I've got gingivitis. He gave me ranitidine and I took it for 2 days, but had to stop as I get bleeding gums in the morning, he did another blood test for clotting disorders, platelet count and PT and all came back normal, he says all I've got is stress.Also,I have big dark circles under my eyes, no matter how much I sleep,I feel quite tired in the morning.
My doctor ordered an US, which I have in a couple of weeks doc says from examination there is no hepatomegaly . I did a urine test and stool test for occult blood at home and the 2 of them were negative,no bilirubin in urine or urobilinogen,nothing.
Could you please, tell me your opinion on my case? Do you think it's all from the drinking nor maybe the paracetamol+antibiotic with the alcohol?Is it possible to hace cirrhosis with all the blood tests normal, platelet count and urine normal?
thanks

[GMack]

Hi Nela,
I have had similar symptoms (alcohol related) and still don't know what the cause is, but I do know what has helped treat the symptoms.  For the gurgling try drinking a few cups of orange pekoe tea (ceylon tea) a day.  You might have an Helicobacter Pylori infection.  There are also other natural remedies for H. Pylori.  I'd also recommend eating more whole natural foods for a while.  Lay off the high fat foods and processed carbs.  (basically eat healthy) If you have a juicer make juice drink in the morning of 3 carrots, 2 apples, 1 celery stalk.  Might want to avoid dairy if you are sensitive to it.  Also start taking acidophilus.   I'm not a doctor so take my advice at your own risk (though I don't see how any of it could hurt).  Best of luck!

[Nela35]

Hi,
I came back afrom the US today and I felt so angry, apparently my docor ordered the US only to check for gallstones and my kidneys, so when i got there the person doing the test said she can only check gallbladder and kidneys as doc requested and if I wanted a full US of the abdomen, liver, spleen,etc,.I have to go back to my GP again to ask for one. Everything came back neg, I haven't got gallstones, but I already knew that, I wanted the US mainly to check my liver. I think I need to change my GP, I'm not waiting for another couple of months, I'll be dead by then, my baggy eyes are getting worse and my dark circles are bigger, plus my bowel probs are not better.
I've made an appointment with a private GI doctor for next monday, hopefully he'll do the relevant tests,...it's going to be very expensive, but I have no choice.I've been sick for 2 months and I still don't know what I've got.....

[Nela35]

Hi, thanks a lot for replying.
Today I'm off for an US and I'm scared to death. My dark eyes are getting worse and more baggy now and my stomach make all sort of noises, the weird thing is that there is a lot of gurgling around the liver area and I get a lot of gas every time I eat anything, my BM still soft though the colour is a bit better.
My blood tests came back  all normal, but I don't believe i haven't done any damage to my liver having all these syntoms, I've read you can have serious damage with normal FLT's. I'm scared what is going to come up in the US. For the last few weeks I've also noticed all the veins in my body are looking more prominent, I don't know if it's related to liver problems or poor circulation as I've got a sedentary job.
Let me know when you get your results. Good luck.
Feel free to e-mail any time you want.

[guzzler]

I can sooo relate to you. I drank like a College Frat boy nearly everynight for past 6 years. Now I'm paying for it. My body cannot deal with it anymore. I have dark rings beneath my eyes. I have the "red spots." I think they're referred to as angiomas here, but I looked up what you called them and there was plenty of info. I'm awaiting my third blood work results. So far, nothing indicative of liver damage, but sheesh, there has got to be some. He's checking for Hepatitis as well as Pancreatitis, talk about scary. I posted on the Alcoholism board about this not long ago. Oh yeah, I just noticed over the weekend it looks like I have gingivitis...how nice. My glucose and keytones being high are the only real abnormalities from blood work thus far. Too bad those are both indicators of diabetes. If you wanna e-mail or PM for support I'd like too.

[Nela35]

Hi,Billy!
Thanks a lot for replying, I wonder if that's why my stomach is so bad, I can't eat anything normal,...is growling all night,....I think I might contact AA in my area for some counseling/advice regarding the alcohol abuse, I was very much a binge drinker, I could go day off alcohol, but I could do weeks of binging,..
I'm terrified of the result of US, I'm having the ultrasound next week and I'm so worried as I know you can have cirrhosis with normal blood tests.
Something I don't understand, I can see some yellowish on my eyes under the eyelid but my bilirubin is fine, is it possible to have yellowish eyes with normal bilirubin? I thought high bilirubin caused that,
Strange.
Take care
Nela

[working dog]

my alcohol withdrawals lasted real bad for 4 to 6 months...all kinds of symptoms...i did have hep c which made things real bad..for the first three months my guts were toast..so bad...you were really a heavy drinker..i would say if kept drinking you would kill yourself in a couple years...i hope your getting help ...maybe go ask questions on the alcohol forum...and get that biopsy...find out whats up...get tested for hep...and thoughs alcohol symtoms will most likely last a year..the liver can get better but don't rush it it takes time...you sometimes have to look back a month and remember what you felt like to realize a difference...in about 7 to 9 months you should feel a lot better and you already have 2 months done...a biopsy usually takes about 6 weeks or more to schedule.....good luck with everything......billy

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Cirrhosis is less likely given the negative ultrasound and lab tests.  However, the only way to be sure is with a liver biopsy, and this can be considered if cirrhosis continues to be suspected.

If the lower GI symptoms continue, I would consider a colonoscopy to exclude colitis or other sources of lower GI bleeding.  

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

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 patients education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com