I am so glad I found this site. From what I have read so far, it seems like a safe place to be open and honest and not fear judgment or criticism. I took my last drink... more like finished my last bottle, of Vodka on September 24th, 2013. I ended up in the hospital, on September 29th with some severe medical issues.
I went to the Emergency Room on Sunday night when I just couldn't take the pain and discomfort. My abdomen was so distended that it hurt too bad to do anything but lay down, my ankles and legs were swollen and I couldn't poop. Emergency room around 11pm on Sept 29th, admitted to the hospital at around 3am
on Sept.30th --HAPPY BIRTHDAY-- I can't think of a better birthday party, ice chips and a Morphine filled IV. Actually I was in so much pain that the meds were better than cake. On Monday, I had a Paracentesis to drain some of the fluid from my abdomen. The condition is called "Ascites". "Ascites" is extra fluid in your abdomen. The lining inside your abdomen is called the "Peritoneum" and it is made up of 2 thin layers. One layer is attached to the wall of your abdomen and the other layer is wrapped around the abdominal organs.
They took out 3.4 liters and it felt so much better, I looked like I was 7 months pregnant when I first got to the hospital. Before I was released, they did 2 more Paracentesis procedures. The 2nd time was 2.2 liters and the 3rd time they took out 1.4 liters. There is still come fluid in there, but not enough to drain. Over the next
7 days I had more tests, blood tests and IV's that stopped working so I looked like a human pin cushion...a pin cushion that bruises really easily. 2 different kind of CT Scans to get a better look at my gallbladder, x-rays, MRI's and a Transjugular Liver Biopsy, they had to also give me fresh frozen plasma so that I would
clot correctly after the liver biopsy. My Gallbladder has clogged bile ducts and is not functioning properly, I
met with the surgeon and the choice between removing the gallbladder or keeping it was made fairly quickly when the surgeon told me that because of the state my liver was in I would never make it off of the operating table alive. Which brings me to my liver. 2 years ago in August I was diagnosed with a fatty liver and Auto-Immune Hepatitis (basically my body thinks that the good cells are bad and starts attacking itself) It is a genetic thing. Now due to the auto-immune hepatitis and some really stupid choices like drinking a huge bottle of Vodka everyday, I was not eating correctly and drinking when I knew I shouldn't, I now have Cirrhosis of the liver. Which is what made my gallbladder not function properly and I had a slight bowel
obstruction. I also have varicose veins in my esophagus and my stomach, portal hypertension, and I was severely Jaundice, the whites of my eyes and my skin were super yellow (I looked like a banana). And too much ammonia in my blood. Thank the Lord (and I am every thanking Him every chance I get) the liver biopsy showed no signs of cancer, just the Cirrhosis. I was in the hospital for 8 days and honestly I am lucky to be alive. I am on 11 medications and a strict 2000mg a day sodium diet, a 1500ml a day fluid restriction and NO ALCOHOL ever again. Every single thing I eat is written down and counted to the mg. I go for a follow up with my GI Doctor on Dec 10th to see how my body is reacting to the meds and to possibly start the transplant process. My Dr. told me that I am not going be one of the people that die of natural causes, my liver will fail before my body does.
Needless to say, some major changes have been happening and I am sure there are more to come. I am scared. Cirrhosis is basica
