Recognizing the Early Symptoms of Liver Disease

The liver is the largest internal organ and the most important for overall physical and mental health – as it regulates metabolism and energy, is the main filter of the body, creates enzymes that aid in digestion, and is a key part of the body’s natural immune system.

If there is an issue with your liver, you are very likely to feel some or many of the symptoms of liver disease; unlike with other organ diseases that often hide their symptoms. This guide will cover all the symptoms of liver issues from mild to severe to life-threatening.

Liver Issues, Pain & Mild Symptoms

It is not uncommon to have flare-ups of liver pain, irritation, and elevated liver enzymes from time to time. An inflamed liver is the most common liver issue doctors see in patients with no history of liver disease. If you all-the sudden are getting liver pains, it is most likely due to liver inflammation. Mild liver inflammation is common, will go away by itself (in most cases), and it not usually anything to worry about. 

Liver Inflammation After Using Drugs and Alcohol

Eating or drinking the wrong things can cause a flare-up of mild, transient (comes and goes) liver pain. Using drugs and alcohol – even small amounts – can cause a flare-up of liver inflammation in the days afterward that can be mild or be very uncomfortable. That feels like throbbing in the lower right side of your abdomen, or it may feel like your liver is swollen or even rubbing against your ribs or adjacent organs.

What To Do For Mild Liver Pains

If you are getting liver pains and inflammation after using drugs or drinking alcohol, it is a very good sign for you that your usage is causing a problem. It is a very good time to reassess your situation and your relationship with drugs and alcohol. While it takes months or years for liver inflammation to develop into more serious and life-threatening liver diseases, this is a warning to turn back before its too late for major health problems.

Early Signs Your Liver Is Struggling

• Bloating in the abdomen – all organs, but you feel the pain in your liver.
• Increased tolerance to drugs and alcohol – when your liver is having problems processing-out drugs or alcohol, you will feel this as “tolerance” – needing more alcohol and drugs during binges to achieve the same “high” or feelings.
• Recovery time from drugs and alcohol is increased – alcoholics especially will notice that it takes longer for your “hangover” to go away after binge drinking. This is the alcohol staying in your system longer.
• Increase in failed drug and alcohol tests – drugs and alcohol that are usually processed-out of your system within 24-48 hours stay in your system longer and are evident in drug tests, breathalyzer tests, and field sobriety tests.
• Liver pain feels better when you drink alcohol – alcohol has a numbing effect. If liver pain gets worse when sober and goes away after drinking, it could be alcohol related liver pain.

Early Signs of Liver Disease

Liver disease (whether related to drug and alcohol use or not) is a progressive disease that starts mild and gets progressively worse as time goes-on. This is why it is so important to recognize the early symptoms of liver disease and intervene early before the disease causes life-threatening concerns. Knowing the signs and symptoms of liver disease before the happen is important for anyone who is using drugs and alcohol or is worried about future liver problems.

• Persistent Fatigue – The most common symptom of liver disease is fatigue (feelings tired, run-down). Drugs and alcohol can mask this in early stages. In intermediate and advanced liver disease, the fatigue progresses and accompanies memory and concentration problems. Recognizing fatigue versus normal tiredness is based on how long after waking-up you feel fatigued. If you have lost your pep within a few hours of waking-up this is a sign your liver is struggling.
  
• What Does Stool Look Like with Liver Disease? – Color and texture of stool in liver disease – color is important in judging whether or not you have liver disease. Dark, tar-textured stool is a sign of liver issues, as is a light-pale colored stool with a chalky texture. In 80% of cases, gastrointestinal problems alternate between phases of  diarrhea and constipation. If stool is diarrhea and looks shiny or greasy and floats, this could be a sign of “Steatorrhea” – or your liver is having trouble producing enzymes that digest fat. Stool appearance is often a better indicator of liver disease than the appearance of urine. Your liver helps your poop look a healthy brown color. While colors of green, white, yellow, black, red, and other shades are a sign of a digestive issue – possibly liver issues.
  
• What Does Urine Look Like with Liver Disease? – Urine may look darker than usual, when suffering from liver disease or liver symptoms. A dark shade of urine like coffee or tea can be a symptom of liver disease – especially when accompanied by jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes).
  
• Appearance of Spider Veins – around the abdomen, on the legs and extremities, on the face or cheeks. Especially the sudden appearance of spider veins spiraling outward from a central red dot, and appearance of spider veins in those younger than 38 is a sign that liver function may be impaired.
  
• Insulin Resistance – liver damage and liver disease cause resistance to insulin-A, causing a glucose buildup that manifests as Type-2 Diabetes.
  
• Cognitive Function Impairment from Liver Disease – Memory loss, personality changes, trouble concentrating, and major changes in sleep habits have been seen with hepatic encephalopathy and liver disease. Encephalopathy (confusion) is a neurological symptom that may show as trembling hands.
  
