Alcoholics Liver Damage

Liver Diseases Symptoms, Causes of Liver Problems








Frequently Asked Questions

    Do all alcoholics develop alcoholic liver disease or liver damage beyond repair?
    How many do and how many don’t if you are a woman are you definately going to develop alcoholic liver disease if you drink more than 1 or 2 drinks a day? are you more at risk if you drink a lot every day or can weekend binges cause it even if you do not drink during other days?

    • ANSWER:
      No. Any person that drinks alcohol will have some physiological effects from it. Most are mild and temporary. Of all alcoholics 10-15% develop cirrhosis, and from that 10-15%, more than half have a good 5 year survivability prognosis if abstinence is taken.

      So the chances of cirrhosis are not strong for people born with normal functioning livers.

      Women develop alcoholic liver disease twice as quickly as men due to metabolic differences between the sexes.

    Are their any alcoholics who suffered from liver damage and cleaned up?
    This is really directed to an alcoholic or someone who knows a person who was in the situation. I recently discovered that my liver function is a bit out of wac and I’m pretty scared. Of course it’s due to my drinking the past few years. I’d just like to know what I’m up against from someone who has been there.

    Thanks guys,


    • ANSWER:
      Alcohol doesn’t damage everyone’s liver…
      why it does some and not others is unknown.
      Alcohol not taken in excess, the liver can handle
      …it is when it is taken in excess that this
      problem occurs. Alcohol overload can change
      to a chemical inside the liver that causes it
      to become damaged. This damage, causes
      inflammation of the liver cells. This can be
      treated and, if caught early enough, the liver
      can heal if the alcohol intake is completely
      stopped and medication given to control and
      make the inflammation of the cells go away
      before they become destroyed. Once the
      cells die, it is too late. The cells turn to scar
      tissue and block the healthy cells from
      receiving the oxygen and nourishment they
      need in order to live…which causes more
      cells to die off and continues on from there.
      The death of these cells is known as
      cirrhosis. Cirrhosis leads to a liver
      transplantation in order for the patient to

      There are different kinds of testing that can
      be done: blood test show the liver enzymes
      and the liver function. The liver enzymes
      show the level of damage that may be occurring
      and the liver function tests show how the
      liver is able to perform the functions to help
      the body live healthy…when the function of the liver starts to go down, symptoms will appear like jaundice (yellowing) of the white of the eyes and the skin turning yellow also. You can see this best outside in natural light. However,
      some people don’t have any symptoms at
      all until the liver is in failure. It is good your
      doctor is checking your blood work now.
      Bilirubin is what causes this symptom and he
      can see the level of it in your blood before
      you become this way.

      The best test known to see if how much the
      liver is damaged, is known as a liver
      biopsy. Looking directly at a specimen of
      the liver taken from the body is much more
      accurate than seeing a picture by a CT scan
      or MRI.

      Here is a link on Cirrhosis:

      There is a group in Yahoo Groups known
      as ‘livercirrhosissupport”. People there where
      alcoholics, caregiver who have taken care
      of someone who has cirrhosis because
      of being alcoholics, some have cirrhosis from
      many other reasons or family members who
      do, and some there have gone through the
      whole process to transplantation and beyond.
      It isn’t hard to join…they will ask you the
      reason you want to join…but it is entirely
      free and others are willing to help you find
      out information fast and answer many of
      your questions. You may find many who
      are going through what you are right now.
      If you don’t feel like posting and just want
      to listen in by reading the posts… that is
      fine…you are welcome to come if you want.

    Why do alcoholics get liver damage?

    • ANSWER:

    Liver damage, how can I help to repair it?
    A friend has been diagnosed with alcoholic liver damage. They no longer drink, (truly) and I want to know of any supplements/medicines that can help to reverse the damage.

    • ANSWER:
      The best thing he can do to save his life is what he is doing right now which is no more drinking alcohol. Everything depends on how much damage has already been done as to how good or bad his liver functions in the future.

      As far as what supplements he can take that could help him, I would recommend Milk Thistle. It’s the only supplement my hepatologist told me to go ahead and take since research has shown it does actually help the liver some. They did not allow me to take any other over the counter meds other than the Milk Thistle. I wouldn’t expect too much from it, but it might help some. Of course, eating good and healthy and regular exercise plus no drinking will help quite a lot.

      Hopefully your friend will get well again in time. As long as your friend did not damage his liver too much, he/she should be OK. If he/she has any scarring (cirrhosis) on the liver, then the scarring is permanent and irreversible. The liver can still function quite well even with some scarring of the liver. Too much though, and they will need a transplant.

    Will this cause alcoholic liver damage?
    Serious answers only please. I am a 3rd year college student and for the past 3 years I have been drinking a lot. For the first 2 years of college I drank 4-5 beers every few days. I am now in my 3rd year and for the past year I have drank 4-6 beers a night. I am going to cut back. But I’m wondering if I am paranoid or if this will really cause liver damage?

    • ANSWER:
      You probably have not done any permanent liver damage, but my guess is that you have inflammation in your liver. It typically takes many years (10+ according to the experts) to do any permanent damage such as cirrhosis which is when scar tissue replaces the healthy tissue in the liver. Inflammation can lead to fibrosis which is abnormal fibrous bands in the liver. If the inflammation continues over time, then that can then progress to becoming cirrhosis which is permanent damage that does not go away. If you have fibrosis, then if you stop drinking and take away what is causing all the inflammation, the liver can heal itself because it can regenerate. Once it becomes cirrhosis, then there is no regeneration since scar tissue is permanent damage that blocks blood flow to the liver which makes it unable to function well. Keep in mind that it is common for liver failure to be in the advanced stage before any physical symptoms might show up. Mine was 90% destroyed before any symptoms appeared and I had to get a transplant. You need to stop drinking before any cirrhosis forms.

      Four to five beers every few days will probably do nothing but you are really pushing it at 4-6 every day. It also can lead to alcoholism and if you need this much every day, you would be considered an alcoholic. We all know how much fun it can be to be away at college and you get together with all your friends to get skunked from time to time (usually weekends for many). But when you find yourself drinking every day, you could have a problem because that is more than just the party on weekends, study all week lifestyle. You are in your third year and it’s time to get serious about college and serious about your future. In other words, it’s time to put on your big boy pants and become a responsible adult without alcohol abuse. Good luck to you.

    If someone has alcoholic liver damage?
    And if they completely stop drinking and if there young like 20 years old will the liver go back to normal without medical attention if they completely stop drinking and eating super healthy?

    • ANSWER:
      The liver will heal itself unless it has permanent scar tissue damage called cirrhosis. This occurs when alcohol abuse has gone on for many many years, sometimes decades of abuse. The experts gives an estimate of 10 years of heavy drinking when cirrhosis could form causing permanent scar tissue damage. Until there is permanent damage, the liver can heal itself once the drinking stops. There is a very slow process that happens in forming this scar tissue. The alcohol is poison to the liver so too much of it will cause the liver to inflame. Inflammation over many years causes the liver to first enlarge. As more abuse occurs abnormal fibrous bands form in the liver called fibrosis. Even at this stage, if the person stops drinking, the liver can still heal itself, but it the drinking continues, then the liver cells start to die and scar tissue forms which is cirrhosis.

      A 20 year old would not have enough time for the liver to become cirrhosis unless they have been drinking since they were about 10 or they have other medical conditions that are hurting the liver. I had cirrhosis and never drank any alcohol to cause it. I have an autoimmune disease where my own body attacks my liver and destroyed it. There are also a number of other conditions that can cause cirrhosis which has nothing to do with alcohol abuse. The liver will not heal anywhere there is scar tissue and the scar tissue never goes away no matter whether the person would quit drinking or not. Continued drinking only causes more scar tissue to form once you have cirrhosis.

