Reassurance needed ASAP! Bruising/Liver Function

[Beatlesgirl]

Hi All,

I am having a complete freakout right now. Over the past week, I have noticed huge bruises on both of my arms. They appeared without injury or trauma and are HUGE. After googling this and finding things such as liver failure, leukemia, hepatitis and dozens of other scary ailments.

I went straight to my doctor, who did basic bloodwork. She said I basically had perfect bloodwork--kidneys, thyroid, cholesterol and red/white blood counts were all great. She ruled out leukemia and Lyme disease and had another specialist look at it, who basically said I'd be fine and it was just an injury or benign virus. I have also recently started 100 mg of Zoloft and a rare side effect is spontaneous bruising/bleeding.

My doctor is very thorough and decided to do a complete liver workup and clotting bloodwork. She said she will call me by the end of today with the results. I am just in a state of panic. I am not what I would call a huge drinker, but I do enjoy a few glasses of wine on most days and have for years. I am Italian and it's just part of my family and culture. I'm so worried that I have liver disease or cirrhosis. I am a 28 year old female and have had no other major health problems in the past. I am just looking for any similar experiences and/or reassurance. Thank you in advance! I have a beautiful three year old daughter and I am so afraid I'll have to leave her.

Thank you!

[MOchp]

Out of curiosity, how old are you if you don't mind me asking? A few glasses of wine a day on most days doesn't seem likely to have damaged your liver, especially not to the point you are worried about. It's not like you drink a 5th of vodka daily. Let us know what the results from earlier show! I'm sure you are fine though.

[Beatlesgirl]

Hi there, I am 28. No, I have never drank that much, even in college. Still haven't heard from doc and super anxious!

[mollyfin]

A few glasses of wine a day isn't going to cause cirrhosis in a healthy 28 year old. 

[bertybotts]

You drink TOO MUCH. A few glasses of wine? a DAY? Every day? For weeks? Months? YEARS?

It adds up and yes you are damaging your liver big time. Stop while you are ahead. Having one alcoholic beverage a day, just one, every day, is awful for you.

You haven't done any damage yet probably but heed my advice, you are seriously drinking heavily.

[Beatlesgirl]

Well...I would like to thank those of you who offered some reassurance. I was already freaking out and didnt need any negativity.

FYI--my doctor called. Liver function tests were perfect. Said it could be a side effect of Zoloft or a a benign virus. She said she did the most detailed LFT she could on me and nothing was even remotely abnormal.

And btw, I was very honest about my alcohol consumption--which averages 1-3 glasses (3 is very rare) of wine per day. My doctor said that this is FINE, and that she finds that those who consume alcohol moderately won't get alcoholic liver disease.

[vardnas]

You drink TOO MUCH. A few glasses of wine? a DAY? Every day? For weeks? Months? YEARS?

It adds up and yes you are damaging your liver big time. Stop while you are ahead. Having one alcoholic beverage a day, just one, every day, is awful for you.

You haven't done any damage yet probably but heed my advice, you are seriously drinking heavily.

Well, a glass of wine (or two) a day is actually proven to be healthy (or at least not unhealthy).

Also, bertybotts, with all due respect, please consider the tone of your posts. This is, after-all, a HYPOCHONDRIA web board, so it's best not to scare others into thinking they're "drinking heavily" and "damaging their liver," when in reality you don't know if this is the case or not for Beatlesgirl. Even if you're concerned, there's a way to go about stating that concern without freaking people out. Thanks.

[Beatlesgirl]

Thank you, vardnas, I appreciate that!

[bertybotts]

This is a typically dangerous level. Your body, your choice. There is no evidence to suggest this is a good idea, but do anything you like.
I am just telling you the truth.

[MOchp]

This is a typically dangerous level. Your body, your choice. There is no evidence to suggest this is a good idea, but do anything you like.
I am just telling you the truth.

http://bostinno.com/2012/06/26/cheers-two-glasses-of-wine-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2164222/Two-glasses-wine-day-middle-aged-adults-makes-life-better.html

Just a couple articles I dug up. Regardless it doesn't really matter anybodies opinion here on her drinking habits. She said her doctor told her that her consumption was fine, so are you calling her doctor a liar, or saying she is wrong?

[bertybotts]

This is a typically dangerous level. Your body, your choice. There is no evidence to suggest this is a good idea, but do anything you like.
I am just telling you the truth.

http://bostinno.com/2012/06/26/cheers-two-glasses-of-wine-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2164222/Two-glasses-wine-day-middle-aged-adults-makes-life-better.html

Just a couple articles I dug up. Regardless it doesn't really matter anybodies opinion here on her drinking habits. She said her doctor told her that her consumption was fine, so are you calling her doctor a liar, or saying she is wrong?

I am saying that her doctor cannot foresee what will happen to her in another 20 years of this level of drinking. Doctors are good, but they are not foolproof, and for the enjoyment you get out of wine or alcoholic beverages, you pay a big price for them.
I certainly would not drink that much. 1 or even 2 or 3 glasses of wine every day is a lot.
Say she drinks 2 a day, the middle number there.
That is 730 glasses of wine in a year.
How big are the glasses? What is the wine? How much is she really drinking? Are the glasses poured properly?

