Are their any alcoholics who suffered from liver damage and cleaned up?!

Are their any alcoholics who suffered from liver damage and cleaned up?

This is really directed to an alcoholic or someone who knows a person who was in the situation. I recently discovered that my liver function is a bit out of wac and I'm pretty scared. Of course it's due to my drinking the past few years. I'd just like to know what I'm up against from someone who has been there.

Thanks guys,

Ken

Alcohol doesn't damage everyone's liver...
why it does some and not others is unknown.
Alcohol not taken in excess, the liver can handle
...it is when it is taken in excess that this
problem occurs. Alcohol overload can change
to a chemical inside the liver that causes it
to become damaged. This damage, causes
inflammation of the liver cells. This can be
treated and, if caught early enough, the liver
can heal if the alcohol intake is completely
stopped and medication given to control and
make the inflammation of the cells go away
before they become destroyed. Once the
cells die, it is too late. The cells turn to scar
tissue and block the healthy cells from
receiving the oxygen and nourishment they
need in order to live...which causes more
cells to die off and continues on from there.
The death of these cells is known as
cirrhosis. Cirrhosis leads to a liver
transplantation in order for the patient to
live.

There are different kinds of testing that can
be done: blood test show the liver enzymes
and the liver function. The liver enzymes
show the level of damage that may be occurring
and the liver function tests show how the
liver is able to perform the functions to help
the body live healthy...when the function of the liver starts to go down, symptoms will appear like jaundice (yellowing) of the white of the eyes and the skin turning yellow also. You can see this best outside in natural light. However,
some people don't have any symptoms at
all until the liver is in failure. It is good your
doctor is checking your blood work now.
Bilirubin is what causes this symptom and he
can see the level of it in your blood before
you become this way.

The best test known to see if how much the
liver is damaged, is known as a liver
biopsy. Looking directly at a specimen of
the liver taken from the body is much more
accurate than seeing a picture by a CT scan
or MRI.

Here is a link on Cirrhosis:
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases...

There is a group in Yahoo Groups known
as 'livercirrhosissupport". People there where
alcoholics, caregiver who have taken care
of someone who has cirrhosis because
of being alcoholics, some have cirrhosis from
many other reasons or family members who
do, and some there have gone through the
whole process to transplantation and beyond.
It isn't hard to join...they will ask you the
reason you want to join...but it is entirely
free and others are willing to help you find
out information fast and answer many of
your questions. You may find many who
are going through what you are right now.
If you don't feel like posting and just want
to listen in by reading the posts... that is
fine...you are welcome to come if you want.