      Even though it is very rare, I have seen people in their 20′s need a liver transplant from having cirrhosis. I talked with one not so long ago that was 23 and this person had a severe alcohol problem and drank since he was in his early teens. It’s not impossible to have it in your 20′s, but unlikely.

    Young Alcoholic liver damage?
    I am a 20 year old alcoholic and drug abuser in recovery. I have been in rehab 3 times and taken several classes on chemical dependency and based on what statistics and what Ive learned, I still cant determine why my stomach sticks out the exact area of my liver and hurts when I touch it. This has been going on for a few weeks and Ive been told It is unlikely that I have any fatty liver tissue or damage. Im still not convinced. Are there any professionals who have heard of liver damage at this young an age.
    btw my alcohol abuse stats are:
    6 years of heavy drinking and drug use
    1.75 liters hard alcohol per day
    highest conscious BAC .45
    and i forget the enzyme data

    • ANSWER:
      Who is telling you that it is unlikely you have liver damage? The rehab people? AA members? If so, then you are simply listening to people who don’t know what they are talking about.

      Go to a doctor and get a complete physical including liver function tests and any other testing the doctor recommends.

      Of course, you can have liver damage at your age with that chemical history…you were pretty hard core in your day, weren’t you?

    Symptoms of alcoholic liver damage?
    I don’t suspect I have it, since I very rarely drink alcohol, but I’m curious as to what the signs/symptoms are?

    • ANSWER:
      General symptoms include:

      * Abdominal pain and tenderness
      * Dry mouth and increased thirst
      * Fatigue
      * Jaundice
      * Loss of appetite
      * Nausea
      * Swelling or fluid buildup in the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites) when cirrhosis is present
      * Weight loss

    How much drinking alcohol does it take to damage the liver?
    I am a boarderline alcoholic but am concerned about getting liver damage. How much and for how long would someone have to drink before they should be concerned about live damage?

    • ANSWER:
      Each person is different in how much alcohol
      they can consume and still be considered
      okay. Some people are more sensitive to
      it than others are and it doesn’t take much
      at all to cause a problem with the liver.
      Men can usually drink more than women…
      since women are smaller in stature and so
      is the size of the liver.

      It would be best to have blood tests done to
      determine if the alcohol may have already
      caused damage. The doctor can do
      blood tests known as the “liver enzymes”
      which will show him if the cells of the liver
      may have become damaged…the blood
      tests known as the “liver function tests” will
      show if the cells of the liver are able to
      do the functions that need to be done in
      order to keep the body healthy. The doctor
      may also do viral testing to be sure that
      a liver problem hasn’t started because of
      a virus, like Hepatitis A,B,C,etc.
      This is the only way to know for sure.

      The reason I’m telling you this, is because
      it is very easy to walk around not even knowing
      you have a problem with your liver till it is
      too late. The liver is very quiet about having
      damage of its cells….usually, symptoms and
      signs don’t appear until the liver cells have
      died off (which is known as cirrhosis) and
      then it is too late to reverse the condition and is a progressive disease.
      When there is a problem starting in the liver,
      it usually starts out with liver cell damaged.
      The immune system then responds to this
      and causes the inflammation inside of the liver,
      which will cause the liver to enlarge in size.
      When this happens, if the person stops the
      alcohol and takes medication to reduce the
      inflammation that has developed, then the
      condition can be reversed. However, if
      this is not done and the inflammation continues will lead to cirrhosis.
      There are many people on the transplant
      list that wish they would have known this
      information sooner and stopped the alcohol
      before finding out they had cirrhosis.
      A liver transplant costs in the range of
      0,000 and up.. They are not guaranteed
      a liver or being even placed on the transplant
      list. When they have a transplant, there are
      no guarantees that the organ will work once
      it is in the body. It used to be that a patient
      could not be placed on the transplant list
      unless they were free of drinking alcohol
      for a period of six months. With cirrhosis
      of the liver, it is very easy to die in that
      amount of time. They now take it on a case
      by case basis…but still, drinking alcohol is one
      of the main reasons people may not receive
      a transplant.
      If you read about what patients go through
      with this cirrhosis of the liver…this disease
      is like a nightmare you never wake up from.
      If you are able to stop or even slow down
      on drinking, any steps you take now may
      save you from this. Doctors have medication
      to help you with the symptoms of coming
      off of alcohol.

      Some people can drink all their life and
      never have any problems with their liver…
      however, some are so sensitive to it…
      that getting drunk just one time can be a problem. Averages don’t always prove
      to be true in these cases.

      Hope this information is of some help to you.
      Here is an article that I wish was on the internet
      all the time…it is a very good one on what
      alcohol does and how it acts once it is in
      the body. It is by the Baltimore Sun:
      This may only be available on line for a very
      short amount of time…hope you can read it..,0,4276099.story?track=rss

    Is it possible to do damage to your liver after 4-5 years of drinking?
    I started drinking in college. I started with about 8-10 drinks/week (over 2-3 nights) during the first 2 years, and it went to about 17-20 drinks/week (over 2-3 nights) the second 2 years. Since then i’ve reduced my drinking to what it was the first 2 years.

    Is it possible to do damage to the liver over such a short time frame? By damage i mean fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, etc. Would it show up in a blood test?

    • ANSWER:
      It is very possible to have a liver problem
      because of alcohol and not even know you
      have it, because the liver is a very quiet organ
      about damage being done to it until the
      cells of the liver die off from the damage…
      then signs and symptoms may appear.

      There are different ” blood” tests that the doctor
      can do to check your liver.
      (1)The liver enzymes (known as the ALT, AST,
      GGT and Alkaline Phosphatase) can give
      the doctor an idea if there may be cell damage.
      (2)The liver functions tests (known as the
      bilirubin, INR, Albumin, Pt, Ptt) can give the
      doctor an idea if the cells are able to do
      the functions they do to keep the body well…
      the liver does over 500 functions, these are
      just to show the few of them.
      (3) The viral testing to be sure that a virus
      hasn’t entered the body and gone into the
      liver and is using the liver cells to replicate

      If the doctor thinks these tests are high results for some reason…of which there is many
      causes of liver cells damage, including alcohol,
      then he may do a film test like: CT scan or
      Ultrasound. If he sees the liver is enlarged
      in size, caused by the immune system
      responding to the cell damage….then he
      may try to find the cause and have it stopped
      and treat the inflammation, so the cells can
      heal, before it turns to an irreversible disease
      known as Cirrhosis of the liver.

      If someone does drink alcohol…they should
      normally have blood tests done every so often
      to be sure of its effect on the liver.
      Alcohol consumption isn’t harmful unless
      you are more sensitive to it or have taken
      it in excess over a period of time. However,
      those who are sensitive to it, it doesn’t take
      much to destroy the liver cells.

      I hope this information is of some help to you.
      Here are a few links to click on:

    Doyou think this alcoholic liver damage is cirrhosis or otherwise non-repairable?
    The ALT yesterday was 160, now 140.

    Bilirubin – yesterday was within normal range (15 I think) today is 46.

    Bsically the person concerned drank chronically – went from 5-6 cans a day for 4 years to a bottle of vodka a day (70cl size) for the last two years.

    The person stopped drinking yesterday afternoon and has no intention of starting again. The first test was done 2 hrs after the last drink.

    The second test was done this morning.

    The person has no symptoms.

    Do you think it is beyond repair?

    • ANSWER:
      Liver Cell Damage follows the same course, no matter what the cause is:

      The liver cells become damaged. The immune system of the body
      will respond to this damage and cause inflammation to develop inside
      the liver. If the cause of the damage is stopped, then there is a chance
      that the liver cells can heal and the problem could be reversed.

