signs if your liver is bad?

Question

ok so in my late teens for about 4 years i was drinking heavily
every day , and i have no yellowing of the skin and i did a blood
test last year and the liver and all my organs in the blood are functioning normal , also 2 years ago i had a ultrasound of the
stomach and liver and it seemed ok , so are those tests assuring
to me that my liver is fine and also i have cut down my alcohol intake to just weekends , like friday and saturday drinking.

Answer 1

While some people may tolerate alcohol better than
others, this does not mean there is no systemic damage going on.The most common cause of liver disease in the United States is alcohol abuse.

Excessive amounts of alcohol over time cause liver damage in virtually anyone, although not necessarily cirrhosis. Consuming 32 to 48 oz. of beer, 4 to 8 oz. of liquor, or 16 to 32 oz. of wine every day for 10 to 15 years or longer increases your chances significantly of developing cirrhosis. How much alcohol you drink, how regularly, and for how many years are more important factors than the type of alcohol ingested. Approximately 5% of people in the United States are alcoholics. Of these, 10% to 25% will develop liver disease


Early signs of liver damage:

1. Gastrointestinal symptoms produced by impairment of bile flow

2. Signs and symptoms referable to the liver itself, such as enlargement and tenderness such as in Acute Hepatitis.

3. Those signs and symptoms that develop from disruption of hepatic functions that affect the whole body, such as jaundice,which is due to altered bilirubbin metabolism.; evidence of coagulation defects, and weight loss


Others are fatty liver due to accummulation of triglycerides; hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia; High levels of Ammonia and low levels of BUN.and elevated hepatic enzymes.

During the pre-icteric( jaundice) stage of the disease, there may be no findings on physical examination except slight fever, right upper quadrant tenderness, and splenomegaly (occasionally). Sometimes, the patient just complains of " flu-like illness"



The following are advanced signs of liver damage or cirrhosis. Thus, the development of signs and symptoms in the patient with cirrhosis indicates, by definition, far-advanced disease and severe compromise of hepatic functions

1. ABNORMALLY YELLOW DISCOLORATION OF THE SKIN AND EYES. This is called jaundice which is often the first and sometimes the only sign of liver disease.

2. DARK URINE.

3. GRAY, YELLOW, OR LIGHT-COLORED STOOLS.

4. NAUSEA, VOMITING AND/OR LOSS OF APPETITE.

5. VOMITING OF BLOOD, BLOODY OR BLACK STOOLS. Intestinal bleeding can occur when liver diseases obstruct blood flow through the liver. The bleeding may result in vomiting of blood or bloody stools.

6. ABDOMINAL SWELLING. Liver disease may cause ascites, an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity.

7. PROLONGED GENERALIZED ITCHING.

8. UNUSUAL CHANGE OF WEIGHT. An increase or decrease of more than 5% within two months.

9. ABDOMINAL PAIN.

10. SLEEP DISTURBANCES, MENTAL CONFUSION AND COMA are present in severe liver disease. These result from an accumulation of toxic substances in the body which impair brain function.

11. FATIGUE OR LOSS OF STAMINA.

12. LOSS OF SEXUAL DRIVE OR PERFORMance


It would be impossible to say whether you or will not will not develop any serious effects from your drinking. No one escapes all of the negative effects of heavy drinking. All of the ravages of alcohol that are included in this answer take time to develop, and may not appear until it is too late to reverse the damage.


As a critical care nurse for many yrs; I I have seen thousands of patients in the hospital with alcohol -related diseases such as Cirrhosis, Hepatitis; HiV; DT's, Esophageal Varices, Diabetes, and GI Bleeding. it is a miserable way to die.


Even limited alcohol consumption can elevate blood pressure. “Alcohol affects every body system, causing a wide range of health problems. Some such problems include poor nutrition, memory disorders, difficulty with balance and walking, liver disease (including cirrhosis and hepatitis), high blood pressure, muscle weakness (including the
heart), heart rhythm disturbances, anemia, clotting disorders,
decreased immunity to infections, gastrointestinal inflammation and irritation, acute and chronic problems with the pancreas, low blood sugar, high blood fat content ; interfernce with reproductive fertility, and weakened bones”


http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/alcoholism.jsp

“People who drink alcohol excessively (over two drinks per day) have a one and a half to two times increase in the prevalence of hypertension. The association between alcohol and high blood pressure is particularly noticeable when the alcohol intake exceeds 5 drinks per day. Moreover, the connection is a dose-related phenomenon. In other words, the more alcohol that is consumed, the stronger is the link with hypertension.”
http://www.medicinenet.com/high_blood_pressure/page8.htm


The site below talks about alcohol-induced cirrhosis:

http://www.liverfoundation.org/education/info/alcohol

Answer 2

Okay, so like, binge drinking on weekends is still a risk factor for liver disease. The liver is an amazing organ, unlike the other organs, it can regenerate itself. If you were to cut out all drinking entirely, your liver would be much happier. Drinking long term in one so young has already increased your risk for liver disease. Infection with hepatitis, drug use and the like can also increase your risk factors. Since you are still in your late teens, and you still drink, you officially have a drinking problem. Your liver may be okay now, but keep it up and it won't be. Why not look into a treatment program to deal with the underlying issues for your drinking. And limit your drinks to no more than 2 per week, or one glass of wine per day.
End state liver disease is really an UGLY way to die, believe me, I've seen it all too often.

Answer 3

The symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver vary with the stage of the illness. In the beginning stages, there may not be any symptoms. As the disease worsens, symptoms may include:

Loss of appetite
Lack of energy (fatigue), which may be debilitating
Weight loss or sudden weight gain
Bruises
Yellowing of skin or the whites of eyes (jaundice)
Itchy skin

If you have been diagnosed with liver diseases, you might be feeling afraid and somewhat bewildered and would appreciate more information about all aspects of this condition. What causes it? What are the treatments available? What are the possible diet and lifestyle changes you should make? What advice for a holistic approach to managing – and even reversing it? and i know the website is so good and full information a bout fatty liver at:http://adola.net/go/fattyliver-bible/

Hope this useful

Answer 4

well..sometimes none at first...usually the urine may become amber in color...eye whites can become yellow..but these occur after the damage is done...the best way is to get a liver panel blood test to see the enzymes,which elevate soon after insult to the liver from drugs,meds,alcohol,etc....also, physically,may be nauseated and have a swelling in abdomen and tenderness..if in doubt see MD soon..quit drinkin

Answer 5

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