The Giving Up/ Cutting Down alcohol support thread - number 13

Dizzy_Imp

7/24 for this evening

Fruball

Startinglate wrote: »

No I haven't had a liver function test but, given my own fondness for fermented grape juice, I probably should. I know it's useless to say don't worry, I would too, but try to look at it as a positive thing. You will have information about how your drinking has/or hasn't affected your liver. . It's a wonderful organ; very resilient and capable of regenerating if you give it a chance so you may find that there is no damage. If there are early signs that the liver is becoming 'fatty' you will know what you have to do and having this knowledge may well give you the impetus you need. Good luck will the test be soon?
Well I have only one more AF to report 2/8 please Shaggy. Still it's 2 more than would have been the case before I started this project.

Thank you for your comforting words The test was today and I didn't drink last night, drank Wed but not Mon or Tues although what that matters, I don't know! I am 85% sure I had a test done a number of years back and it was high then and my Dad said his was always elevated and that we are just made that way (Dad not a big drinker)... So anyway, we wait...

debjay wrote: »

I had LFTs last year after a scan showed that my liver was a bit fatty (bit like the rest of me really) and my bloods were normal.
Must admit that knowing that my liver was a bit fatty (not fatty liver disease though) did make me think about my drinking. My GP is happy with my current alcohol consumption.

I'm sure your bloods will be fine Fruball but can understand why you're anxious. I'll probably have mine repeated later in the year.

Debjay that made me chuckle! GP told me it would be a bit fatty because of my weight (down half a stone this year and working on the rest)... but I am worried that with the meds I take, and the booze, it isn't going to be great.

I can't do anything now but wait and see but will post the results, good or bad, on here when I know.

X

ETA - not AF tonight... Can't help feeling that I will be on a self/GP imposed Booze Ban when the results come back so until then.... (wrong attitude I know)

debjay

Keeping everything crossed for positive news Fruball. However, as Startinglate said if it's an early warning it might give you the best incentive to make changes there is.

arsenalbarnie

Fruball wrote: »

Hi everyone

More than a little bit nervous that my doc has ordered a liver function test after we had a discussion about my fondest of fermented grape juice :eek: Has anyone else had one since they acknowledged their drinking was more than it should be? I'm very worried

I've had a couple but both were within normal limits. The liver can take a fair bit of bashing, but tends to give up all of a sudden. My GP says not to go by the test results but by your lifestyle. As in if you drink too much all the time it's a case of when not if your liver is getting damaged. Good luck with it. I think we all know what we are doing to our bodies, same as smokers do. It is just so easy to have a drink and then say to ourselves oh I won't have one tomorrow.

Barny1979

9/31 AFDs today

Honey_Bear

Fruball wrote: »

More than a little bit nervous that my doc has ordered a liver function test after we had a discussion about my fondest of fermented grape juice :eek: Has anyone else had one since they acknowledged their drinking was more than it should be? I'm very worried

I've never had one and I do wonder how much damage I've done to my liver over the years. I've heard liver specialists talk on the radio and my understanding is that scar tissue is permanent and can't be undone, but other than that the liver is capable of self-healing to an amazing degree if we change our (bad if I'm honest) habits.

Whatever the result (which as StartingLate says means you have new and more information about you, which is always helpful) I think your GP is very, very sensible if you've mentioned that you're partial to more than a drop, and would have been very naughty not suggesting the test in the circumstances.

I'm pretty sure my brother has a very serious drink problem and he had one about 12 years ago. He gleefully told me the results were fine and dandy, but he's a habitual liar so I have no idea if that was the truth. A couple of years ago he had a stroke which has compromised his well-being and quality of life (and that of his wonderful wife) and earlier this year ended up in intensive care with emergency surgery for colon cancer. If he'd taken the suggestion that a liver function test was considered appropriate a bit more seriously, he might not be where he is now health-wise. Who knows?

I hope the test is straightforward, gives you the reassurance we would all want and need, and that the outcome is helpful if you decide you don't feel quite as sanguine as you did about fermented grapes. I think I'm too frightened to ask for a test but then I know how much and for how long I over-indulged.

I also hope none of that sounds preachy, an affliction some tee-totallers seem to suffer from sometimes. I won't know when it affects me, will I?

Barny1979 wrote: »

Thank you, I feel fine, but warfarin levels up again from 6mg to 7.5mg, basically it means my blood is too thick and could clot again.

More *healing vibes* heading your way. Do you feel any better for knocking the booze on the head for a bit, or it is too early for that? (I was so, so tired for the first fortnight I could hardly get out of bed!)

8/31 please, Shaggy.

Fruball

Honey_Bear wrote: »

I've never had one and I do wonder how much damage I've done to my liver over the years. I've heard liver specialists talk on the radio and my understanding is that scar tissue is permanent and can't be undone, but other than that the liver is capable of self-healing to an amazing degree if we change our (bad if I'm honest) habits.

Whatever the result (which as StartingLate says means you have new and more information about you, which is always helpful) I think your GP is very, very sensible if you've mentioned that you're partial to more than a drop, and would have been very naughty not suggesting the test in the circumstances.

I'm pretty sure my brother has a very serious drink problem and he had one about 12 years ago. He gleefully told me the results were fine and dandy, but he's a habitual liar so I have no idea if that was the truth. A couple of years ago he had a stroke which has compromised his well-being and quality of life (and that of his wonderful wife) and earlier this year ended up in intensive care with emergency surgery for colon cancer. If he'd taken the suggestion that a liver function test was considered appropriate a bit more seriously, he might not be where he is now health-wise. Who knows?

I hope the test is straightforward, gives you the reassurance we would all want and need, and that the outcome is helpful if you decide you don't feel quite as sanguine as you did about fermented grapes. I think I'm too frightened to ask for a test but then I know how much and for how long I over-indulged.

I also hope none of that sounds preachy, an affliction some tee-totallers seem to suffer from sometimes. I won't know when it affects me, will I?



More *healing vibes* heading your way. Do you feel any better for knocking the booze on the head for a bit, or it is too early for that? (I was so, so tired for the first fortnight I could hardly get out of bed!)

8/31 please, Shaggy.

Ditto! Quantity and length of time is what is frightening me. No, you don't sound preachy at all

Thank you to everyone else for your kind words :A

1 more to add for tonight please

satchmo1

3/12 AFDs tonight. Went to a quiz night last night, which involved wine. The quiz part was mad, with people from other teams telling their team mates the answers, but loudly! Our team won, but we all agreed to donate the winnings to SVP (St Vincent de Paul - which aims to help people in the parish in need, and to overcome social isolation for people in the parish).

Dizzy_Imp

Another two under my belt = 8/24 PLUS I've lost 2lbs this week :j

Honey_Bear

Dizzy_Imp wrote: »

Another two under my belt = 8/24 PLUS I've lost 2lbs this week :j

Marvellous! Two pounds in one week means you're being really disciplined about food. My target is one pound for the whole of May and I'm not sure I'll manage that with the leftovers in the fridge that needs to be finished up - in an MSE type way.

9/31 please, Shaggy.