      The liver is a soft and smooth organ. If you have seen beef liver that
      people cook, than you have an idea what it looks like. When it
      enlarges in size (the liver is surrounded by a tight membrane capsule)
      from the inflammation, it takes on a spongy texture.

      What can happen to the liver from alcohol Consumption?

      Keep in mind that the liver cells do all the functions of the liver
      to keep the body well. One of those functions is to remove toxins
      from the body and convert them to a non toxic form that the body
      can easily dispose of.

      When someone overconsumes alcohol in a short time period,
      it doesn’t give the liver cells enough time to make enzymes to help
      it convert the alcohol to acetaldehyde to acetate to CO2 and water.
      Left unconverted completely, it can be toxic to the liver cells themselves.

      When a person consumes alcohol over long time periods, fat can
      start to build up inside the liver. This fat causes pressure there and
      can also damage the liver cells. Inflammation will then appear and
      it is called (Steatohepatitis…steato means fat, hepat means liver,
      itis means inflammation.

      Some people are more sensitive to alcohol than others are and
      some are even allergic to it. This means it is an individual basis
      on whether a patient will develop liver disease and what amount
      of alcohol would cause this.

      Taking medications with alcohol, can cause such an interaction
      that the liver cells are damaged immediately.

      If the cause is removed, then it is possible the liver cells will heal
      and reverse the problem. However, if it is not, it can lead to where
      the liver cells die off and form scar tissue. This scar tissue cannot
      be removed from the does block the flow of blood to the
      functioning liver cells and also will end up blocking the flow of
      blood thru the liver on its way back to the heart. This is what
      is known as the progressive, irreversible disease of Cirrhosis of
      the liver. The liver is basically dying inside the patient. It starts
      to shrink in size and takes on a hard texture. The functions that
      the liver cells once did, start to deteriorate and signs and symptoms
      will appear. The first one is usually Jaundice (the yellowing of the
      whites of the eyes and skin …can be seen best in outdoor lighting)

      The ALT is the enzyme that is most specific to the liver itself…
      the other ones are made in other organs, also. No blood test
      is 100% accurate, though. Different things can affect the results
      of these tests, like having an intramuscular injection, muscle injury,
      or even exercising before the test was done. It takes the whole
      picture of all the Liver Enzymes blood tests, the Liver function
      blood tests, the Liver viral blood tests, the film tests (like a
      liver ultrasound or CT scan) and the main highest recommended
      tests (The Liver Biopsy) to be sure that it is definitely a liver problem,
      how far advance in the disease a patient is, and whether or not it
      has reached the stage of Cirrhosis, which is irreversible and a
      progressive disease.

      The liver biopsy is where they take a sample of the actual tissue
      of the liver, which is far better than just looking at film (pictures)
      of it…it tells the doctor alot more than any other test.

      Only the doctors with these tests results can give you an
      “educated guess” how far advanced a patient is and
      also how long they will live without a transplantation being done.

      Patients should be monitored closely coming off alcohol to be sure
      the body is able to withstand the reactions of doing this. Doctors have
      meds to give to help with the side effects and be sure the patient will
      come through it all okay. Many will refer the patient to a hospital
      outpatient detox program.

      The higher ALT levels and the Bilirubin levels is a warning sign.
      Most blood tests give the doctors an “idea “of a problem occurring…
      it takes more than that to be sure. .Your blood chemistry is changing
      all the time…considering this test was done just after consuming alcohol
      would have a direct effect on the tests results. The Bilirubin has to reach
      a certain level in the blood before Jaundice appears. If this is up to 4.6
      than that is really high and your urine should start to appear darker in
      color as the Kidneys filter the bilirubin out of the blood. And, yes, that is
      definitely not good sign.

      Best wishes

    Is 1-2 alcoholic drinks a day going to cause liver damage? For an average sized adult. ?
    Just an after work drink or two? Basically what can the body process?

    • ANSWER:
      Some of the EXPERTS say that a 40z glass of red wine or a 12-16 0z beer is actuallly GOOD for your system …. ONCE a day …..

      Drinking more could get you addicted and then you’d have some very serious problems with not only the kidneys BUT your heart and other organs as well …

    How long does it take to damage your liver from drinking?
    I wouldnt say I’m an alcoholic, but yes I drink nearly everyday, one to two drinks tops, and this morning I was having some pain in the left lobe of my liver or in that region… I’m wondering, is this the beginning of liver damage or what?…..

    • ANSWER:
      There are several factors that may determine whether you are having problems with your liver. First of all, everyone is different with regard to the body’s systems and organs. For instance, you may already have an existing problem with one or more of your organs and not even be aware of it.

      This would mean that you could be susceptible to liver damage from drinking only a small amount of alcohol for a period of only a few years. On the other hand, everyone has heard of an old man or woman who claims to have drank a bottle of whisky every day of their lives and still live to be 90 with no ill effects.

      You say that that you are having pain on the left lobe of your liver. I am not sure how you were able to come to that conclusion but I do know one of the first conditions you would likely encounter would be that of pancreatitis. This condition is common among alcoholics and the symptoms include severe pain in the mid to lower abdomen and back along with vomiting. If this occurs, you have no choice but to seek medical help immediately.

      I have seen many liver transplant patients and some of them simply had liver disorders not related to alcohol but for the most part, the majority of these patients were heavy drinkers. I live in Canada and the prerequisites for obtaining a new liver include complete abstinence from alcohol for six months prior to the transplant and following a strict diet and taking any medications that may be prescribed.

      If these things are done and one receives a new liver but continues on with their previous lifestyle of heavy drinking along with a poor diet, then there are no more chances for a new liver.
      (one strike and you’re out!)

      However, it is safe to say that depending on how old you are and how long you have been drinking alcohol, the average person is able to drink one to two drinks per day of either beer, wine or hard liquor and suffer no ill effects.

      Many doctors and dieticians believe that drinking red wine only is good for cardiovascular systems (the heart, arteries, etc.) so my suggestion to you is to have a medical examination. If you are found to be in good health, I would still cut back dramatically on what you are drinking and how much. Drinking a glass of red wine only each day may do you some good as long as you are not suffering from the beginning effects of liver damage and/or pancreatitis.

      I hope this is of some help to you but you should still seek medical advice on this issue.

    Can doctors/tests determine if liver damage is due to alcohol?
    My mother is a severe alcoholic whose eyes have recently turned (very) yellow and she’s made an appointment with her doctor to find out why. I know for a fact she will tell her doctor that she doesn’t drink. If she hides the fact that she drinks, will he still be able to determine if her liver damage is due to alcohol?

    • ANSWER:
      Well, they knew with my mother in law. She presented for a doctor’s appointment with similar symptoms (and reeking of last night’s booze too, I imagine). She denied drinking, but the doctor did a liver function test and called the next day to report that she had alcoholic hepatitis.

      BTW, she quit drinking that day. It’s been 17 years now and she is still abstinent.

    At what stage of liver damage would a person be at after 2-3 years of moderate-heavy drinking?
    Would they be still at a healthy liver? Or with a fatty one? Or already with alcoholic hepatitis? By moderate- heavy drinking I am talking about a 750 ml bottle of wine 3 times a week.

    • ANSWER:
      As mentioned in the previous answer, this is very difficult to determine. Every person is unique and is impacted by drinking in a different way. What is extremely harmful for one person’s liver may not do much at all to another person’s liver.

      The only way to tell would be to have tests done to determine the health of your liver.

