alcohol troubles

[lauries5150]

I am a practicing alcoholic, and I am experiencing red blotches on my forearm (like ruptured blood vessels). To me, it seems like some kind of liver damage. And I have had 'hepititis A' many years ago. Is this a really bad sign? Im scared!!! What can I do? besides quit drinking? Thanx

[cliffsdoll]

thers is nothing else you can do besides stopping drinking, but you already know this, see your gp about your problems. i know it easy for others to tell you to stop drinking and its a really difficult thing to do, but saying that, do you want to die or do you want a reasonable life? the choice is your and yours alone. sorry to be so blunt but this is the stark true, so give up the booze, do it for yourself and have a good life.

[jay139]

I agree,youcan do nothing about this apart from quiting the booze. These blotches are common to alcholics and heavy drinkers and more commonly appear on the nose and face. it is the veins leading to your liver I would be more concerned about. Good luck x

[noxlumos]

I was an alcoholic, smoker and drug abuser for a long time. I'm none of these things now and have not been for 8 years.You can give it up and you should give it up. There's so much more to life than drinking and if you don't mind me saying you need to stop before it stops you. There is always an underlying reason why people do anything to excess, find out what yours is and address that, then you will find it is far easier to lose the alcohol you have been propping yourself up with.You also don't have to have a life of total abstinence despite everything you might hear which implies if you are a recovering drink abuser you can't ever drink again. I drink socially occasionally and never to excess and I have never had a problem with controlling that. With the help of my now wife I used a form of NLP to help me, didn't go to any groups etc and it was far easier than I thought it would be and gave me back control over myself and my health. Go and see your Dr and get your blotches checked out then decide to pack up the drink. It'll be the best thing you ever do. Good luck mate.

[jake-the-peg]

There's more of us about than you'd think.

I've been dry for 5 years now ( I found I couldn't drink socially - everbody's different)

You've admitted you've got a problem and that's so important - there are thousands of people walking about who are going to die from alcohol - they haven't even got a chance because they won't admit they've got a problem - well they might when their liver packs up.

Sounds to me like you just need the support now - You're scared - good! use that to do something about it.

AA GP whatever, just do something

Maybe it's just a scare, maybe you'll get another warning.

Maybe you wont

[WendyS]

I do think it's time to have a serious and honest discussion wih your GP about your alcoholic intake because long term alcoholism can cause irreparable liver damage. If you try Googling " Cirrhosis" or "late stage Cirrhosis", I think you will find enough material to convince you that you really do need to quit drinking alcohol now. Equally important, joining a Alcoholic Anonymous group will help you address the issues that are causing your alcoholism in the first place, i.e. are you lonely? do you drink to boost your self-esteem & confidence? etc. Quitting won't be easy but you should be encouraged by the responses given here that it CAN be done, so that you can get your health back . It really isn't worth living with this long-term death threat over your head which is what will eventually almost certainly happen if you continue to drink.

[druiaghtagh]

Im another alcoholic (always will be ) who is in recovery my life is immesurabely better since i quit many many years ago, you cannot have any booze whatsoever, ever again if you truly want to beat this illness its your decision and yours only, got to do it for yourself, not friends or family As Jake the peg says, there ae many of us about in all walks of life, i never thought i would be where i am today, i have a good life, my family are fully supportive, i am clear of mind and body which i never used to be, i wish you well in your first steps on the road to recovery

[jaberwocky]

take it from me you should really cut back or stop. i had a tumour on my liver[not alcohol related] and i have seen what people with chronic cirrhosis look like. and at the risk of seeming selfish, i will require a transplant at some stage and dont feel happy about alcoholics receiving transplants when many others die on the waiting list . an example was george best, great footballer but he did not deserve a transplant.

[jaberwocky]

ps to previous, the blotches are called [not sure of the correct name] spidering. press them and they fade then appear again. think that is what you may have. thats cirrhosis.