A Guide to Diagnosing Alcoholic Liver Disease in Heavy Drinkers
An exact guide for advocating for your loved one with alcoholic liver issues.
I’ve been writing about alcoholic liver disease (ALD) ever since I lost my father to this condition back in 2016. I have a deep interest in unraveling this mysterious disease that has wrecked so many lives. If I can help people to get an earlier diagnosis for themself or a loved one, that feels like a good way to honor what my father and our family went through. For the most part, ALD sneaks up on heavy drinkers, and many die before they even know they have the condition in the first place. And if they don’t die, they are severely disabled until they can qualify for a liver transplant.
Let’s take a look at a few case study examples from various readers who have contacted me over the years. Then I’ll discuss the steps you can take to ensure an earlier diagnosis of ALD.
For a year or so, Mike had only a vague feeling of unwellness and felt cold all the time until he finally collapsed at work one day. The tests done at the hospital revealed advanced liver cirrhosis that could only be treated by a liver transplant. Mike admits he rarely went to the doctor or received any checkups over his lifespan. He rarely paid attention to the amount and frequency of his drinking until he became gravely ill. Mike was fortunate that he found a friend willing to give him a piece of his healthy liver. If it weren’t for that friend, Mike would not be here. Although he drank heavily for many years, he never thought his drinking would lead to a consequence as serious as advanced ALD.