      Alcohol is a leading contributor to fatty liver disease. The ethanol inhibits low-density lipoproteins (LDL’s) that are responsible for moving fats out of the liver. This results in more fat moving into the liver than out of it and a fatty liver occurs.

    Is alcoholic liver disease an urban legend?
    My sister’s boyfriend told me that liver damage due to alcohol is actually a myth propagated by the Mormons, family-values oriented politicians and special interest groups such as MADD. Is this true?

    • ANSWER:
      Ha, tell that to my aunt Sarah who died of alcoholic cirrhosis. She turned yellow, blew up like a balloon as her liver shut down, died an extremely painful death.

      Urban legend indeed!

    How long before I start to do damage to my liver from drinking.?
    I drink 7 or 8 shots of gin a day. i’ve done this for close to a year, but before that I would drink 8 or so beers a day, overall i’ve been drinking a lot for about 3 years. I am only 22 and yes i’m an alcoholic, please dont judge me I know its bad. I am curious to know how long i have until I start to seriously damage my liver. I’m worried I might get hepatitis. Any knowledge about this is appreciated. thank you.

    • ANSWER:
      It takes decades

      medications you take can increase the possibility

      drink lots of liquids during the day and cranberry juice in the mornings

    help? a friend of mine is an alcoholic? she is has liver damage and?
    my son is a professional bartender, and this person is always at the bar, he wants to make a drink that has no alcohol in it??? any suggestions?????

    • ANSWER:
      Here’s a link to a long list of drinks with no liquor:

    My husbands ALT (SGPT ) rate is 110. i want to know is it a symptom of liver damage?
    his other blood counting is normal, except ESR rate. ESR rate is 20. he is a non-alcoholic person. but he has a severe heart burning problem. his age is 29. sometimes he is using ‘Tylenol’ as a pain killer. i know which is a cause of a liver damage too.

    • ANSWER:

    Husband an alcoholic..diagnosed with liver damage and jaundice?
    hi. Over the last few months i have posted things about my husband. Well if you have read them. Then i am still with him. we have been away for two weeks got back last friday. Yesterday he had a seizure this is now the fourth one in the last year and a half. All due to drink. He now has bad jaundice very yellow eyes. Bloated belly which he has had for ages but we did not notice and he didnt really complain about it. I thought it was his normal belly until the paramedic pointed it out. His lives is badly damaged. We wont know any more until the proper doc sees him on monday. But basically he had been sick for the last three days. Could not keep anything down. So very de hydrated. Its but very serious. I an hoping he is kept in for a long time as i am worried sick they will send him home with a few tablets. Anyone had a simulas experience as it would be nice to talk to others who have been or are going through this or something simulas. I am now very anxious again. I suffer with acid reflux and stress is a big factor. On holiday all my stresses and pains went away but they have all come flooding back again. Would love to hear from someone. Thanks and sorry for waffling on and on.

    • ANSWER:
      There are many causes of a problem with the
      liver, but the number one cause is alcohol
      All liver patients are told that they are not to
      consume alcohol. Alcoholic is very hard to
      come off of. To lessen the symptoms
      involved in doing this, it is best to go to a
      detox program at the hospital. They will
      give him medications to help prevent the
      side effects of no alcohol.
      Jaundice is the first serious sign of his
      liver not functioning well. Let me explain what
      happens in the body when a person consumes
      too much alcohol and it effects the liver:

      The liver usually will handle any toxins that
      comes into the body well. However, it can
      become too much to handle if alcohol is
      taken in excess or the patient is sensitive to
      the alcohol. The liver converts the
      alcohol to acetaldehyde and then it is broken
      down by other enzymes into acetate and
      is further metabolized till it is just carbon
      dioxide and water. If the liver becomes
      overwhelmed with alot of alcohol…it may
      only be able to convert it to acetaldehyde but
      not farther. The alcohol and the convert
      acetaldehyde can build up and damage the
      liver cells then. They have become toxic in
      the liver.
      What happens in the liver: When the cells
      of the liver become damaged, the immune
      system of the body responds to this and
      causes inflammation to develop inside the
      liver. The liver is surrounded by a membrane
      capsule and this inflammation causes more
      of a problem causes the liver will enlarge
      in size because of the damage there. You
      can imagine the pressure inside the liver then.
      If the alcohol is stopped AND the inflammation
      is treated, then the liver cells may heal.
      However, if this isn’t done…it can lead to
      the cells of the liver dying and forming scar
      tissue inside the liver that blocks the flow of
      blood to the cells that remain and also block
      the flow of blood going through the liver on
      its way back to the heart…This is then known
      as cirrhosis of the liver and there is no cure
      for it, it is a progressive disease that only
      having a liver transplant can be of help.

      Liver patients can develop fluid build up in
      the stomach area, very similar to someone
      who has drank alot and has what is called
      a beer belly. This is known as Ascites and
      a patient can get relief from this if the doctor
      does a procedure known as a paracentesis
      to remove the fluid.

      The best way for you to handle this is to realize
      that there are only certain things you have
      control over. This is not something that you
      could do much about and it is no ones fault.
      Your husband should be with a
      gastroenterologist or hepatologist now…if he
      is not, he can ask to be referred to one.

      Let me explain about jaundice. The liver
      takes a substance that is made from our
      dead red blood cells, known as bilirubin,
      and converts it into a soluble form to flow
      with the bile, the liver makes, from the inside of the liver through tube like structures…known
      as bile ducts…to go to the intestines to help
      in the digestion of fats we eat. If the liver cells
      becomes damaged or the bile does not flow
      properly to the will stay in the
      blood and cause the whites of the eyes and
      skin to turn yellow. It can also cause the
      urine to become darker in color, as the kidneys
      try to filter the blood of it.

      I hope this helps you to understand more of
      what may be happening. The doctors will
      check your husband to be sure that alcohol
      is the cause. They may send him home
      because there is really nothing much they
      can do unless he agrees to go into a detox
      program or get help for his addiction.

      I wish I could be more uplifting on this…
      I’m trying to give you some facts.

    On Alcohol, Throwing Up & Liver Damage?
    Recently, I’ve opened to social drinking. Each time that I have more than one glass’ worth of something alcoholic, I throw up a lot after 20-30 minutes (lightweight).

    1. Does my body process ANYTHING from the alcohol – say, sugar for example – or am I just completely throwing up a tab?

    2. And what does this mean, liver damage wise? Can I assume that if I SEEM to throw up a lot of my alcohol, then there’s no liver damage?

    I haven’t touched hard liquor – don’t want to. Just light beer, red wine, dessert wine, cocktails & a couple sips of calvados so far. I think I want to stop drinking though. I just feel awful afterward.
    A few things:

    1. I am concerned about liver damage, but that concern is not the reason why I have been throwing up my alcohol. Simply put, I feel really really bad in the stomach and need to get it out.

    2. The dollar tab is an approximation to what I would end up drinking at the bar/lounge. It was too vague, sorry. It means perhaps, from a couple dollar drinks to maybe three -ish drinks. Just an approximation.

    3. This vomiting has happened twice, from the said # of drinks. I sincerely believe my puke is a result of my stomach reacting badly to the amount of alcohol recently introduced (I have been clean 21 years).

    4. If I feel too sick, I’d rather throw it up while I’m conscious than go to sleep with the assumption my stomach will even out during the night. THAT’s a concern that will keep me awake when I’m sick in the stomach. I knew someone who choked on his vomit in his sleep, after a night of drinking.

