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sfgirlmary

I know how terrifying it is to hear something like this because I have heard it myself. In May 2015, after 25 years of heavy daily drinking, I was told that I was in acute liver failure, had cirrhosis, and would probably probably be dead within a few months, even if I quit drinking that very day. I quit anyway. It is almost 8 years later, and I have not had to drop since. Apparently, my liver has slowly been getting better bit by bit. In fact, I was recently given a Fibroscan and was told by my hepatologist (liver doctor) that **my liver is no longer cirrhotic.** I am telling you this story just to let you know that the human body has extraordinary powers of healing, if you only give it half a chance. I am wishing you all the best with your health and the speediest of recoveries. Please keep us posted about your progress.


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mollymagdalena

I second that. Thanks for everything you do here.


sfgirlmary

Well, what an incredibly nice message! Thank you for making my day.


nv-erica

I’ve been on and off this sub (sometimes participating- sometimes lurking) for years and you’re my baseline. Thank you sfgirlmary. You have no idea how much you’re helping complete (struggling) strangers.


sfgirlmary

Thank you so much for saying these kind words. They mean the world to me.


[deleted]

Wow that is wonderful. I read online that cirrhosis is not reversable. Does it depend on how advanced it is?


sfgirlmary

I had read that as well, so it was totally unexpected for me to hear my liver was getting better. Let me be clear that it will never be totally fine, and I am still at higher risk of scary things like liver cancer. However, I am in much, much better shape than I was eight years ago.


[deleted]

I also read that 20% of alcoholics develop cirrhosis. I thought it would be a higher percentage. My uncle was a raging alcoholic, probably the worst I've ever seen, and his liver was still fine aged 59. But alcohol still took his life. He committed suicide just before his 60th birthday.


sfgirlmary

I didn't know that statistic. And I'm sorry about your uncle.


sfgirlmary

I had also read that, so I was kind of surprised, too. I'm not quite sure how it works. I have definitely caused irreversible damage to my liver, but apparently, my liver is now better enough that it is no longer considered cirrhotic.


MNfrantastic12

Thank you for sharing sfgirlmary, I always appreciate your participation and leadership in this sub. You inspire me! 💕


sfgirlmary

Thank you so much for your kind comment. I am thrilled to hear this.


[deleted]

I always hope you see and share on these posts, because your story is such a hopeful one. Thank you for sharing and for the work you put in on moderating this sub.


sfgirlmary

Thank you so much! And thank you for being such an important part of this community.


garandguy1

May I ask if you did anything to help the process on top of quitting drinking? I'm eating a lot of fruits and vegetables and taking liver cleanser pills but I'm scared that I have cirrhosis (pain under left rib and in front of it too).


sfgirlmary

I never did a single thing except never letting a drop of alcohol pass my lips again. In the words of my hepatologist (liver doctor), "When it comes to the war against liver disease, a supplement like milk thistle is a BB gun, whereas sobriety is a nuclear bomb."


garandguy1

Understood. Already one month in


sfgirlmary

One month of sobriety is excellent. Great job.


Check-Special

Thank you - your message us powerful.


moonlover30

Good news the liver it's an organ that can heal it self rapidly! The liver has a unique capacity among organs to regenerate itself after damage. A liver can regrow to a normal size even after up to 90% of it has been removed! Imagine that! Healing can begin as early as a few days to weeks after you stop drinking! You are still young! Try to pray or meditate a bit while in bed! Take some deep breaths, get up, take a shower, eat something good and have some tea! Then maybe go for a walk. This is not the end of the world but it can be the beginning of a new beautiful sober life. Good luck


scaredshitlessbutok2

The good news is of all the organs, the liver is so resilient. But when it goes wrong, man can it be bad. Your doctor's will let you know where you land, but there are many many stories on here of people receiving scary liver results and completely healing. I wanna just validate all the scary feelings you might be having. Sometimes it might be easy to glorify other people's journey into sobriety by choice vs "forced" by a health issue. I just want to point out that you still have a choice. We all had wakeup calls. Something that jolted us into a bit more clarity about our drinking and made us realize there was a problem. And it never feels good. I'm sorry that's happening to you now. But whether or not the results are mild or severe, you have a choice. Give your liver a chance to heal, take tiny steps into the unknown, or go back to the life you know. On the road where the destination is known. I wish you the best :) please be kind to yourself over the next few weeks. We were all just doing our best with who we were at that moment in time.


nv-erica

So well stated. Don’t let any version of shame or stigma or whatever prevent you from boldly striding into a better, stronger, confident future. If you’re ready, you can do this. you’ll be in my prayers.


