High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

[42cat]

Hi everyone. I don't post a whole lot, but I do look in here just about every day. Hope everyone's doing well.

I finally spoke to my doctor about my drinking habits, which have gotten out of hand the last several months ... (drinking in the a.m. because of anxiety, drinking through the day, and up until bedtime). She sent me for bloodwork and I had an appointment to see her today. Sure enough, high liver enzymes. She told me I had to stop drinking right now, which I am. She also prescribed Paxil to help with the anxiety. Needless to say, I've been scared straight.

My questions ...

- Any high liver enzyme stories to share?

- Any Paxil stories to share?

Thanks everyone.

I haven't had a drink in 4 hours. Husband is away tonight. Here to we go.

[momof3]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

42,

Keep up the good work. Lots of good information on this site. Check out the toolbox thread under "Monthly Abstinence."

I used to take an anti anxiety drug but now that I've been AF, I no longer need it. It seems like the alcohol was causing most of the anxiety.

Take good care of yourself and drink lots of water.

Be Well
M3

[peacenik]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

stay here and just try to make it through day one and keep coming back everyday until you are over the humps...

i had high liver enzymes and continued to drink...pain in my liver area (under right side of ribcage), lots of anxiety and genral depression. stopping drinking helped most of it mostly. i used supplements (l-glutamine for cravings and kudzu for intense cravings)...they help alot.

good luck and hang in there...folks will support you here!

peace

[42cat]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

Thanks so much for your replies. Knowing I'm not alone really helps.

[tylyr]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

i'm worried about my liver too, been drinking so-so for about 20 years. about 3 or 4 bottles wine a week, at least double what i should be drinking - around 25-30 units a week. i need to stop. I'm keeping on coming here now , i've been back and fore for around 2 years. this is day 3 for me. I need to crack this. Tylyr

[BecomingMeAtLast]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

42
You're not alone! The more AF days I have in the less depressed and anxious I am. They're so linked. The anxiety will subside once the drinking does, I can almost guarantee that 100% without knowing anything else!
Thanks for reaching out to us. Hope you're doing ok.
Be

[keeta]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

Hi cat.
How are you doing tonight?
Is your husband still away? Do you normally drink when he is out?

There are some great people here that will be able to support you through this.
You can do this.:l
The liver is an amazing organ. It will repair itself to some degree. Some help you can give it is: 1) of course STOP drinking.
2) Take Milk Thistle.
3) Lemon water. A half lemon squeezed into a glass of water two or three times a day.

I am sure there are more.
Please keep close and ask for all the help, advise and support you want or need.
We are here for you!

[Evie.Lou]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

I agree with the above advise and would only add that Liv 52 helped me get quick improvement in liver function and it did it fast !!If you are interested, you can goggle it and see about the research on this wonderful product..

[42cat]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

Thank you for all of the replies yesterday. I'm going to look into the supplements mentioned, the lemon, etc.

I have to admit that I caved and had a beer before bed last night - I usually drink rum or vodka and coke, so I think I will call that progress. Had the best sleep last night even though DH was away, no shakes or anxiety this morning, although I know withdrawals don't always start right away .. just hoping I'm lucky I guess! .... (btw, I was up to about a quart (750 ml) of hard liquor a day, throughout the day, spaced out from morning to night ... never got "drunk" .. just kept the buzz).

So, today is really "Day 1" I guess, but yesterday was pretty good so I'm not going to put myself down for the one beer I had.

Oddly enough, even though the liver thing was scary, I'm actually feeling optimistic for the first time in a long, long time .. maybe because now I have something else to focus on rather than getting my next drink?

AL is one evil dude.

Thanks again everyone for the replies and well wishes. Here's to a great day for all of us. Don't stop the fight.

[bestlifeldms]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

Dear CAt,

I agree with the good advice above. Took Paxil for about 3 years in the 90's. It helped me at the time, but I was able to titrate off of it, when I began to take a great suppliment. Anxiety improved nearly 100% when I began an AF regiment. I attribute the small % of anxiety that remains directly to life, ie. work, kids, the economy, world events, etc. You will be amazed how good life feels, when the alcohol is completely out of your system. Hang in there with the liver issues and take good care of yourself. Hugs!

[MyHeartIsDrenchedInWine]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

You have been given great advice here.

Is your Dr. giving you anything for withdrawal symptoms? I think that might be necessary or you could possibly end up in the hospital with DT's. Please check on that! I'll be thinking of you

[aprilmoon]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

I have been taking Paxil for years. It helped me not kill the men I worked with and/or my husband. (Just kidding) It did help me see things clearer and think before I acted. That was great, but I continued to drink while taking the Paxil until Jan 28, 09.

A year ago my liver enzimes were up. I have to go to my doctor in March. I hope they are down.

[FloridaBoy]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

BecomingMeAtLast;550803 wrote: 42
You're not alone! The more AF days I have in the less depressed and anxious I am. They're so linked. The anxiety will subside once the drinking does, I can almost guarantee that 100% without knowing anything else!
Thanks for reaching out to us. Hope you're doing ok.
Be

Thumb up. It is a downward spiral. Break it and be free.

[42cat]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

Thanks again for your replies. So far so good here. Hope everyone else is doing well.

It's only been a couple of days for me, but I'm already feeling better. I feel fortunate that I haven't really had any bad withdrawal symptoms (750 ml of hard liquor a day, morning to night) .... I was waiting for them, and ready to seek medical help if they occurred, as I know how bad they can get. Maybe it's because the water I drink, or what I eat, or how I space the drinks out .. but I know it was a lot over the course of a 24 hour period, every day...

... not to mention the cost, but that's another matter .. $22.99 a day, plus mix. Therein lies more guilt. I gave up buying myself clothes, and I cut my own hair, to try to "justify" my secret spending. Oh the shame.

It's a good feeling to not be afraid to get out of bed in the morning and dread making myself that 1st vodka and OJ of the day (at 6:00 a.m. many days), or rum and coke for that matter, knowing what it would do to the rest of my day - same thing it does to all of my days - keeps me detached and seeking that next drink (even while interacting with others at work and acting like I'm normal) in my own secret little foggy world ... the world that makes the days and months and years slip away.

....... and, you know, even as I made that 1st drink of the day, I'd actually ask myself "why" I felt I needed to do this, and I'd have no good reason (it wasn't even to ward off shakes .. I think it was "just because I can").

I know it's only been a couple of days and I'm not out of the woods yet by any means, but I have to say that it feels really good to get up and have a coffee instead of a vodka and OJ .. to have that control .... to know it's MY choice ... to know my day is going to feel "real" today ... AL, I don't need you!

I am thankful for this site .. and many thanks for everyone on it who post and read. We have more power to beat this with support as a group. You all rock!

[peacenik]

High Liver Enzymes - Day 1 AF

you do have a choice cat...you really do!

great post dear...

peace