    • ANSWER:
      You sound like me right before I decided to stop drinking…
      I was able to drink before (for 10 years) but one day, and all days after that, if I drank even a glass of wine, I would feel sick to my stomach, and get a headache, body aches, throw up etc….
      I went in for a colonoscopy and they told me I had serious liver damage…They tested my husbands blood and we found out he caught Hep C from a blood transfusion he had in 1984…..We ended up taking the treatment, but the thing I want you to know is your body will tell you before it even shows up on tests…Mine didn’t show up for 15 years!
      Have you liver enzymes checked please…and your glugose levels…Tell your doctor and INSIST that you get the blood work done! Raised liver enzymes will show something is going on there…God Bless!

    am i suffering from liver damage ?
    i drink ALOT of straight liquor and I take alot of acetametaphine and I heard that if you take these two substances together it puts you in high risk for liver damage, is there any tell tale way to know if your liver is suffering before it is too late? is it safer to take asprin or advil to cure headaches if your a raging alcoholic ?

    • ANSWER:
      The medical professionals say that it takes about 10 years of heavy drinking when cirrhosis can develop, but everyone is different depending on a lot of factors. At least some damage would probably happen by then if it wasn’t full blown cirrhosis.

      By the time any physical symptoms appear, many times it is often too late. In the early stage of liver disease, it is fibrosis. If a person stops drinking, they will get well again and be OK. But once it gets to cirrhosis, you have a problem because the damage is permanent. I got cirrhosis from biliary disease and my liver was only functioning at 10% when I started to have any symptoms. By then it was too late and I had to get a transplant. Once the damage is severe, the disease will progress no matter if you continue to drink or not. If you stop drinking in the advanced stage, it will slow the disease down, but your liver will still fail eventually. Bloodwork can tell whether or not liver disease might be present. Ask them to give you LFT’s (liver function test).

      Even with my liver disease, I was allowed to take Tylenol as long as I followed the directions on the bottle and not take any more than suggested. The problem with taking aspirin is that if you do have liver disease, blood clotting problems come with it and aspirin thins the blood some. So if you have clotting problems and take aspirin on top of it, you could bleed internally. The blood does not clot right with liver failure and cirrhosis also causes the body to form unwanted veins that can easily leak and bleed internally, so you need to be sure you don’t have liver failure.

    List and briefly explain 3 reasons why alcoholics are at risk of poor nutrtition ?
    No, I am not an alcoholic lol , it’s one of my study questions. I’m just a bit confused here though .

    Does it mean name 3 health problems you get from being an alcoholic example – fatty liver , brain damage , malnutrition .


    explain 3 reasons why you would get something like malnutrition , fatty liver and brain damage from being an alcoholic.


    • ANSWER:
      The second part they mean. Thiamine, is a huge issue.

      Alcohol consumption can damage the brain through numerous mechanisms. One of these mechanisms involves the reduced availability of an essential nutrient, thiamine, to the brain as a consequence of chronic alcohol consumption. Thiamine deficiency is particularly important because it can exacerbate many of the other processes by which alcohol induces brain injury.

    Least damaging alcoholic beverage on the liver?
    I was diagnosed with glandular fever about 5 weeks ago. I am now starting to feel like i have got my life back on track again being able to excercise and start work again full time without being overcome with fatigue. Depending on what the doctor says after my next blood/plasma test in a couple of weeks I would like to know what the safest alcoholic drinks would be to have in moderation evey now and again?

    • ANSWER:
      Alcohol is alcohol. If your doctor advises against it, you shouldn’t drink it. The amount of alcohol in certain drinks varies, but the chemical formula remains the same.

    Liver damage from drinking?
    Hi. I’m 23 years old and have been drinking heavily for almost 5 years. That may be hard to believe due to my young age, but it’s unfortunately true. My father was an alcoholic. Anyway, I was wondering how much damage I could have done to my liver so far. For 4 years, I drank almost 5 days a week.. and i drank a 12 pack of beer or less each day. This past year I’ve cooled down a little, and have been at it maybe 2-3 times a week… same amount.
    So again, any information on this… would be helpful.

    • ANSWER:
      i believe you …… i started at the same age and ended up near drowning in the bottom of a bottle …… nobody could ever guess at something like that mate …….. just know that alcoholism doesn’t select by race, age, gender or social standing …….. it can spiral out of control at any time …… i drank heavily for 20 years and ditched it 7 years ago ……….. i went to a few AA meetings and there was a 14 year old girl in there ……. addicted to not only alcohol but speed and other amphetamines …… thing is, you got to be brave and step up and acknolwedge your addiction…. see ifyou can go without for a whole month and that’ll confirm for you whether or not you have a problem.

      don’t worry about the damage you’ve already done to your liver ……. the body has an amazing capacity to heal and revitalise if you just give it the chance…… so give it a fighting chance and ditch it while you still can.

      ditch the booze before it ditches you and eat liver cleansing foods like plenty of raw fruits and vegies, particularly dark green vegies and orange, yellow, purple and red coloured fruits and vegies ……… 40% ofyour diet fruit and vegies to bolster liver functioning…….. avoid artificial chemicals and artificial sweeteners and colorings (particularly aspartame), flavorings and preservatives …… eat fresh fresh food …. not packaged junky type take away food …….. drink loads of fresh filtered water and fresh fruit juices…… avoid processed sugar, processed salt, and large amounts of animal protein ….. pump up your intake of fresh garlic, ginger root, chilli, chinese water spinach, lemongrass, tumeric, curry, fresh lemon juice …….. very cleansing and fabulous at reducing inflamation in any part of the body.

      step up and get your bounce back hey.

      you’re entitled………… ;0)

      peace baby

    Alcohol dependency and patients rights to liver transplant?
    Liver transplant are an expensive operation for the health car system, and liver failure can result from many causes. Nothetheless, alcohol consumption is a major problem and cause of liver failure and the need for transplant. Conversely if we consume alcohol, it can presumably damage a perfect good liver, should alcoholic have the entitlement to a liver transplant at all? Should a history of alcoholism play a role in allocation of livers?

    • ANSWER:
      Yes, a history of alcoholism should and does play a part when it comes to liver transplants. It is very difficult for an alcoholic to get a transplant. Many times the liver is really pretty much shot before they get so sick that dying becomes real to them and they decide to try and get a transplant. Mostly all transplant centers require at least 6 months of proven sobriety before they will even consider you for an evaluation to receive a transplant. Proven sobriety means just that, which is a program or rehab or AA that they must attend and receive proof that they attend ALL meetings. On top of that, they must stop drinking completely and submit to random bloodtests whenever they want to test them for alcohol in their blood. Livers are too precious to waste on anyone that is just going to destroy a new organ. An alcoholic must be committed to changing their lifestyle and never drink again.

      Once they get through the rehab and 6 months, they must pass a very intensive evaluation and go before a board of doctors and other healthcare professionals which will decide whether or not they can be listed to receive a transplant. If they are accepted, they must then wait on a national list to be called when a donor becomes available for them. This waiting can go on for years and they must still be tested randomly for alcohol in their blood. If they test positive at any time, they will immediately be taken off the list and it will be nearly impossible for them to ever get listed again.

      So an alcoholic not only has to contend with their liver failure and all the terrible conditions that happens with cirrhosis, but they must also deal with their alcoholism and do everything the transplant people tell them to do. If they won’t comply, there is no chance of getting a transplant. Many alcoholics are just too sick to do all this and do not have even 6 months left to possibly get listed even if they do quit drinking. Any alcoholic willing to go the distance (and I have talked to many), they really have had a lifestyle change and are committed to getting well again and living an alcohol free life after their transplant. No one would ever want to try to go through with this twice.

