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Alcohol support

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Original poster

Fatty liver help please

50 replies

RubyMurry22 · 02/06/2023 09:48

I had my last alcoholic drink on Christmas Day 5 months ago. I was drinking far too much wine (5 ish bottles of wine a week) and thought enough is enough. Three months later I had some blood tests for something that turned out to be menopause related (dry mouth) but one of the blood tests showed one of my liver enzymes was a bit raised.

I’ve just had an ultrasound of my liver and the sonographer said my liver looked a bit bright and fatty.

I’m obviously a bit worried about this and have made a GP appointment to discuss, but it’s not for a few weeks. I’m overweight and trying to lose 2 stone - giving up alcohol didn’t seem to help with this ax I overcompensated with cheese!

Does anyone have any experience of this? Is it likely to be reversible? I’m planning on never drinking alcohol again, especially after reading The unexpected joy of being sober last week. Hopefully losing weight will help but it seems more tricky now that I’m post menopause and recently started on HRT. Thank you for any insights.

OP posts:
alco · 07/06/2023 16:40

That's great to hear :)

gogohmm · 07/06/2023 16:57

It's usually reversible but takes time think many months not a few weeks. Well done for cutting the alcohol and reducing cheese

gogohmm · 07/06/2023 16:58

One tip on cheese when cooking, use less of stronger cheese

NeedToChangeName · 10/06/2023 09:06

AF since Christmas? That's brilliant. Well done

Original poster
RubyMurry22 · 10/06/2023 14:23

Thank you - I’m really pleased. I was thinking 3 weeks ago that maybe I could try moderate drinking but have now read The unexpected Joy of being sober and Alcohol Explained, and realised that I can’t and don’t even want to.
I’ve also lost 9 pounds since I started my new healthy eating campaign neatly 4 weeks ago! Feeling very motivated and pleased.

OP posts:
alco · 10/06/2023 15:06

@RubyMurry22 is the book good? I have read Idiot by Laura Cleary which I enjoyed but no other books about alcohol.

Original poster
RubyMurry22 · 10/06/2023 16:21

Both books are good. I listened to the latter on audible.

OP posts:
Crikeyalmighty · 10/06/2023 16:26

@keyboardkat can also be from medications (statin's are buggers for it) and generally being a bit overweight. My levels were 6 over the high end of the measurements. GP told me no big deal it's when they get into the 100s there's a real issue but felt it was likely being overweight combined with statins was the reason why. I am now off statins , but wine to 2 nights a week max from 4 and have lost 2 stone- be interesting to see if they've gone down!!

Original poster
RubyMurry22 · 10/06/2023 17:14

I’m only on HRT and thyroid hormones and don’t think it’s that. Hopefully diet and exercise will fix it 🤞

OP posts:
Original poster
RubyMurry22 · 19/08/2023 07:19

Hello - thought I’d come back and update this thread after my repeat blood tests. Good news - my liver function tests were all normal normal! ALP now down from 150 to 76 😁
I’ve been AF for 8 months now and have lost 24 pounds in the last 3 months (gone down 2-3 dress sizes). I look and feel so much better! Giving up alcohol has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. Very grateful for all of the support here - I don’t post often but do read lots of threads. Thanks all.

OP posts:
alco · 19/08/2023 15:20

RubyMurry22 · 19/08/2023 07:19

Hello - thought I’d come back and update this thread after my repeat blood tests. Good news - my liver function tests were all normal normal! ALP now down from 150 to 76 😁
I’ve been AF for 8 months now and have lost 24 pounds in the last 3 months (gone down 2-3 dress sizes). I look and feel so much better! Giving up alcohol has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. Very grateful for all of the support here - I don’t post often but do read lots of threads. Thanks all.

aw that's great to hear about your liver. I know I was so relieved when my numbers went back to normal and you are nearly there. For me it was the scare I needed to see that I was doing damage but that I was lucky to still be able to reverse it. I have heard of 30 somethings even 20 somethings dying of liver disease 😳

I lost loads of weight as well when I got sober. It's crazy isn't it just how much weight alcohol can put on you!

Well done x

Original poster
RubyMurry22 · 19/08/2023 17:53

@alco thank you 😊 x

OP posts:
NeedToChangeName · 20/08/2023 14:16

@RubyMurry22 Fantastic. Well done

BishopBrennansArseHole · 25/08/2023 23:10

How lovely of you to come back and update your thread! I’m sure it will provide many people with some much needed hope ❤️

Well done on your lifestyle changes, you’ve done amazingly well. Here’s to the sober life ☕😊

NewPlumCat · 04/04/2025 10:51

DetoxedAlcoholic · 02/06/2023 09:58

As has been said, the liver is amazing. I wouldn't be worried now, you've said you're overcompensating on cheese (which is understandable). I was drinking far, far more a week than you (3-4 a day) and my liver is now in perfect health. Give it time, give it rest. Healthy, moderate eating, some exercise and you'll feel the benefits. Two weeks is a while to wait when you're anxious but it won't be long and then they'll be able to discuss the ultrasound with you. Don't worry yourself now.

Hi, I've just read your message and you said your liver is in perfect health now? Do you not have fatty liver anymore?

