Liver count slightly high - Liver & Pancreas Disorders Message Board

Fendergirl · 06-27-2005, 06:47 AM

my sister, who is 20, had blood test done and the results shown her liver count to be just slightly higher than normal. She drinks accessively. she drinks about 11-13 vodkas and cokes on a wednesday night. about half that on a saturday night. and when we go out on tuesdays sometimes, she drinks about, say max of 6 bottles of beer and maybe 1 double vodka. i know shes drinking far too much than the average. sometimes on a friday night she would sit in and drink about 6 vodkas and cokes..but this is her measures so it might work out ot be slighty more.

if her liver count is slightly high now..what will it be next year?! im telling her to cut down but she just tells me to shutup cos the doc told her its nothing to worry about. but the doc doesnt know about her bloody drinking!

im worried that it will get worse. i dont want her to end up having a liver transplant at the age of 35.

feelbad · 06-27-2005, 07:19 AM

I think you really need to be more concerned right now about a possible alcohol dependency.is there a family history of alcohol abuse?I am wondering just what numbers are slightly out of range here and how truthful she is really being with you.if her doc does not know about her alcohol consumption that IS a bigger deal.If she does not tell her doc about how much she is actually drinking that could also be a sign of an alcohol problem.Most normal people,or people who don't have a drinking problem, have no problem in telling their docs how much alcohol they consume,you know what I mean?If she has actual damage to her liver, the drinking will continue to make it worse.You really need to sit down with her and have a good heart to heart chat about all of this.If she does not listen to you, try and find someone who she will listen to.If that does not work, then tell her doc about it and your concerns.Her doc cannot actually tell you about any of her medical issues but that does not stop you from telling HIM anything.If you cannot contact him by phone, write him a little letter telling him of your concerns.Do this only as a last resort if she wont listen to reason.If she truely has a problem with alcohol, not only will her liver get much worse, but her drinking will also end up increasing and causing many many other problems in her life.Good luck, marcia

greeneyes100 · 06-27-2005, 08:57 AM

As soon as she cuts down to two drinks or less per day, her liver will recover. The excessive alcohol consumption is making her levels high. But, I read if you quit drinking, they return to normal. Also, tell her to take milk thistle. It's an herb that rejuvenates the liver. I got some at Kroger really cheap. I used to drink heavily, but it never showed up when I got my liver checked for some reason. Probably, because when I got it checked, I had quit drinking for a week or two.

Anyway, I still drink five or six drinks when I go out on the weekends and sometimes a couple during the week. I haven't gotten my liver checked lately, but last time I did, it was okay.

She probably needs to totally abstain for awhile to heal her liver. Then if she could stick to one or two drinks only, that will not damage her liver. Also, eating a high fat diet will change your liver levels.

It could be that she is becoming dependent on alcohol, or she could be just a heavy drinker. I know one man who was drinking a fifth a day for two years and then just up and quit because he didn't feel good. He never went to rehab or anything. I don't know if your sister can do this by herself, or if she needs rehab. But, to get her levels down, she will need to stop drinking for awhile, and then only drink occasionally. Good luck!

Fendergirl · 06-27-2005, 01:12 PM

we go to clubs quite alot. so im always there when we go out. but she does drink more than me when we go out. i can't really stop her from going to the bar. i think she depends on drink to have a good time. i keep telling her she can have a good enough time without getting plastered! but theres no getting through to her! its like talking to a brick wall. shes a bubbly fun person anyway when shes sober, the drink only gives her slightly more confidence thats all, as shes such a bubbly lively person! i would have thought this news should have been a wake up call, but shes determined not to let this stop her from having a good time! she makes me so angry! i could really hit her! there is alcholism in the family. and she knows this!!

i'll try and talk to her when we go out..i'll try and tell her to take it easy. i'll let my friends know of the situation so they can also watch her drinking consumption!

TheHappyMan · 06-27-2005, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fendergirl

my sister, who is 20, had blood test done and the results shown her liver count to be just slightly higher than normal. She drinks accessively. she drinks about 11-13 vodkas and cokes on a wednesday night. about half that on a saturday night. and when we go out on tuesdays sometimes, she drinks about, say max of 6 bottles of beer and maybe 1 double vodka. i know shes drinking far too much than the average. sometimes on a friday night she would sit in and drink about 6 vodkas and cokes..but this is her measures so it might work out ot be slighty more.

if her liver count is slightly high now..what will it be next year?! im telling her to cut down but she just tells me to shutup cos the doc told her its nothing to worry about. but the doc doesnt know about her bloody drinking!

im worried that it will get worse. i dont want her to end up having a liver transplant at the age of 35.

If she dosent calm it down.... She's going to probably be sorry.... the liver enzymes are just going to keep going up and then her Doc will get on her case...... The reason she dosent yet realize this is because shes only 20........ You should try to convince her to drink in moderation so she can enjoy it in the future before it becomes a really serious problem..... and see if you can get her to start taking Milk Thistle (600 mg a day)...... I am not condoning her heavy drinking, but when "youre going outside where there are Mesquito's you usually put on insect repellent"..... Good Luck there

And I wonder what "slightly higher" means - ask her what her AST and ALT are ???? There are plenty of people on this forum who would know if they were seriously "high".

Besides, I think you could help your Sister save Hundreds of Dollars a month...... 13 Vodka/Cokes would cost me about $50 without the tips.........