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AMA
Original poster

I have cirrhosis. AMA!

142 replies

Ohdearnamechange · 28/01/2023 13:32

Hi! I have cirrhosis. It's basically end stage so I have a couple of years - unfortunately they caught it a bit late for anything to be done for it.

Just closing off some possible questions - no I haven't drunk more than most people I know. People's bodies react differently apparently. There has been a strong element of self medication/self destructiveness which is quite hard to explain to people (I also have BPD and PTSD). I feel massive guilt that I'm putting my family through this, and would really like to give any support or advice to anyone who has worries - so many people don't seek help until it's too late.

OP posts:
GoodbyeMrChips · 28/01/2023 16:24

Had you already stopped drinking and how much did you drink? Asking because I also drank too much (half a bottle wine several nights a week for several years and then a bottle a night for several months that prompted me to stop). I’m AF now but your post is a bit scary.

other than that, I am sorry about the BPD/PTSD, I also have those along with bipolar and yes, the drinking was definitely self medicating for me. How are you coping emotionally? I am sending you positive thoughts and best wishes.

LawksaMercyMissus · 28/01/2023 16:27

Well done for stopping, I can't imagine how difficult that must have been. DH hadn't eaten for months at the end, was just drinking two litres of spirits a day. It has destroyed our children. Good luck x

maddy68 · 28/01/2023 16:27

I'd there anything you would have done differently?

Would regular blood tests pick this up ?

ShellsOnTheBeach · 28/01/2023 16:33

💐💐💐@LawksaMercyMissus

And I hope you can beat this, @Ohdearnamechange 🙏

1Wanda1 · 28/01/2023 16:41

I'm so sorry you're in this terrible situation so young. A family member of mine also has cirrhosis, diagnosed last year after many years of denial about the problem. A medical emergency forced her to face up to it and she went to rehab and has been pretty good AF since then (a few lapses), but the damage is done. She was drinking a litre of spirits a day for 10-15 years before this.

May I ask how much you were drinking before, and for how long? Are we talking a bottle of wine a day? More? I think many regular drinkers delude themselves that their drinking is no worse than anyone else's, and it is helpful to know what level of drinking can result in this awful life-limiting condition.

ShimmeringShirts · 28/01/2023 16:50

How much were you drinking? When did you stop drinking?

LawksaMercyMissus · 28/01/2023 16:51

Can I ask why you were drinking, how did it make you feel?

I can't understand why DH lost everything but still carried on.

Sorry if this is too intrusive, he could never answer, he was still insisting he didn't have a problem right at the end.

Monkeytapper · 28/01/2023 16:53

You say you only drank as much as people you know, how much was that?

spinkupromise · 28/01/2023 16:54

@Ohdearnamechange sending you all the strength and determination to carry on.... each day of health is hopefully a day of healing too and as others have said they have been able to turn their story around. I wish the same for you

Original poster
Ohdearnamechange · 28/01/2023 17:30

A lot of people have asked how much I was drinking, sorry for not answering everyone personally. I would say about 6 to 8 drinks per day. I never got drunk so I never felt I had a problem. Clearly I was wrong!

OP posts:
Original poster
Ohdearnamechange · 28/01/2023 17:32

LawksaMercyMissus · 28/01/2023 16:51

Can I ask why you were drinking, how did it make you feel?

I can't understand why DH lost everything but still carried on.

Sorry if this is too intrusive, he could never answer, he was still insisting he didn't have a problem right at the end.

I think because I felt so abnormal generally it almost made me feel normal to drink if that makes any sense? Alcohol is not the only thing I've had an issue with, I definitely have a self destructive addictive personality

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 28/01/2023 17:33

God I'm sorry OP. 💐 I'm really hoping that you can get help via a transplant

But 6 - 8 drinks a day? How did you not realise that was a huge amount, and of course you were drunk.

I'm really sorry for the situation you are in but it's concerning that you minimise it in your OP, as you not really having drunk that much - you did.

kittensinthekitchen · 28/01/2023 17:37

Do you blame anyone for you not realising 6-8 drinks a day was an issue? Do you think it was someone else's responsibility to make sure you knew that? Would it have stopped you?

You do realise now that 6-8 drinks a day is far from healthy, right?

