Is there a Doctor in the house? I need the first sign of a bad liver? serious answers please.
Well, the liver is actually near the stomach, on the right-upper side of the abdomen, underneath the lower ribs. If you had tests specifically directed on the liver and they showed no modifications, than probably that is ok. however, only an ecography or a CT will show for certain. The symptoms might indicate gastritis or ulcer.
The symptoms for liver failure are detailed wonderfully by the poster below, and I must subscribe to his oppinion. STOP DRINKING!!! It will kill you eventually, have no doubt about it. and indeed it's not pretty. The maximum amount allowed by physicians is 25 grams pure alcohol a day, that being 1/2 liters of beer, or a 200 ml glass of wine. Any more will destroy the liver.
Persistant itching is a common sign as well as upper right quadrant abdominal pain. Clay colored stool is also a common indication of liver failure. Swelling in the abdomen (ascites) usually follows as does jaundice of the sclera. stop drinking now as it only goes downhill from there. Blood tests can confirm liver damage. Have your doctor check your liver function. I strongly suggest you or whomever you speak of stop drinking now! Death by liver failure is not pretty and the process hurts like you know what! Liver transplant won't even be an option until after counseling and at least 6 months to 1 year sobriety and even then the transplant list is long! Don't plan on a new liver, save the one you have.
Answer to additional information:
Yes, blood tests will show if you have liver damage. your LFT's (liver function tests) will indicate to what degree if any damage has occured.
If you are a drinker and you are experiencing pain you need to go to your doctor. They need to do blood work and at minimum get an ultrasound. Trust me on this, don't mess with your liver, see your doctor now.
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Last bit of info:
I was looking at your past Q&a and I noticed you said you had your gallbladder removed. Some patients experience looser stools after their gallbladders are removed, possibly related to the constant flow of bile into the intestine. Because alcohol can also lead to diarrhea, drinking may compound the problem of cholecystectomy-related diarrhea in certain people. Hope that answers your question. Please quit drinking.
nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/…
There is one thing I can say that you need to do immediately and for a long period of time, perhaps many years. take milk thistle. take small amount first, then build up slowly over a few weeks till you are taking maximum dose. That and dietary changes will be the only thing that can turn your liver health around, not 360, but close.
Drink no further. Get yourself into programs, meetings, counselling, sponsors, etc…
attend church, good mechanism.