permanent damage from alcohol?

[gia4]

Hi.  I have been a heavy drinker for 18 years.  It's escalated recently to at least 2 bottles of wine a day...and  when home by myself I start sipping at lunch!  I am taking paxil for anxiety and know I shouldn't drink at all with that.  Somehow my drinking & smoking seem to have escalated with it.  Do I drink to alleve anxiety or do I have anxiety b/c I drink.  I worry about health all the time now....my hands shake, night sweats, hard to take a deep breath, diarrhea, ETC.  I am 37...could I already have permanent damage...liver, pancreas...or is there hope?
ANY response would be appreciated.

[boogieman]

hello. a similar thing happened to my dad. he had physicals and tests which were all negative for problems, and he continued to drink. within a year he was in the icu with severe pain. when they figured out his pancreas was more or less liquefied, it was too late. he was dead 2 weeks after the hospital admission. and it was not peaceful. you sound like you still may have a chance. if you want to stay sober, it is possible and there is a solution to your problems. if you do not, you won't have to wait long until you will be out of options. give yourself a break, it will get better. take care,   gm

[uasus]

Hi, You could  have done damage. I have been a heavy drinker for mayny years. certainly the past 15, maybe more. I have recently been very concerned about my drinking effecting my liver. I have had abdominal pain often. I had three ultra sounds and always was worried that they would show that I have cirrhosis. They kept coming clear and I kept drinking more, feeling that I had a clean bill of health. just last week I started having terrible abdominal pain and went to the hospital. They told me that I have pancreatitis and absolutely must stop drinking. I was in terrible pain and had to take work offf and fast for several days. I am just able to eat some food again today. I am absolutely shocked and embarrased even to myself that I have done such a thing to my body. What is the matter with me?

[theislandbaby]

Thank you for sharing your story.  I think a lot of alcoholics don't realize that you could die from drinking.  It is a harsh reality.

Thanks for reminding us that alcohol is truly a poison.  Our lives are worth saving and we deserve to live our lives sober and to the fullest.

I am so sorry for your loss.  It must have been absolutely terrifying, emotionally traumatizing, and so very sad.

Hugs to you.  XOXO

[virgo1969]

My boyfriend of 18 years just passed away from complications of liver failure due to alcoholism last Thursday at 3am.It is still very fresh for me. He was diagnosed in October 2008 with cirrhosis and the disease took him that quickly. He drank from the time I met him up until he was diagnosed but then he was clean for the past 4 months. Too little too late. He bled out internally as his organs could not withstand so much pressure from the water buildup (that he was having drained constantly). They transfused him with over 60 liters of blood before they gave up. It was the most horrific thing I have ever had to watch and there was nothing that I could do.  He just turned 40 in December and that is much too young to go. Please, please do not destroy your health with wine or any other substance for that matter. It is so not worth it. Our bodies can only take so much.

[theislandbaby]

Hi Gia,  I am 36 and am classified as a binge drinker.  I can drink large amounts of alcohol for days on end.  Unfortunately.  Alcoholism runs in my family but I am the one that is the 'dysfunctional' alcoholic.  

I had a complete screening done (blood panel) less than a year ago and everything came out fine for me.  I am also on Wellbutrin and was when I was drinking.  I am still drinking, but once in a blue moon now (a lot in one night though) and I am hoping to be completely abstainant starting today.  I am so sick and tired of life in the haze and am starting to worry about my own health as I am not getting any younger.  I have a young child who is only 3 and I can't be doing this to myself anymore.  

First and foremost I would make an appointment with your doctor to have a blood panel done.  He/she will have the lab check your liver enzymes.  Also you should have a physical done as well so you know where you are 'health' wise.

The liver is a very resilient organ and if you quit drinking it can heal itself.  Unless you have cirrhosis.  That is irreversable.  But nonetheless your health and well being will dramatically improve once you get control of your drinking or you quit.  Having the blood tests done will at least give you peace of mind instead of wondering.

All the best.

[RichReligion]

I watched my Pops go out like that..You don't want no parts of that demon. I begged him when I was young to stop drinking cuz the doctors said that he'll be in grave danger. He continued: he's still alive but its all bad..Doesn't look promising for him.

I started to go down that road, but I had to shake it off. The effect of the alcohol will eventually where off..and you'll be left with a whole new world of medical problems.

[KjFlicka]

I have been exactly where you are and also knew deep down the results of my blood work would show something. Well, it did. I also drank only wine, about the same amount as you. I am very curious to know if you have the results back yet?  Please let me know as I've been through it and, though the diagnosis was really bad (cirrhosis at age 34), I am now doing fantastic more than a year later. Not everyone who drinks heavyily (and nobody knows why) gets cirrhosis, so hopefully it's not, but your symptoms sound very familiar.

Please write me back if you can,
Nicole

[boogieman]

hi. sounds like you have begun to experience some of the things that classify alcoholism as a progressive condition. you made a couple of interesting points that i can definitely relate to as well. both my father and myself have been in working environments that promote alcohol consumption. he died from complications of alcoholism and i came very close. i have more or less cut ties with many people as they are still involved in the same environment, even though it has been my passion. as far as others, some of them know and understand the nature of chemical dependency and are very happy that i was able to get sober. there are unfortunately some that still perpetuate the belief that it is a sign of weakness or a compromise of morals, but this is due to ignorance of the facts and acceptance of stereotypes. you are not a bad person trying to become good, rather someone who is ill and trying to get better. if you check out my last journal entry, there are links to several sources of accurate information addressing the nature of the illness. additionally, bloodwork including a liver panel by a doctor who is aware of your concerns is a good idea also. even if there has been some damage, often it can be successfully treated. but remember that a lack of verifiable damage does not mean it's ok to continue drinking. often, problems with organs such as the liver and pancreas can be asymptomatic until there is significant or treatment resistant damage. hope this helps and please ask if you have other concerns or just want to talk. take care,  gm

[gia4]

Thanks for responding.  It is wine, wine, wine.  I sold it for years so was always around it, then spent 2 yrs in England where it was acceptable at lunch, etc.  and was dating an alcoholic who validated it.  Now I can't even imagine a meal without it....or an evening.  I associate it with everything.  My father is a "functioning" alcoholic and I don't want to follow that path...I'm sick of feeling sick and tired.  But STILL my diseased mind says, don't admit it's a problem to the people around you ('cause then you can't take it back and you can't have a glass anymore!)  sick.  I'm having bloodwork done this week and I am terrified there is damage...evend more terrified of the embarrassment...then parents, etc. would know how bad it's been.  Sad and sick.

[LORDINEEDHELP]

i hope i can help some my husband is an alacholic my sister in laws both of them and my husbands father also was recently my sister in law went to a rehab for 45 days and she is now out and sadly she is already drinking again but she said her dr told her that is she kept up on the amount she was drinking and mixing with prec meds it would be body damaging wih in te next five years everyone is different depends on how long you have been drinking for ,how often ,your general ,health what other meds if any you have mixed with it it ,your age your best bet is to go see your dr im sorry im not more help i have done alot of reasearch on it personaly but all situations are different is it just wine or beer or hard alachol everything plays a factor sry i could not be more of a help if i can help in any other way please  ask also i tlk with a person called boogieman in this forum for advice he is always a real help