Cunningfungus · 04/04/2025 10:57

RubyMurry22 · 02/06/2023 09:48

I had my last alcoholic drink on Christmas Day 5 months ago. I was drinking far too much wine (5 ish bottles of wine a week) and thought enough is enough. Three months later I had some blood tests for something that turned out to be menopause related (dry mouth) but one of the blood tests showed one of my liver enzymes was a bit raised.

I’ve just had an ultrasound of my liver and the sonographer said my liver looked a bit bright and fatty.

I’m obviously a bit worried about this and have made a GP appointment to discuss, but it’s not for a few weeks. I’m overweight and trying to lose 2 stone - giving up alcohol didn’t seem to help with this ax I overcompensated with cheese!

Does anyone have any experience of this? Is it likely to be reversible? I’m planning on never drinking alcohol again, especially after reading The unexpected joy of being sober last week. Hopefully losing weight will help but it seems more tricky now that I’m post menopause and recently started on HRT. Thank you for any insights.

More than half on non drinking parts of Asia have non-alcohol related fatty liver. But almost everyone who drinks more than the minimum recommended will have a degree of fatty liver from drinking alone.

If you’re overweight it’s probably a mix of both. It absolutely is reversible with the right diet, losing weight and not drinking to excess. A word of warning - losing weight too quickly can actually make it worse so slow and steady wins the race,

well done on getting to where you are and keep going!!!

DetoxedAlcoholic · 04/04/2025 11:06

NewPlumCat · 04/04/2025 10:51

Hi, I've just read your message and you said your liver is in perfect health now? Do you not have fatty liver anymore?

Show quote history

Liver is perfectly healthy now. 👍

NewPlumCat · 04/04/2025 11:14

DetoxedAlcoholic · 04/04/2025 11:06

Liver is perfectly healthy now. 👍

Show quote history

Thank you for replying 😊 I'm glad to hear that and I'm very pleased for you. And it's not showing up as a fatty liver on the scan now?

DetoxedAlcoholic · 04/04/2025 11:15

NewPlumCat · 04/04/2025 11:14

Thank you for replying 😊 I'm glad to hear that and I'm very pleased for you. And it's not showing up as a fatty liver on the scan now?

Show quote history

No not at all. Hope you're doing okay?

NewPlumCat · 04/04/2025 11:22

DetoxedAlcoholic · 04/04/2025 11:15

No not at all. Hope you're doing okay?

Show quote history

I'm so happy to hear that 😊 yes I'm fine thank you. Thank you for asking. God bless you 🙏

NewPlumCat · 04/04/2025 13:05

Cunningfungus · 04/04/2025 10:57

More than half on non drinking parts of Asia have non-alcohol related fatty liver. But almost everyone who drinks more than the minimum recommended will have a degree of fatty liver from drinking alone.

If you’re overweight it’s probably a mix of both. It absolutely is reversible with the right diet, losing weight and not drinking to excess. A word of warning - losing weight too quickly can actually make it worse so slow and steady wins the race,

well done on getting to where you are and keep going!!!

Edited
Show quote history

Thank you so much for replying and God bless you 🙏
I don't drink and never have done. I am overweight. I don't know if that's the problem. I am so worried about it that I can't even eat, worrying its going to make it worse xx

NewPlumCat · 04/04/2025 15:16

Cunningfungus · 04/04/2025 10:57

More than half on non drinking parts of Asia have non-alcohol related fatty liver. But almost everyone who drinks more than the minimum recommended will have a degree of fatty liver from drinking alone.

If you’re overweight it’s probably a mix of both. It absolutely is reversible with the right diet, losing weight and not drinking to excess. A word of warning - losing weight too quickly can actually make it worse so slow and steady wins the race,

well done on getting to where you are and keep going!!!

Edited
Show quote history

Thank you for your message 🙏 I really appreciate it. Has your fatty liver gone away now? x

NewPlumCat · 04/04/2025 15:22

Crikeyalmighty · 10/06/2023 16:26

@keyboardkat can also be from medications (statin's are buggers for it) and generally being a bit overweight. My levels were 6 over the high end of the measurements. GP told me no big deal it's when they get into the 100s there's a real issue but felt it was likely being overweight combined with statins was the reason why. I am now off statins , but wine to 2 nights a week max from 4 and have lost 2 stone- be interesting to see if they've gone down!!

Hi, I've read your message. I take statins as well and am wondering if they have caused the fatty liver. You said you have come off the statins? Has the fatty liver gone away now?

Cunningfungus · 04/04/2025 17:36

NewPlumCat · 04/04/2025 15:16

Thank you for your message 🙏 I really appreciate it. Has your fatty liver gone away now? x

Show quote history

I’ve not been tested again - I’m just focussing on the positives of not drinking and trusting the process that everything else (health, fitness, weight loss, mental health) will fall into place.

Ive got some big travel plans and I don’t want to be diagnosed with anything recent (it was years ago my fatty liver got diagnosed) as my insurance premiums will be extortionate!

NewPlumCat · 05/04/2025 09:04

RubyMurry22 · 06/06/2023 22:34

I e managed to get a GP appointment tomorrow, so will find out more then. Still hoping line is reversible. I haven’t had a drop of alcohol since Christmas, so can’t cut down on that. I’ve managed to lose 1/2 a stone in 3 weeks, so feeling encouraged by that. Have also upped the HRT and that also seems to be helping with how I feel.

How are you feeling now? I hope you've recovered? xx God bless you 🙏

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