I would not say I consume 730 oz of alcohol a year.
I drink probably once a month. I drink about 5 oz a month. Let's REALLY go off the deep end and say I drink 8 oz a month. 8 oz a month x 12 months a year is 96 oz of alcohol a year.

She is drinking 730 oz (assuming 1 glass of wine = 1 oz of alcohol, but is this reaaaally true????). And I am "binge drinking" at a mere 96 oz.

That is a MONSTROUS difference and I would not feel comfortable asking my liver to process 730 oz of alcohol in a year. Now multiply that by how many years she is drinking this much? Your numbers will soon add up to more than I could ever binge drink in my youth!

Too long, didn't read version of my post: It's a bad idea and I stand by that. She can feel free to drink 2 bottles of wine a day, it would not bother me. That is my 2 cents. This is a public forum and in no way am I saying that she has totally ruined her entire life or liver or health. I am saying she should be aware of the implications of this amount of alcohol and act accordingly.
This is my opinion, whether or not you disagree with it.

[sixpack]

according to the CDC regarding drinking:

What does moderate drinking mean?
 According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,1 moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. This definition is referring to the amount consumed on any single day and is not intended as an average over several days. The Dietary Guidelines also state that it is not recommended that anyone begin drinking or drink more frequently on the basis of potential health benefits because moderate alcohol intake also is associated with increased risk of breast cancer, violence, drowning, and injuries from falls and motor vehicle crashes.

What do you mean by heavy drinking?
For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming an average of more than 2 drinks per day. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming an average of more than 1 drink per day.

What is binge drinking?
 According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism binge drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.08% or more. This pattern of drinking usually corresponds to 5 or more drinks on a single occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on a single occasion for women, generally within about 2 hours.3 

according to my GP  having 2-3 a week is considered a light or social drinker.    I probably have 3-4 glasses of wine a week.  I feel 1 glass of wine. 

Beatlesgirl----  are you sure you drink 2-3 glasses of wine a day most days?-----    I'm not saying you are irrepairably damaged or have damaged yourself but it is, according to the CDC and my GP, that would mean more of a moderate to heavy drinker.

[sixpack]

This is a typically dangerous level. Your body, your choice. There is no evidence to suggest this is a good idea, but do anything you like.
I am just telling you the truth.

http://bostinno.com/2012/06/26/cheers-two-glasses-of-wine-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2164222/Two-glasses-wine-day-middle-aged-adults-makes-life-better.html

Just a couple articles I dug up. Regardless it doesn't really matter anybodies opinion here on her drinking habits. She said her doctor told her that her consumption was fine, so are you calling her doctor a liar, or saying she is wrong?

I am saying that her doctor cannot foresee what will happen to her in another 20 years of this level of drinking. Doctors are good, but they are not foolproof, and for the enjoyment you get out of wine or alcoholic beverages, you pay a big price for them.
I certainly would not drink that much. 1 or even 2 or 3 glasses of wine every day is a lot.
Say she drinks 2 a day, the middle number there.
That is 730 glasses of wine in a year.
How big are the glasses? What is the wine? How much is she really drinking? Are the glasses poured properly?

I would not say I consume 730 oz of alcohol a year.
I drink probably once a month. I drink about 5 oz a month. Let's REALLY go off the deep end and say I drink 8 oz a month. 8 oz a month x 12 months a year is 96 oz of alcohol a year.

She is drinking 730 oz (assuming 1 glass of wine = 1 oz of alcohol, but is this reaaaally true????). And I am "binge drinking" at a mere 96 oz.

That is a MONSTROUS difference and I would not feel comfortable asking my liver to process 730 oz of alcohol in a year. Now multiply that by how many years she is drinking this much? Your numbers will soon add up to more than I could ever binge drink in my youth!

Too long, didn't read version of my post: It's a bad idea and I stand by that. She can feel free to drink 2 bottles of wine a day, it would not bother me. That is my 2 cents. This is a public forum and in no way am I saying that she has totally ruined her entire life or liver or health. I am saying she should be aware of the implications of this amount of alcohol and act accordingly.
This is my opinion, whether or not you disagree with it.

I typically use two different wine glasses when drinking a glass of wine.   I fill them up halfway or a smidge less.   I just checked the difference and learned something---being that 5oz is considered a serving size----- that my typical red wine glass half full is 9oz!!  and my other glass--half full-- is 6oz.    hmmmm   I'm going to be much more cognizant of the amount I pour in a glass.

[bertybotts]

I am not saying Beatlesgirl is damaged. I am saying she WILL HURT HER BODY, IN SOME WAY, possibly in the far future. But there is a reason we do good things to our bodies when we are young -- so we can live to be old! Be healthy and old! Right, guys?

She needs to be very aware of how much she is drinking. Consuming in the high hundreds to THOUSANDS of ounces of alcohol in only one year is A LOT OF ALCOHOL, I do not care who you ask.

[Beatlesgirl]

With all due respect, Betty, it's best not to freak out hypochondriacs seeking reassurance. If you can't say something constructive, perhaps consider commenting on another thread? Just an idea.
I didn't join this community to be judged.

Also, you're not in the position, unless you are a doctor, to be telling people who and who will not end up "damaged."

No disrespect intended, just pointing some things out for when you post in the future. Thanks.