Background:
I'm 31 years old now and have been drinking increasingly heavily since about 12 years old (including a decade of college partying later on). For several years I've consumed roughly a 5th (usually of bourbon whiskey) or a great amount of beer daily (skipping days here and there). I rarely eat decently (used to broke college living) and I don't exercise at all (my job is to sit in a chair and program software from the house).
I've never really experienced hangovers throughout the years (very very rare) except for this last year. I managed to graduate around the same time my best friend committed suicide and have been unemployed for some time now... so needless to say, I starting pouring it on heavily and more regularly (sometimes a couple of 5th's a night between friends).
Symptom:
Throughout this last year I've had the usual hangover experiences from time to time (nausea, headaches rarely, extreme thirst, etc...) but this last couple of months it's become so bad that I've slowed down tremendously (because my body made me). There were sometimes if I didn't consume enough or, eat properly while consuming I would start to get what I believe to be DT's, which then mentally told me "hey, just drink enough to not feel sick anymore if you wake up sick", and of course this would sometimes lead to heavy drinking later that night after I get to feeling better.
This last month has been the most painful though. I've woke up a few times with cold-sweats, nausea, extreme abdominal pain which appears to stem from I'm guessing liver spasms judging by the area it generates from (which made it difficult to stand for more than a few minutes without getting sick or feeling like my abdominal was on fire) but no headaches.
My eyes are also red constantly most likely from continual dehydration and a poor diet (I don't think they are yellow), my skin looks normal...*cough* my stool is more often essentially diarrhea sometimes dark oily and/or yellowish color (this is not constant).
Current Situation:
Since regulating more water intake, trying to eat more regularly, taking a short walk once feeling better to clear up the system, and drinking less often or slim-to-non, these symptoms have been slowly lessening.
Conclusion:
I already know the basic idea that most people would say and I understand it completely "stop drinking so dam much, fix your diet, see a doctor, etc...". I understand alcohol in excess is a poison. Although I appreciate these sentiments, I'm more looking for what this community thinks on how severe these symptoms are. I've read up a bit on fatty liver, cirrhosis, liver cancer, hep C (for a friend), etc, but an actual person might help more to talk to.
Sorry for the wall of text. Any input or ideas are greatly appreciated!