• Gallstones – are common in those with liver disease and impaired liver function due to the fact that liver damage often blocks bile from traveling freely from the bile-duct. If bile hardens, it forms gallstones.
  
• Kidney and Lung Failure – Quite often the damage to the liver is seen in breathing problems leading to lung failure or kidney problems before an evident problem is seen in the liver itself. The spleen, kidneys, lungs, intestines, gall bladder, and other adjacent organs often feel the pain and show the symptoms of liver disease before the liver shows it.

Facts About Liver Disease

According to the American Liver Foundation, at least 10 percent of Americans have some form of liver disease. Additionally, the American Liver Foundation reports that hepatitis C, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and liver cancer are all occurring with greater incidence.

Alcohol abuse, hepatitis viruses, and obesity – all considered highly preventable – are the leading three risk factors for death from liver disease. Other causes of liver disease include cancer, autoimmune diseases, and genetic or metabolic disorders.

Sadly, symptoms of many liver disorders do not manifest until serious – sometimes irreversible – damage has occurred. A population-based study found that 69 percent of adults with cirrhosis were unaware of having liver disease. Another study found that Hispanic Americans and African Americans are at greater risk for developing liver disease than Caucasians.

Hispanic Americans have a greater risk due to heavier drinking and a higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes, while African-Americans have a higher prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and hepatitis B or C.

Non-Alcoholic Liver Disease

When people refer to liver diseases or damage not caused by excessive alcohol use, they’re usually referring to a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, also known as NAFLD. This condition leads to excess fat gathering in the liver.

Damage caused by NAFLD presents signs and symptoms similar to liver disease by alcohol abuse. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is an umbrella term, with the most common form simply named fatty liver. Causes of fatty liver include:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• High levels of fat in the blood

Fatty liver usually does not have symptoms and is reversible with lifestyle changes.

A more advanced NAFLD condition is non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this condition, fat growth is associated with liver cell inflammation and varying degrees of scarring to the organ. NASH is a serious condition and may lead to severe scarring of the liver as well as cirrhosis.

Alcoholic Liver Disease

Many people have heard of the signs and symptoms of alcoholic liver disease, such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), fatigue, and digestive issues.

Less commonly known signs and symptoms of alcoholic liver disease include:

• Skin conditions such as itchiness, eczema, and psoriasis
• Bad reactions to medications such as antibiotics or pain relievers
• Frequent heartburn and acid reflux

Additionally, alcohol abusers might notice significant decreases in their alcohol tolerance, becoming inebriated more quickly than usual. Alcohol abusers might also suffer more severe hangovers than usual as liver disease develops.

Stages and Early Symptoms of Liver Disease among Alcoholics

The American Liver Foundation names three types of alcoholic liver disease. These are – in order of most to least severe – alcoholic cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic fatty liver disease. The signs and symptoms of these may overlap.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

This disease happens when fat builds up in the liver, which causes swelling and impairs liver function. Alcoholic fatty liver disease can occur even after a short period of heavy drinking.

Symptoms are not usually present in this stage, though the American Liver Foundation reports some may feel weak or fatigued or notice discomfort in the right upper abdomen but the damage is still occurring within the liver tissues

With the cessation of alcohol use, drinkers can usually reverse liver disease in this stage. If drinking continues, damage to the liver will not subside and will result in irreversible disease.

Jaundice

Jaundice, the yellowing of the skin or eyes, is the result of excess bilirubin in the body. During the course of normal blood production, the body produces bilirubin excreted by the liver. When the liver sustains damage from alcohol use, it is unable to excrete bilirubin, causing the pigmented substance to build up in the body.

People with jaundice may also experience abdominal pain, flu-like symptoms, and fatigue. The presence of jaundice itself is non-life-threatening, but it often signals an underlying issue with the liver itself.

Alcoholic Hepatitis

This condition can manifest after long-term drinking. This involves inflammation and scarring of the liver, which prevents blood flow in the organ, slowing its essential functions. Even though alcoholic hepatitis might be diagnosed as “mild,” it is a serious condition requiring abstinence from adult beverages.

Severe alcoholic hepatitis can be life-threatening. Left untreated, it can progress to cirrhosis of the liver. Alcoholic Steatohepatitis is a severe form of hepatitis that affects up to 20% of heavy drinkers and can lead to permanent damage and scarring.

The mildest forms of alcoholic hepatitis might not present any signs or symptoms. As the condition advances, signs and symptoms might include:

• Jaundice
• Fatigue
• Low-grade fever
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tenderness in the right upper abdomen
• Weight loss

Liver function tests will also reveal elevated liver enzymes. Severe alcoholic hepatitis may lead to abdominal fluid accumulation, cognitive and behavioral changes, and liver or kidney failure. It is imperative you seek medical advice and intervention at this stage.

