I’m a single male that has been drinking like a fish over the last few years (age = 38) and my doctor has given me blood tests that show higher than normal liver enzymes. What is the danger in this? Is this normal for a heavy drinker? What can I expect to happen next if I continue to drink heavily daily? I actually quite enjoy it, but have to be careful that it doesn’t affect my work.
It hasn’t even occurred to my doctor that it might be heavy drinking causing my problem (I live in Utah where the majority of the population doesn’t drink). I hesitate to talk to him about it because my insurance is a PPO meaning my company can request his records because they are self-insuring me.
To any Straight dope doctor, any advice? To any AA contributor, I want to let you know there is no point in responding. I’m glad it worked for you, but that higher being thing gets in the way.
If you have elevated liver enzymes, you have hepatitis. In your case, it’s most likely alcoholic hepatitis. This may lead to fibrosis, or scarring of the liver, which can lead to cirrhosis and death. Usually a particularly prolonged, icky, blood and bile filled death.
Advice? Level with your doctor. Be sure to get checked for infectious hepatitis B and C. If you have one of those along with heavy alcohol intake, a bad outcome sooner is more likely. Stop drinking. If you won’t go to AA because of the “higher power” thing, go to Rational Recovery or Secular and Sober, or some such.
The nice thing is that the liver is very, very good at self-repairing if the toxin is removed. Most people with alcoholic hepatitis (if they don’t yet have cirrhosis) return to a nice, normal healthy liver state IF they stop consuming alcohol.
There’s another reason to tell your doctor about your drinking. If you drink every day and have for some time, stopping can cause a whole set of problems. Some of which are life threatening. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t quit, you should, without a doubt, but you may need to be monitored and possibly medicated to avoid withdrawal seizures.
And if you’re worried about telling your doctor about your drinking, perhaps you need to find a doctor you’re more comfortable with (if possible, with your insurance). Your doctor’s primary concerns should be your health and privacy … but some doctors put other agendas first.
And if you do stop drinking, which obviously would be a good idea, be careful about it – withdrawal from heavy alcohol use is about as bad as withdrawal can be.