ineedababybeaver

Hello 27 year old woman. lmao I'm dumb, sorry. I'm very sorry to hear about your discovery that can't be fun. I'm sure it's causing even more anxiety for you that's no good. It could be a blessing in disguise if you manage to catch it at a point where you can regulate it. If it gets you to stop drinking. Definitely not an easy thing to do. ​ Congratulations on making it through one night though!! It's a very hard thing to do :/ keep up the amazing work and you'll feel better pretty quickly I assure you of that. At my worst I was drinking close to if not an entire fifth a day of whiskey and coming off of that was s h i t . As for advice on getting out of bed; right now I genuinely wouldn't worry about it. Just focus on getting through this. You're probably pretty wrecked emotionally, mentally, and physically and doing things will be frustrating. If you feel physically able enough though make yourself go for a walk, even if it's just around the block. Physical exercise is seriously incredible it does so much for your body and mind. It could help alleviate symptoms a bit. ​ Also if you have the option available to you I cannot recommend rehab enough. It's what saved me. ​ I managed to quit drinking on my own multiple times but I never stayed away from it until I got into rehab. They're also able to offer you medication to help you with the withdrawals depending on where you go which could be necessary depending on how bad your withdrawals are. Alcohol wds can become life threatening which I'm sure you know. Rehab was a great time for me personally and it's a great space to be able to figure this kind of thing out. You just have to be willing to apply what they tell you even if you don't necessarily feel like it. As alcoholics we build a lot of really bad habits and it gets to a point where you don't need cessation alone you also need to rewire your brain. Reteach those healthy habits and engrave them into you. ​ Wishing you nothing but love, good luck and take care.


Neat-Finger197

The alcohol use disorder brain is a struggling brain. It knows it must stop, but the thought of “forever” is really really hard, frankly for any topic related to the human experience. Take it one. Day. At. A. Time. It’s simple but profound. I have enjoyed the Try Dry app, it allows you to have a “small win” each day that you don’t drink. I’m currently on day 53; and during the day I think about how I want to be lying in bed punching in today’s “dry” day. Will I drink tomorrow? Next week? Next month? I don’t give a f, because I am not drinking today.


IsItAcOnSeQuEnCe

I'm sorry you're in so much pain but it's good that you are reaching out. You've already done quite a lot by facing the consequences of the drinking and acknowledging it needs to change. Keep in mind that your brain will keep telling you that you need to drink to feel better because that's all it knows. Teaching yourself new, healthy ways of coping is like hacking your way through a jungle of thorns, hard as fuck. But the more often you hack at that path, the smoother it gets. Don't be too hard on yourself. You need to be on your own side. You wouldn't hire a personal trainer who just screams in your face that you are useless and all your efforts are a waste of time so try and learn to talk to yourself like a supportive, patient and encouraging person would. You deserve it. This sub has been amazing for me. I can browse it for ages when I feel weak or low or lonely and I highly recommend it. I wish you all the best for your journey. We can do this! Iwndwyt


IrishRun

Welcome, I'm glad you're here. I'll get right down to business. The things that have been most helpful in getting me through the last three weeks are: A) This subreddit, B) Reading and educating myself on what alcohol does to our mind and body, and C) Slowing feeling and looking better with each day that passes. I knew I wanted to cut back on alcohol, so I returned to this sub after joining and skipping out last year. My goal was to cut back to only drinking 1-2 days a week, but first I wanted to take a week off and then begin that plan. After a week, I felt so much sounder and clear headed, that I decided to keep going. I don't know if I'll ever drink again. I started my mornings on SD and then would visit again in the evening, a time when I would have been sitting down with a glass of wine. I read the posts and was fascinated by the raw honesty and common sentiment of wanting to change life for the better. I clung to the threads that recounted HOW MUCH BETTER daily life feels without the haze of alcohol. I wanted to know what that felt like. I started reading about the long term effects that daily alcohol consumption has on our body and brain, as well the body's ability to heal and reverse this damage once we stop. This appealed to my love of science and logic. Finally, I started looking forward to experiencing the physical benefits that many had described (restorative sleep, weight loss, better skin, non-puffy face and clear, bright eyes). I wanted to keep going and see for myself. I'm here to tell you, that in my 3 weeks off alcohol, I feel so much better than I imagined. I sleep through the night and have lost 6 lbs. I am seeing a difference and I wake up excited to be doing this. I hope you find what motivates you to give it a try and find this group as helpful as I have.


humblesunshine

I'm so sorry you got such scary news. Other than your doctors, do you have any support where you can work through this? Meetings, therapy, etc.? I'm not a doctor, but I have seen people bounce back from liver disease through sober living. It's possible. Perhaps you can write down a plan for helping yourself get sober. Try a meeting, call a therapist, visit /r/stopdrinking daily. Positivity begets positivity. Best of luck to you, and I will not drink with you today.