Alcoholic Cirrhosis

This condition is not reversible, though abstinence from alcohol may prevent further damage and improve some signs and symptoms. In this type of liver disease, severe scarring of the liver is present.

People with alcoholic cirrhosis will almost certainly be dependent on alcohol and require medical treatment and a great deal of support. This scar tissue makes it difficult for the liver to perform its functions properly.

Likewise, people with cirrhosis may experience inflammation of the liver leading to abdominal pain, fat buildup in the liver cells, redness of the palms, shortening and thickening of the fingers, and more. A person suffering from alcohol-related cirrhosis who continues to drink has less than a 50 percent chance of living for five more years.

You cannot live without your liver

The liver is a crucial organ that most of us never think about … unless it fails. By the time a liver stops functioning, it’s too late, and the only real option is hoping you draw the golden ticket for a transplant. Alcoholic liver disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease. Non-alcoholic liver disease can have the same prognosis.

Read More: What to do when an Alcoholic Doesn’t want help

Whether liver disease develops from alcoholic or non-alcoholic causes, it is important to be aware of the early signs and symptoms. Early detection is the best chance of stopping the damage before the organ stops functioning completely.

Liver Spotting

One sunny Tuesday morning, Sonya woke up yellow.

Like normal Tuesday mornings, she put her kids on the school bus and dressed herself for work. But as she began to apply her light-beige foundation, she abruptly stopped. What she saw in the mirror was anything but normal. Her face, arms, and neck were yellowed.

Jaundice is just one of the many symptoms of liver damage. And it can come on suddenly.

Since we can’t see when ugly liver spots develop or the organ discolors or show abnormalities, we must rely on other methods to spot trouble.

 

Symptoms and Signs to be Wary of for Liver Disease

New research is finding new molecules that may offer new treatments in a cure for liver disease. Experiments, tests, and treatments are continually being explored. Still, the best treatment is early detection.

Your quiet liver does more than you might think, like fighting infection and storing energy.

Some of the signs of early liver damage include:

• Irregular sleep
• Low or fluctuating energy levels
• Skin and eyes developing a yellowish tint
• Skin conditions appear, such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, and itching
• Drinking minimal amounts of alcohol inebriates quickly and causes intense hangovers
• The impact of caffeine becomes acute
• Flushing from the trunk rising up to the head
• Experiencing severe reactions and side effects to common medications

When early liver damage creeps up, the body can no longer protect against harmful chemicals. The body stops being able to digest food, remove impurities, filter toxins from the blood and send nutrients where they need to go.

The declining liver also presents with these signs:

• Bleeding or bruising easily
• Stomach problems after eating, such as bloating, gas, and nausea
• Frequent headaches, heartburn, and acid reflux
• Difficulty losing weight or inexplicable weight gain
• A strange urinary smell after eating asparagus
• Chemicals (bleach, perfume, gasoline, paint, cleaning products) cause a severe reaction

In addition to the symptoms of non-alcoholic liver damage, those with alcoholic liver damage often experience tremors.

Amazing Regrowth of the Liver

Bob has an old army injury in his knee that developed arthritis. He took pain medicine for years until, suddenly, he got very sick. After a year’s journey of illness and treatments, Bob received a liver transplant.

Since the human liver regenerates and can return to its original size, Bob’s partial liver failure meant he could receive a partial liver transplant from a living donor.

Bob’s lifespan potential has been increased due to receiving a transplant and the amazing regenerative properties of the liver. However, liver transplants are not easy to come by. There are currently thousands of people on the national waiting list for a hepatic transplant.

The liver has the ability to grow back when damaged, and the body can heal itself in small ways. Lifestyle changes like eliminating alcohol, drugs (including too much Tylenol-containing medications), tobacco, and seeking nutritional therapy can enhance the liver’s natural healing abilities.

Only people who have abstained from all alcohol for a period of at least six months can be considered for a transplant. In addition, all other organs must be healthy, and the individual must be able to undergo surgery. Since alcohol dependency can affect other organs, this may affect an alcoholic’s ability to be considered for a liver transplant as well.

Even with a hepatic transplant, the rate of survival after one, three, and five years declines, respectively.

Non-Alcoholic Liver Damage

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is unrelated to alcohol and refers to excess fat gathering in the liver.

Non-alcohol-related liver disease can be brought on by:

• Inflammation due to an injury or infection
• Hepatitis
• Obesity
• Cancer
• Malnutrition
• Poison
• Medication overdose
• Genetic disorders
• Autoimmune failure
• Diabetes

Non-alcoholic liver damage goes through the same stages as an alcohol-damaged liver. It is the cause of the disease that differs.