Do you have children?

Original poster
Ohdearnamechange · 28/01/2023 17:41

EarringsandLipstick · 28/01/2023 17:33

God I'm sorry OP. 💐 I'm really hoping that you can get help via a transplant

But 6 - 8 drinks a day? How did you not realise that was a huge amount, and of course you were drunk.

I'm really sorry for the situation you are in but it's concerning that you minimise it in your OP, as you not really having drunk that much - you did.

I think it's become so normalised in my social circle and family I didn't realise how abnormal it was for normal people. All four of my grandparents died of cirrhosis and I've buried two or three friends a year since I was 16, either through alcoholism or suicide through mental health issues (not helped by the addiction issues!). I'm not trying to minimise things at all, just wanted to highlight to other people how easy it is to slide into a situation that there's no coming back from

OP posts:
Silvercatowner · 28/01/2023 17:41

You do realise now that 6-8 drinks a day is far from healthy, right?

I'm reasonably sure OP does realise...

Flippinghecklike · 28/01/2023 17:42

I can totally see how this would happen and often drank that much and more several albeit not every day in my 20s and after. If you’re basically talking a bottle plus a night it sounds like (and is!) a lot but I knew plenty of people when I worked in PR for whom that was standard. I actually think changing to teaching sort of saved me because I have to get up at six and cant do that easily after one or two let alone more. I relate to a lot of this, well done on stopping xxx

AzureOrchid · 28/01/2023 17:44

What kind of alchohol were you drinking ?

Sprig1 · 28/01/2023 17:45

Thanks for sharing and well done for stopping drinking, that must have been extremely difficult as it sounds like it has been a part of your whole adult life. Can you explain your bleeds please. I don't understand what you mean. Blood comes from where? How often does this happen? How long does it last?
I hope you have a fulfilling time with the years you have left (and that it is longer than you think).

kittensinthekitchen · 28/01/2023 17:46

Silvercatowner · 28/01/2023 17:41

You do realise now that 6-8 drinks a day is far from healthy, right?

I'm reasonably sure OP does realise...

Well I'm not getting that definitive feeling from some of the OPs comments, which is why I've asked Confused

kittensinthekitchen · 28/01/2023 17:47

What helped you stop drinking? Was it immediate after your diagnosis/prognosis or was it more difficult than that?

Mysmallgarden · 28/01/2023 17:55

What were the 6-8 drinks? Spirits, wine, beer? I'm sorry you are going through this. Sending hugs.

MargaritaRita · 28/01/2023 17:55

People need to be aware that cirrhosis doesn't only come from excessive alcohol consumption, but it is a big factor. There is NAFLD and NASH, plus hepatitis infection and some others too.

Being overweight and eating a lot of bad stuff can lead to fatty liver disease which can evolve into cirrhosis too.

OP I think you might be referring to clotting factors gone wrong with your cirrhosis (INR) so that a scratch or small injury can bleed forever, similar to those who get bleeds when taking blood thinners. But in my relative's case it was oesophageal varices that burst and bled, it was awful.

I hope I am not taking over your thread, but some of what I say may also help others particularly those who do not drink alcohol. I wish you well, and good on you for tackling your health issue.

Cranarc · 28/01/2023 17:56

I'm very sorry to hear of the diagnosis. Wishing you all the best.

I myself have a history of drinking far too much though I have cut down drastically in recent years.

Did you ever have blood tests for liver readings before the condition flared up? If you did, were the readings abnormal and what change of habits/follow-ups were advised, if any?

MermaidEyes · 28/01/2023 17:57

Do you have a husband or partner and children? Where are the people in your social circle now? If they're still drinking heavily how does that make you feel now you're not drinking?

Georgyporky · 28/01/2023 17:58

@Ohdearnamechange Thank you for this post. I sincerely hope that the outcome is better than you expect.

A very close family member has cirrhosis, diagnosed nearly 3 years ago. He has oesophagal varicle bleeds, regular checks, & meds.
He still drinks, but not as much as before.
He says that no Dr has ever told him to stop drinking. I've never seen his hospital Drs, & our mutual GP refuses to discuss him with me.
My instinct is that he should stop altogether, but perhaps I'm wrong.

Can I ask what you have been told, please?

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