Do you think ive done any damage to my liver ?!


Question: Do you think ive done any damage to my liver ?
i started drinking at 13 every now and then. im 22 now and for the past 4 or 5 years iv been drinking heavy every night

Answers:

Four or 5 years of heavy drinking probably has not done permanent damage yet, but it most likely is headed in that direction. The experts estimate that it can take 10 years of heavy drinking for the liver to become cirrhotic. Cirrhosis is when healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue which is permanent liver damage that will not go away and will only get worse. That estimate varies with each person depending on a number of factors such as how much you drink, what you drink, how long, how your body handles alcohol, genetics, underlying medical conditions, medical history, etc.

Alcohol is a poison to the liver. Abuse of alcohol will cause it to become inflamed. All this inflammation will eventually start to kill liver cells. Fibroisis forms at first which then leads to the permanent scar tissue damage of cirrhosis. The only cure for cirrhosis is a liver transplant and active alcoholics do not qualify to receive one. An alcoholic can try to get one but the first requirement for them is at least 6 months of proven sobriety before they will even begin to consider you. Often times the alcoholic is just too sick to last those 6 months or too sick to be able to go through the surgery and would die on the table. They must pass a very extensive evaluation in order to qualify.

Personally speaking, I don't want to preach here because I think you know you are destroying your body but you have to be the one to try to get help to stop it. Not many alcoholics can do it on their own and need help which is nothing to be ashamed of getting. It's the smart way to quit since you would need to detox safely first and then address why you drink and how you can cope with life sober. I do believe that your life will be greatly shortened if you don't quit. My cousin died in his 30's and his drinking history was a lot like yours. He was a handsome 6'3" soldier in his youth that gained him all kinds of medals for his bravery in the Vietnam War. By the time he was in his mid 30's, he was just a shell of what he used to be. He died alone at home from cirrhosis. The alcohol abuse took his life. He was brave enough to face the enemy in war but not brave enough to face himself and fight for his own life. He chose to drown his memories and thoughts in booze instead of dealing with why he drinks.

I don't know what your story is since everyone has one when it comes to alcoholism. I urge you to get help before you reach a sad end like my cousin and the millions of others in cemeteries gone long before their time. Good luck to you.



Of course you've damaged your liver. But the liver is very resilient and rejuvenatory, and can be helped if you stop damaging it. But you won't, so it's an academic question. You seem proud of your alcoholism.



If you must drink, take the herb Milk Thistle. Also alpha lipoic acid. Both are good for the liver.




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