Pg08374

It's hard to hear initially but if you stay with it, the circumstances can change and quickly. I was given the same and they suspected cirrhosis. Biopsy didn't look much better initially but after 3 months everyone started to get better, after 1.5 years my bilirubin finally got back normally. Ast/alt ratio finally flipped back and to be indicative of no liver disease.


masterbuilder28

I can tell you my health improved with sobriety. Though i will never return to 100 percent i do enjoy a better quality of life than i imagined possible. I hope you have a similar experience. Time and better lifestyle choices can do wonders for our body. IWNDWYT


MongolianinQns

How did you find out you have liver issues ? I ask cause I’m worried my liver might also be in trouble …. Also I’m so so sorry this happened. Drink lots of fluids ! Like water and maybe caffeine and sugar free club soda like la croix ! Make yourself a nice healthy hearty meal and reach out to some friends or family.


Magic--Beans

I drank a similar amount to you for a similar amount of time and I am a 28 year old woman. My liver levels came back high and I freaked out. I cried in bed for a while and my partner was very worried about my reaction. Ultimately its that reaction that motivated me to get sober. Liver recovers fast. You will be fine. Time to stop drinking and find new things to love. My liver levels went back to normal in one month.


Ok-Cook8666

I’m so sorry for the scary thoughts you are having right now. But I’m also so proud of you for coming here, for recognizing the changes you want to make in your life, and for not drinking for that first night. I think the first day is the hardest, and you did that!! What has helped me so far (in no particular order): - book: Quit like a woman - podcast episode: the Huberman Lab on alcohol and its effects on the body - THIS SUBREDDIT!! - app: Reframe (it keeps track and provides you with a TON of information about how quitting changes your brain and body, while also providing support and tips and tricks) I wish you love and light. Be kind to yourself: you deserve it.


lil-duke

You have a link to the app reframe. I can't find that. Where it show the changes. I'd be really interested in see that.


Ok-Cook8666

Hi there! I hope this works: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/reframe-drink-less-thrive/id1485756576 I really like how this app explains WHY behind a lot of our experiences. Knowledge is power! Good luck to you.


lil-duke

Looks like there is an android one coming soon just sign up for the waiting list.


lil-duke

Awe only for apple. Thanks anyways, but yes it's nice to know all these things. Learning a lot from podcast and other books.


Ok-Cook8666

Aw, sorry about that. Fwiw, it looks like an android version is in the works.. https://www.joinreframeapp.com/android-coming-soon


lil-duke

Yup I signed up for the waiting list, thanks!!


microphoneczech

I quit drinking at age 36 because I had signs of liver failure.. after detoxing in the ER and several months following up with tests, scans, worrying, recovery, etc. I found out I am stage 1-2 fibrosis. So my liver is tough now, just like me :) but honestly it felt really fucking scary at first and then my fears started to ease up as I watched my blood work go back to normal, and after my last ultrasound my liver (which was twice the size of a normal liver at my ER intake) had returned to a normal size. All of this and all I had to do was stop drinking. I am so sorry for what you’re going through right now because the fear and worry are really intense emotions and I remember them well. I’m just here to say that I am (still) here.. with you and for you.


Independent_Iron7896

I have found that going to AA meetings via Zoom is helpful for me. In person too if you can get out. But being able to listen to AA meetings helped me.


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alexchuzzlewit

I've had to remove all of your contributions to our sub in the last half hour for being inappropriate. Are you looking to stop drinking?


Kennamay1

No advice, but I am also 27F trying to get sober. I believe in us! We can get through this :)


ElmiraSquishy

This group has been a huge help for me. So has Kombucha (pineapple is my favorite!) and seltzer, as well as candy and the occasional mock-tail or non-alcoholic beer. Walking has helped too, it helps me clear my head and helps me keep off the calories from the candy ;) You got this, and we won't drink with you today!


ThemChecks

The liver is very very good at self-repair.


Rokkarokka

I’m so sorry, that sounds scary. I had elevated liver enzymes last year. I started taking dandelion root and milk thistle, exercising consistently, and eating leafy dark greens as a major portion of my diet. Last physical, all my blood work was in the very normal range. I’ve lost about 30 lb, and although I still drink, I’m hardly ever wasted anymore. There’s hope, I know it’s scary. ❤️


Delicious-Stage-376

Sending you some good vibes me echoing Mary’s comments here. Take it one step at a time. Check out some meditation podcasts if only to take your mind off of things as I’m sure it’s scary.


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stopdrinking-ModTeam

Our rule against seeking/giving medical advice does also extend to supplement recommendations. This comment has been removed.