It recently happened to me and I think it's important enough to share. I've been part of the site for awhile, but haven't posted recently ... I wasn't sure where to put this...
Alcohol has been a part of my life for many years. I was up to a 5th a day even, thoughout the day, never getting drunk. I managed to taper down and did quite well for awhile. I've also had other AF periods (pregnancies, health kicks, etc.) .... But overall drinking has been in my life for a long time. I'm 45.
The week before last, I was putting on my make-up one Monday morning before work and noticed a little yellowing in my eyes. It's happened before, and I didn't think much of it. I hadn't even been drinking much lately ... just a couple here and there, maybe one after work, a couple before bed. (I had been feeling nauseated from time to time, and did gag in the mornings every now and then, even if I hadn't had a drink. I had NO other symptoms that would alert me to something really wrong... no pain, no tenderness, no bathroom issues, or other troubles.)
(Overall I felt fine .... including before I eventually went to the hospital, while there, and here back at home. I feel normal. Except I'm yellow and apparently very sick. Don't let "feeling fine" fool you.)
Anyway ... back to the story ..... The next day, again doing make-up, more yellow. By the end of the week (Friday), the whites of both eyes were completely yellow. I thought, "Hmmmm, that's never happened before." .... But I still wasn't really alarmed, even though I know what yellow eyes means. However, even though they were worse than they'd ever been, I figured it would just go away -- it always went away.
Saturday, my oldest said, "Mom, you're eyes are glowing." ..... And on her way to work, she looked back at me and said, "Your face and arms are yellow.... I think you should go to the doctor."
I called my mom and she took me to the duty clinic. The doctor there took one look and said to get to Emergency. Off we went. They admitted me right away. My bilirubin # was critical, and my other #'s were extremely out of whack, and I was dehydrated and very low on potassium. It only took a week to become this bad (although I am sure it had been lingering for awhile and my liver decided now is the time to get her ... guess you just never know.)
I was days and days in the hospital on an IV drip with potassium, given many vitamins, and questioned by doctors and a liver specialist about my habits lately and over the years. (I also had not been eating for a long time due to stress (I guess) ... probably didn't have any real source protein or iron for many months, or good vitamin-filled foods.
They did complete bloodwork, a thorough ultrasound, a CT scan, and other bloodwork every day.... and (thank goodness) cancers were ruled out. But my liver was not doing its job (I hate to say 'failing' - it's such a scary word). It could have been fatal.
As an example, my bilirubin # was in the high 200's ... It's supposed to be 30.
I was so scared .... waiting for my liver to completely shut down, as they told me it could ... and if your liver shuts down, you don't live .... I was constantly thinking of all sorts of death things (still am) .... and hoping that somehow I could have another chance. Please, another chance.
My blood #'s etc. started to show slight improvement as the days went on .... They put me on blood thinner pills and vitamins, and sent me home ... told me to drink a lot of water, eat good foods only, take my prescription as ordered, and come back in two weeks, unless things worsen of course.
Now I wait.
PLEASE .... STOP DRINKING NOW, WHILE YOU CAN .... YOUR LIVER CAN HEAL, AS LONG AS YOU HAVEN'T DESTROYED IT BEYOND REPAIR.
Please don't let this happen to you. It's horrible. Just horrible.
Thank you for listening.
P.s...... I can NEVER drink again - not even one .... and I feel so d@mn free in that regard. I hope I have many years of life left to enjoy that freedom. I will never harm my liver again. Ever.
Alcohol has been a part of my life for many years. I was up to a 5th a day even, thoughout the day, never getting drunk. I managed to taper down and did quite well for awhile. I've also had other AF periods (pregnancies, health kicks, etc.) .... But overall drinking has been in my life for a long time. I'm 45.
The week before last, I was putting on my make-up one Monday morning before work and noticed a little yellowing in my eyes. It's happened before, and I didn't think much of it. I hadn't even been drinking much lately ... just a couple here and there, maybe one after work, a couple before bed. (I had been feeling nauseated from time to time, and did gag in the mornings every now and then, even if I hadn't had a drink. I had NO other symptoms that would alert me to something really wrong... no pain, no tenderness, no bathroom issues, or other troubles.)
(Overall I felt fine .... including before I eventually went to the hospital, while there, and here back at home. I feel normal. Except I'm yellow and apparently very sick. Don't let "feeling fine" fool you.)
Anyway ... back to the story ..... The next day, again doing make-up, more yellow. By the end of the week (Friday), the whites of both eyes were completely yellow. I thought, "Hmmmm, that's never happened before." .... But I still wasn't really alarmed, even though I know what yellow eyes means. However, even though they were worse than they'd ever been, I figured it would just go away -- it always went away.
Saturday, my oldest said, "Mom, you're eyes are glowing." ..... And on her way to work, she looked back at me and said, "Your face and arms are yellow.... I think you should go to the doctor."
I called my mom and she took me to the duty clinic. The doctor there took one look and said to get to Emergency. Off we went. They admitted me right away. My bilirubin # was critical, and my other #'s were extremely out of whack, and I was dehydrated and very low on potassium. It only took a week to become this bad (although I am sure it had been lingering for awhile and my liver decided now is the time to get her ... guess you just never know.)
I was days and days in the hospital on an IV drip with potassium, given many vitamins, and questioned by doctors and a liver specialist about my habits lately and over the years. (I also had not been eating for a long time due to stress (I guess) ... probably didn't have any real source protein or iron for many months, or good vitamin-filled foods.
They did complete bloodwork, a thorough ultrasound, a CT scan, and other bloodwork every day.... and (thank goodness) cancers were ruled out. But my liver was not doing its job (I hate to say 'failing' - it's such a scary word). It could have been fatal.
As an example, my bilirubin # was in the high 200's ... It's supposed to be 30.
I was so scared .... waiting for my liver to completely shut down, as they told me it could ... and if your liver shuts down, you don't live .... I was constantly thinking of all sorts of death things (still am) .... and hoping that somehow I could have another chance. Please, another chance.
My blood #'s etc. started to show slight improvement as the days went on .... They put me on blood thinner pills and vitamins, and sent me home ... told me to drink a lot of water, eat good foods only, take my prescription as ordered, and come back in two weeks, unless things worsen of course.
Now I wait.
PLEASE .... STOP DRINKING NOW, WHILE YOU CAN .... YOUR LIVER CAN HEAL, AS LONG AS YOU HAVEN'T DESTROYED IT BEYOND REPAIR.
Please don't let this happen to you. It's horrible. Just horrible.
Thank you for listening.
P.s...... I can NEVER drink again - not even one .... and I feel so d@mn free in that regard. I hope I have many years of life left to enjoy that freedom. I will never harm my liver again. Ever.
ray:
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