      I think this is really a good way to handle alcoholics getting transplants. It’s not perfect, but I think it is pretty fair to people. I had cirrhosis from an autoimmune disease, so this has touched me personally. The night I got the call for my transplant, another man was waiting on the same liver as me. They had to make a choice between the two of us. The man told me his cirrhosis was from alcoholism and he had been called in for transplant 7 times and never got chosen. He had been waiting for over 4 years. I had been waiting 18 months and they chose me. I don’t know why, but that is what happened. Who knows if his alcoholism in the past was the deciding factor in the choice made?

    what’s the safest OTC pain reliever for alcoholics?
    I’m not a bona fide alcoholic, but I drink more than I probably should and am concerned about possible further liver damage.

    Otherwise, I’m a very healthy 29 year-old female with a cracked rib.

    • ANSWER:

    liver damage questions?
    okay so im a 19 year old kid and in the beggining of november (the first or so) i had tylenol-induced liver damage. now im not going to go into details but be assured it was NOT a suicide attempt. also keep in mind that the doctor compared my liver to that of an 80 year old alcoholic. I have a few questions about the healing process. Firstly, how long do i have to wait until it is safe to drink again? and im talking like the maximum time because im not trying to take any chances. Secondly, can what i eat slow down the healing process? I havent exacly been health conscience since the incident, plus ive had a ton of caffeine which my doctor warned me can be bad for my liver. Also, i have been smoking ciggarettes and marijuana. Can either of these things make the healing process take longer? If so, how much longer. Any help or advice to ease my mind would be much appreciated

    • ANSWER:
      People who have liver damage should NEVER drink ANY alcohol. Also, smoking cigarettes and marijuana will increase liver damage as well, since drugs are filtered through the liver. NEVER drink alcohol, and stop smoking marijuana (which is an illegal drug anyway) and cigarettes. You also need to be careful what meds you take, as some are very hard on the liver. Talk to your doctor.

    liver damage health concerns?

    • ANSWER:

    How long will it take for a really badly damaged alcoholic male’s liver to restore to normal?

    • ANSWER:

    Could I have severe liver damage and not even know about it?
    I am a 23 nearly 24 year old female and I drink (3 bottles in a weekend sometimes 4) Last night I drank a liter sized bottle of pumpkin spice liquer at 15% alcohol by volume and I drank the bottle slowly in 4 hours and 21 minutes how much damage have I possibly done to my insides already from my past and current drinking? I drink one 750 ml bottle of wine (or 1 1 liter sized bottle of mixed cocktail) 3 nights in a row on the weekends and this process is repeated every weekend. I have made a ritual to drink one bottle of wine or cocktail each friday, saturday and sunday and since I am young I love drinking and I refuse to stop cause I love drinking I know some people will probably call me an alcoholic etc,. when they read the comment I made about loving drinking and refusing to stop pouring alcohol down my throat lol but what 24 year old doesn’t party like I do? I look forward to the weekends so I can enjoy my wine or whatever it is I choose to buy and my parents always have alcohol in the house so I feel tempted when I see it. What I would like to know is how much damage am I possibly doing to my liver, kidneys etc,. drinking this much each weekend (one 750 ml sized bottle of wine 3 days in a row or one 750 ml sized bottle of wine 2 days in a row followed by a 1 liter sized bottle of pumpkin spice liquer or other cocktail) P.S. even though I drink all this in one sitting I spread it out I do not chug it down as if it’s a chugging contest and I try to have at least some food in me before I start to soak it up and make it easier on my organs cause I know drinking on an empty stomach is a bad idea cause your organs have to work harder when there is no food in the stomach, the food slows down the absorption of the alcohol. People tell me if I am worried about my drinking harming my insides I should speak to a doctor about it and see what they say and maybe they can give me some advice on how I can make my organs less prone to alcohol related damage (vitamins for the liver, etc,.) but I am kind of shy to tell my doctor I drink 3 bottles of wine or something else in a period of three days cause he/she might think I am an alcoholic if I drink this much each weekend and also they will start to asking me stupid questions such as why I drink and all that crap and I wont know how to answer. I am kind of shy to speak to a professional about my concerns about alcohol and the effect my intake could have on my liver. What can I do? I want maybe someone on here who is either a doctor or a nurse or knows about this stuff to give me his/her opionion about this. If anyone can do that then thanks. P.S. a bottle of wine at 750 ml has about 5 standard smallish 5 ounce glasses so I am consuming 5 standard drinks in a sitting 3 nights in a row. And the liter sized bottle of cocktails I think has 6 standard drinks in it. I do not do this on a daily basis just those three days I mentioned. Sometimes 4 but usually 3 but how much damage am I doing to my organs and are there any symptoms if for example something was worng will I feel bad and everything?

    • ANSWER:
      Seems like you are putting your body at risk! Overstimulating your organs that way can lead to more serious health problems such as cancer. Given that you are saying that you drink heavily, one of the main area of concern would be the kidneys. There are numerous types of cancer, and while I am not a doctor, I can tell you that looking at a list of the possible kidney diseases you could develop could make for a wake-up call. Your kidneys are in charge of filtering toxic waste in your body and alcohol is essentially as toxic as it comes! Don’t be embarrassed to talk to your doctor. He’s seen worse I’m sure!

    I need the best liver supplement for an alcoholic?
    I drink beer all the time and my liver has damage so I need to know the best stuff to take to get it better.

    • ANSWER:
      milk thistle works for me, my liver tests normal and I’ve been a heavey drinker for50+ years

    How long can the human liver sustain health before the consumption of alcohol takes it’s toll. For example….?
    My friend started drinking at the age of 14-15, today she is 36 and she is a full on alcoholic who drinks every day, all day accept for when she is working. I am worried about her suffering from liver damage.

    • ANSWER:
      Soulyluv – The time differs a lot depending upon how much alcohol is consumed, how fast, what the person’s general nutrition is, and whether there is damage from medicines that can harm the liver. I’ve seen several who died after a long weekend drinking binge with massive fatty liver change but not yet cirrhosis. Others have vomited and the vomit came up the throat and went back into the lungs to cause a chemical pneumonia and death. Those who live longer have liver cell damage and scarring which becomes alcoholic cirrhosis and the massively bleeding hemorrhage and death from varicose veins inside the esophagus. Cirrhosis is also a cause of liver cancer. Because it varies, your friend can die anytime from this week to years in the future. It is so uncertain. Completely stopping alcohol for life now, if cirrhosis has not yet developed, could lead to healing even though sscarring of the liver will never disappear.

    Do anabolic steroids work on alcoholics?
    Do anabolic steroids work on alcoholics?

    Fairly simple question. Do they even work if someone has an alcohol dependency? I ask on behalf of someone I know.

    I explained that they damage the liver as does alcohol, so it would be a disaster. But he wants to know if there are any that do not damage the liver. He mentioned that someone told him that taking horse steroids do not, but I sort of doubt this is true.

    • ANSWER:
      Yes, the steroids will still work, but combining the two is a very, very bad idea. You saying he being an alcoholic means if he combines steroids into his drinking habit, his liver will be shot in no time. He also risks problems with severe dehydration and what not. Not to mention the extra stresses steroids can put on other organs (such as the heart), which will synergize with the alcohol’s effects.

      Long story short, your friend is a moron if he is seriously considering doing this. Kind of harsh, sry lol. Best of luck.

    Does marijuana effect the liver if i have a fatty liver?
    Does marijuana effect the liver if i have a fatty liver?

    i have just been diagnosed with acute alcoholic fatty liver. will marijuana effect this or damage it further???? please help???