Alcoholic Liver Damage

Wanting to give up alcohol? Advanced medical tests, research studies, and scientific knowledge put together a picture of what quitting alcohol can do for avoiding or halting liver damage.

Alcohol abuse is one of the primary causes of liver damage. Alcohol-associated liver disease is the main cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries.

Once you are diagnosed with alcoholic liver damage, there is one key factor:

Abstaining from alcohol is the only chance a person has of recovery.

Stages of Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcohol drains the body of nutrients, affects many organs, and damages tissues.

There are four main stages of alcoholic liver disease, each one worse than its predecessor.

Alcohol Fatty Liver Disease

Heavy drinking can cause fatty acids to collect in the liver, in some cases in less than a week.

Alcoholic Hepatitis

After years of heavy drinking or acute periods of binge drinking, the liver can develop inflammation and swelling. This swelling and inflammation of the liver are known as hepatitis.

Other types of hepatitis can cause non-alcoholic liver disease.

Alcoholic Fibrosis

The third stage of liver disease is fibrosis, a buildup of proteins in the liver. Instead of filtering toxins and breaking down proteins, the liver accumulates too many proteins, resulting in fibrosis.

The newest research indicates gut microbiota play an influential role in liver injury. As we learn more and more about gut-brain health and gut-liver health, researchers point out the abilities of alcohol cessation and dietary and supplement improvements to slow the progression of liver disease.

Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis of the liver is scarred tissue that takes over healthy tissue.

When the liver has been inflamed for a long time, cirrhosis occurs. This is the stage where the loss of function happens. Cirrhosis can lead to liver cancer and end-stage liver disease.

Alcohol use speeds up the destruction of the liver and reduces its ability to compensate for damage.

Can you Reverse Liver Damage from Alcoholism?

The human body has an amazing capacity to heal itself. At the same time, a limit exists for what it can do. The human body can reverse damage from several types of minor liver damage; however, in some cases, the damage might be permanent. If you can reverse liver damage from alcoholism, it will occur in the earliest stage of dependency.

Cirrhosis is permanent, and you cannot undo the damage that has already occurred. Scarring is permanent, and the liver has lost its previous ability to function normally. However, a healthy lifestyle can help mitigate the risk of further damage.

In other cases, such as fatty liver disease, you can reverse the damage from alcohol. The liver has the benefit of being the body’s only regenerative organ. In fact, if you lost 75% of your liver, it would regenerate to its previous size. When Alcohol Liver Disease (ALD) is in its early stages, it is possible to heal the liver and restore its functioning completely. Improving liver health will require adherence to a healthy lifestyle and a dedication to feeling your best.

How Long Does It Take the Liver to Regenerate?

The liver is a vital organ that has the ability to heal itself, even after years of heavy drinking. In the event that 50-60% of the liver cells die, then the liver should be able to regenerate within 30 days. However, it’s important to recognize that good liver health is an ongoing effort that requires adherence to a healthy lifestyle.

How Is Liver Disease Diagnosed?

Your doctor can diagnose liver disease and alcohol cirrhosis with a combination of Liver Function Tests (LFTs), blood tests, and imaging tests (CT Scan, ultrasound, etc.). If you have been using drugs and alcohol, your doctor will tell you how important it is to completely stop drinking and using drugs – not only to stop the progression of the disease, but also to get a better idea of the severity of the disease.

Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) Tests

Testing the severity of cirrhosis and advanced or end-stage liver disease utilized the MELD Test. This test is a prediction of the likelihood of surviving the next 90 days with cirrhosis. Test scores range from 6-40, with 6 being the best likelihood for 90-day survival.

The Need For Drug And Alcohol Interventionists During Liver Disease and Cirrhosis

Liver disease and cirrhosis is a very serious condition that can easily kill you in just a few months or days if you do not stop drinking and using drugs. Even knowing that another few drinks will kill you is not enough to get some alcoholics to quit drinking after being diagnosed with cirrhosis or liver disease. Quite often, alcoholics simply resolve to drink themselves to death. This is why so many families need interventionists for addicts with end-stage liver disease.

Addiction Interventionists are substance abuse specialists that are needed as motivational speakers and agents of change to get the addict to save their own life and make the necessary lifestyle changes after being diagnosed with liver disease.

When Doctors Say Quit Drinking or You Will Die

When you doctor tells you to quit drinking immediately, you should listen to them. The liver dies quickly once a problem has already started, and whether or not your life can be saved or extended depends on immediate and major lifestyle changes – including stopping all drug and alcohol use. Drug and alcohol interventionists are needed-most when an addict is at risk of dying from their addictions; this is most evident in the millions of alcoholics that still cannot quit drinking even after they are told it will kill them.