    • ANSWER:

    Could drinking for a little over 2 years cause irreparable liver damage?
    I just turned 22 in october 2010 and ive been drinking (95% of the time beer) since i was 19 or so. When i turned 21 i naturally drank more and i would say it averaged out to about 3,4,5 beers every other day and sometimes back to back days. I havent had a drink in 10 days and this is why.. I had a few high % alcohol beers (12% or so) and when i woke up i decided to just push around my liver area and when i did it felt as if my liver was being pressed against my diaphragm when i pushed.I didnt actually feel any pain in the liver, the only thing i felt was the diaphragm, almost like what you feel when you get hit in the stomach only not as severe. Would 2 years of beer drinking cause alcoholic hepatitis or a fatty liver? If i keep abstaining from alcohol will the feeling go away?
    **No jaundice or irregular urination’s or stools**

    • ANSWER:
      It’s certainly enough to develop fatty liver. Some degree of fatty liver can develop just from a weekend bender for a previously healthy person.

      If I had to guess, I’d say you have not developed alcoholic hepatitis. Hepatitis just means inflammation of the liver, and mild cases don’t produce as much jaundice or other hallmark symptoms. If you start to notice that the right upper quadrant of your belly hurts to push on, I’d definitely see a doctor. Remember that not all heavy drinkers will develop hepatitis, and even some moderate drinkers will develop it. Everyone’s a little different.

      In the meantime, I’d cut back if I were you. You don’t seem to be drinking an insane amount, but it will likely progress. If you have any degree of fatty liver, it will get better. The next time you see a doctor, ask to have your liver enzymes checked if you’re still worried.

    How much drinking is enough for liver damage to begin?
    Okay guys my dad has always been alcoholic but has never accepted that matter… he has totally crashed and every problem he has he goes to the beer or alcohol consumption….Its getting to my family especially my mom because she has been dealing with this for twenty years and she cant go further anymore…she wanted to kick him out the house but i didnt allow it because hes my dad and he needs help…..but the matter that concerns me the most is if all that alcohol hes consuming has already affected his liver or if i can tell alredy if his liver is damaged…i don’t doubt it but its always good to hear from experts or people that have gone throught his…thanks and i would appreciate it if i can get an expanded answer…

    • ANSWER:

    Do you know of any vitamins, foods, or beverages that help to rehabilitate a liver?
    A good friend of mine is just starting to recover from being an alcoholic. His drinking has damaged his liver so badly that it’s opperating at 37% efficientcy. Do you know of any foods, beverages, or vitamins that help to rehabilitate the liver?

    • ANSWER:
      Having been an alcoholic, drug addict with Hep C for 37 years, I can tell you first hand that MILK THISTLE (2 caps/pills… 70% silymarin…3 times a day), along with a high protein, low fat diet will do the trick. I have convinced Medical professionals who absolutely DO NOT believe in alternative medicine that this routine works. Several of my Doctors now actually prescribe Milk Thistle to other patients because THEIR OWN tests have proven that it has worked, beyond a shadow of a doubt, on me. Also, Milk Thistle has NO drug interactions or adverse side effects. It also does not matter what brand you buy, as long as it is 70% (or more) silymarin, standardized, and not made in a bathtub.

    what is the safest alcoholic beverage for the people with damaged liver?

    • ANSWER:
      mad dog 20/20

    Which of the following quantities of alcoholic beverages have the least damaging effect on the liver?
    12 ounces of beer
    5 ounces of wine
    1.5 ounces of vodka
    either 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine
    all have the same amount of ethanol and therefore have similar effects on the liver

    • ANSWER:
      For the given choices,
      Either 12 ounces of beer or 1.5 ounces of vodka is the best answer.

      12 ounces of beer taken as an average beer of 5% ABV.
      12 X 5% = 0.6 ounces of alcohol.

      Taken the average wine is 13% ABV alcohol. (Modern wines are moving to 14-15% ABV)
      5 X 13% = 0.65 ounces of alcohol.

      1.5 ounces of vodka
      Taken at most vodka is 40% ABV.
      1.5 X 40% = 0.6 ounces of alcohol.

      If the serving of wine given was four (4) ounces which is the commonly accepted amount then,
      4 X 13% = 0.52 ounces of alcohol.

      The wine then would be better based solely on the amount of alcohol.

      In the end, all have similar amounts of ethanol and therefore have similar effects on the liver.

      As far a beer Vs wine for health benefit beer wins out. But we can argue what type of beer Vs type of wine and even specific labels. If you wish to learn more about how and why beer is better than wine (health) read the book, Grape Vs. Grain

    Does heavy drinking damage your pancreas and liver forever even if you quit for years?
    After Reading about alcohols damaging effects im scared that it may effect me because i drank very heavily for 4 years. From what i read booze effect your liver ability to convert inactive vitamin d in to its active form causing osteoporosis and inevitably acidic blood and cancer. It also damages your pancreas ability to digest food by altering the cells that produce enzymes that digest food. Besides cirrhosis which may or may not happen this happens to alcoholics all the time but what about people who drank a ton in college or earlier that that?
    Im not an ALCHOLIC in fact haven’t had adrink in 2 years but still i feel some of my health problems are permanent and are from the BOOZE .

    • ANSWER:
      I am an alcoholic but have not had a drink since before you were born.
      When I quit, my liver enzymes were dangerously high. Within three or four years, they were back to normal, but my liver is still a little bit large.
      It took a little over eight years before my deep tendon reflexes came back.

      I was sick for many months at first, and it was my own fault.
      I gave up the booze for coffee. When I cut the coffee back to two or three cups a day, I felt better right away. Then I switched to mineral water, which kept me bloated with gas all of the time. I still drink a lot of Gatorade or ginger ale, which keep me hydrated and content with no ill effects.

      I also take multi-vitamins with minerals, exercise almost every day,
      and try to eat a fairly normal diet.

      Hope this helps.

    I’m an alcoholic, the doctor says i have a fatty liver?
    how long can I continue drinking before i have liver damage? I drink 24 beers 4 days a week

    • ANSWER:
      You have a lot of liver damage already. Besides ruining your liver too much boozing can also ruin your kidneys, pancreas and other organs.

      If you don’t reduce your alcohol intake you might eventually need a liver transplant.

      Perhaps you have to stop being a practicing alcoholic and become a non-practicing alcoholic which means becoming a teetotaler. Most practicing alcoholics who try to become moderate drinkers fail miserably as one drink usually leads to another and so on.

    Is my liver going to fail if I don’t give up alcohol?
    A while back I think months ago I had a standard blood test done. I did not speak to the doctor about the results of the tests my mother and grandfather did. Yeah I know this is weird cause I am an adult and I know that I am a grown person not a child and should speak to my doctor myself about the results of the test. But my mom and grandpa sometimes tell the doctor’s that I have a mental illness which makes me not able to fully understand my conditions so if there’s a problem to contact them instead of me. So I assume but not 100% sure that the doctor’s contacted them about the results of my blood draw test. At least that’s what they told me. Anyways my mom came home from work and she almost gave me a heart attack. She burst open the door of my room screaming that my lab tests results came in terrible and that I have terrible health. She said I had the health of a dying old lady. I asked her what was wrong she said I had high cholesterol. very high blood sugars and extensive liver damage (possibly chirrosis or alcoholic hepatitis.) I asked her how she knew all of this she said the doctor’s told my grandfather at work and then my grandfather called her and told her. She said they looked at my grandfather in shock and asked him “what the hell kind of lifestyle is your daughter leading that she has the health of a 95 year old lady?!?!?” “her liver is messed up already and all she is is 22!!!!” (Well now I’m 23 this was last year) and asked “what is she eating that is causing her liver to be this bad” and he told her that I drank a bottle of wine a day on a daily basis and that sometimes I even had 2 or 3 of them. The doctor’s looked at him in shock and then stated “well she had better stop doing this, unless she wants to see herself in a grave yard in five years!!!” He said my grandfather will come home and tell me all this. My mother stated the doctor’s said all that to him when he was in the office picking up everybody’s medical test results. She said I had already destroyed my liver at age 22 and then said “thank you!!!!” Regardless of all the yelling my mom was doing to me about drinking and how I already damaged my liver bad at age 22 she still buys me alcohol every Friday. Could this really be? If she was so worried about me and wanted me to stop drinking alcohol why is she still buying it every single Friday for me? And also my grandfather buys it too. Even though they both claimed the doctor’s said I will go in the grave yard in five years if I don’t stop. This sounds to me like they made it all up to scare the sh** out of me. And it worked cause my heart jumped when I heard my mom telling me the doctor’s said I will die if not stop drinking. They said I had bad liver damage that will get worse quick if I keep drinking. Regardless they are still buying me alcohol. Sounds like they did it cause they thought I drank too much and wanted me to cut down on it and they thought that making up this story would work. But since my mom and grandpa said the doctor’s detected liver damage on my blood test then will my liver fail if I keep drinking alcohol? I still do but that’s because they buy it for me.
    P.S. my mom and grandpa turned me into an alcoholic by buying me booze.
    Last week my grandfather bought 12 bottles of wine at the liquor store and said I can have 4 of them and the rest is for his Birthday party. However they are small bottles only 500 ml sized so it’s not a lot.
    I’ve been drinking since 2006.
    However, I did drink very rarely on special occasions before the year 2006. And engaged with 2 binges of alcohol one in the year 2000 when I found a large bottle of wine at home and drank over a pint of it. And another in 2001 when I drank my grandfather’s Vodka and poured water in the bottle.

    • ANSWER:
      WOW, nice to see the details of the question change to fit with answers you have had before … Now you say your mother & grandfather say you are mentally subnormal to get your Dr to give them your results (something I have used in several answers to probe you are lying) … That is rubbish, no Doctor can act on someones word of anothers mental state, it has to be on their records, and any doctor who took someones word for it should be barred from practising.

      So either you are mentally subnormal, or you are lying about others getting your medical results – I go for the latter seeing as you claim your mother looked at your grandfather and allegedly asked him “what the hell kind of lifestyle is your daughter leading that she has the health of a 95 year old lady?!?!?”


      All anyone can say is your drink problem givbes you a higher risk of liver failure … And as you claim, in other “questions”, that you have been diagnosed with liver problems in the past, when you claim you were drinking at least a bottle of wine a day, your chances of complete failure are much higher than normal.

    Why do teenagers likes to get drunk? Why they are alcoholics when they’re so young?
    So young that they are going to have a bad liver. So they are damage their liver that they eventually have liver failure. What if they already have a liver disease, what will happen?

    • ANSWER:
      I had no desire to drink when I was 16, I never drank until the day I turned 18, then I went hell for leather. God I was sick.

      I think though, most of them do it because they are bored, peer pressure, they think it is really cool, but I assure them, it isn’t. When people see drunk teenagers in the street we dont think how cool they are. We look at them and think that they are worthless pieces of crap who should be at home sober!

      Now I am a mum and my two kids wouldn’t dare drink underage! (one is 14, the other is 9) I am over the whole drinking thing, but the only times I do drink is on my birthday (july) and New Years. At my age (34) I can’t handle the drink anymore, which is a good thing because I don’t like drinking anyway! I really just save it for special occasions!

      I haven’t really answered anything you asked, but oh well. Happy reading anyway! ha ha ha

    will diluted liquor do less damage to the body?
    well this is an odd question since most people would reply “drink a less alcoholic beverage” but im curious. if you took a bottle of 30 proof vodka and diluted it in juice or water or something tasty, would it do less damage to the liver since its not as concentrated?

    • ANSWER:
      I never heard of 30 proof Vodka,that would be only 15% alcohol. But to answer your question,it is much harder on your body to drink straight liquor than if it’s mixed.The reason being your body absorbs it much quicker than if it is mixed.As long as you just sipped the straight liquor there would be little difference but most people drink straight booze very fast,as in shots.

    Can I take 2 24-hour Zyrtec a day without damaging my liver?
    It sounds dumb but I am a little paranoid about taking two 24 hour pills in one day (one before bed, and one when I wake up). I have tried other allergy pills and Zyrtec works the best. I just need to know if my liver will eventually look like I am an alcoholic if I keep doing it.

    • ANSWER:
      It is never dumb or paranoid to think something bad might happen if you put too much of a toxic chemical into your body. It may sound weird calling Zyrtec a toxic chemical, but all drugs are toxic. It is just that at low enough doses, the good side effects outweigh the bad ones. If you take a drug at too high of a dose, you overwhelm your body’s ability to get rid of the drug before it exerts its toxic effects.

      The maximum clinical dose of Zyrtec is 10mg per day. You can take two in one day and it won’t hurt you in the long run. But if you make a habit of it you run the risk of damaging your liver. In studies done on rats over a period of two years, there was a significant increase in the occurrence of liver tumors in mice that were given Zyrtec at a dose significantly higher than the maximum clinical dose.

      You probably would never take as much as the rats were given, but the danger does exist. Also, studies on humans showed that the 10mg dose is more effective than the 5mg dose but in general there was no added benefit from the 20mg dose.

      Ultimately it is your decision but the scientists that created the drug and the doctors that recommend it all agree that the rewards do not outweigh the risks of taking more than 10mg a day.

    How can you prove medically that one is alcoholic?
    I was labeled an alcoholic after I got a DUI at 19. I had drank between the ages of 18 and 19 on and off. Maybe 10 times all together.

    I quit completely when I got my DUI. In rehab they told me I had the disease of alcoholism and I would crave alcohol for the rest of my life.

    I don’t crave alcohol! Is there some time of medical test I could take to end this once and for all? Don’t alcoholics have liver damage or some time of damage?

    I feel so completely healthy. I want to prove to them that I dont’ have this disease. The AA people keep calling me every day asking when I will start my sobriety. I havne’t had a drink in 2 years!

    How can I end this once and for all and prove that I am not diseased?

    • ANSWER:
      Do AA people really call you every day asking you this? I have known of some bizarre stuff in AA but this sort of harassment seems extreme, even for them.

      Anyway, you’ve just hit upon one of the more difficult things in life: the impossibility of proving a negative.

    How much damage would a year as an alcoholic do?
    I have a friend who has struggled for roughly a year with very severe alcoholism.

    What kind of damage would this do to her health? To her liver?

    Thanks! I’m very worried for her

    • ANSWER:
      That’s like asking how much wood can a woodchuck chuck.

      She needs help.

    O’doul’s: Is it ok for alcoholics?
    My husband is an alcoholic and discovered O’doul’s. He’s all happy that he can drink it, but I am skeptical. It says non-alcoholic then it says 0.5% alcohol. Is this ok for him to drink or not? Does it cause any liver damage? What about other health issues?

    • ANSWER:
      The health issues are minor, there are much worse things he could be eating or drinking. The real danger is that drinking a non-alcoholic beer might be the first step back towards drinking the hard stuff again. There’s no conclusive evidence about this one way or the other, but you should definitely keep an eye on him, and encourage him to share the fact that he’s drinking non-alcoholic beer with his support group, if he has one.

    Quick question about overdosing and alcohol?
    I’m writing something up and I have a character who is going to take a bunch of pills and drink themselves to their death, but I’m not sure what kind of pills can actually do that. The main concern is that she is going to have liver damage because she is an alcoholic. Any suggestions of what types of pills can have this effect?

    • ANSWER:
      Advil thins the blood and should NEVER be taken with alcohol because that can lead to heart problems.