Hey Doc....WTF you talkin about

[gatorboy]

A couple of weeks ago, I had intense stomach pain and eventually went to the ER for a CT scan. They found that I had diverticulotis (colon infection)....and gall stone....and small hernia. WTF. I was expecting only one ailment.

I thought all was better recently. The gall stone and hernia were small and not bothering me, but I kept my appointment with a gastroenterologist today. She said that those are the least of my worries.

I have a fatty liver and she wants me to lose at least 25 lbs (OK) and to quit drinking alcohol. Noooo. This can't be true. "For how long" I ask....."Forever" she said. Nooooooooooooooo

I don't drink a lot. 2 beers on Tu and 2 on Th...and 4-6 on Friday or Saturday. Maybe some scotch once a month. But I've been drinking all my life (past 28 yrs). Much harder when I was younger.
I don't want to stop drinking. I love my good craft beer. I was going to start home-brewing on Father's Day. Good beer is part of my meals and part of my social interaction with friends and family. My wife and mom now drink good beer due to my suggestions.

This is going to be a total life change for me. I think I'm going to meet with a nutritionist and get on an diet/exercise program. And get a 2nd opinion

Does this make me weak if I don't do it solo?

Anybody have any suggestions or thoughts?

[iceman]

Second opinion, stat.

Seriously, it sounds like something else is going on rather than the alcohol.

[Mazderati]

Second opinion sounds like a good idea. Does the CT show confirmed fatty liver?

[Mazderati]

Related

[gatorboy]

I'll be calling my general doc (internist) tomorrow....but also wondering if I should see a different gastroenterologist too. I'll see what he has to say first.

CT did not show fatty liver. I think that information came from blood tests that were done in the ER. (high enzymes...a couple of numbers that she kept repeating were 135 and 61) Not sure what exactly they mean. She said that I may also need a liver biopsy. Also gave more blood at the lab this afternoon.

BTW - this gastroenterologist was a PA....not sure if that has implications.

[boltonoutlaw]

Truly sorry about your diagnosis. Time for a new hobby & vice:

[AK47bp]

Man if you do have all those ailments it's probably not a bad idea to stop drinking for a while, at least slow it way down.

[iceman]

You're gonna quit drinking forever 'cause some low-rent PA told you to?

Also, biopsies hurt a lot and they're rarely necessary.

[concretejungle]

Two words for an alcohol replacement... bath salts.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

BTW - this gastroenterologist was a PA....not sure if that has implications.

PA is not a gastroenterologist, they work for the GI guy. Diverticulitis is an infection of diverticulum(the problem) they are little sacs on your bowel wall, usually the colon. Your liver could be fat because of your diet and well, you're fat. Where's your hernia.

[BS720]

You need to see someone with an "MD" or "DO" after their name. Go to wherever you got the workup. Sign the release, get the CD AND the radiology reading for your CT, along with the labs from your visit. When you walk into your primary, hand them to him. Do the same when you follow up with the GI. At Stanford, you can have 1,800 hours as a file clerk at a medical office, and graduate as a PA 24 months later. That's shorter than an MD's residency. I'm just saying.

[Tye 1on]

The ratio of those two enzymes can tell you if it's alc related or not. I turned around fatty liver, verified with ultrasound, with using a great trainer, changing diet/dropping 30. Without sacrificing one beer. Lab results on ast/alt dropped a shitload.

[DasBlunt]

The ratio of those two enzymes can tell you if it's alc related or not. I turned around fatty liver, verified with ultrasound, with using a great trainer, changing diet/dropping 30. Without sacrificing one beer. Lab results on ast/alt dropped a shitload.

Not all cases are the same, I would feel uncomfortable giving out this advice to the OP when a complete cessation from alcohol has been recommended. We might not have all the information.

Alcohol withdraw exists for some people. Even VERY moderate 1-4 drink a day dudes/gals.

Be prepared, and get advice.

No disrespect either if my tone sounds urgent.

From some of the other posts it seems the cries for a second opinion might lead to finding a "yes man" so to speak. I would be careful with that mindset, and look for reasons why someone would make the tough conclusion.

[Crass3000]

Second opinion, stat.

Seriously, it sounds like something else is going on rather than the alcohol.

This... You need to have a second opinion with a more intense work-up with some smart docs. Make sure you know what is really going on.

[Viva]

I have a fatty liver and she wants me to lose at least 25 lbs...

Anybody have any suggestions or thoughts?

She? Is "She" hot? If yes, tell her that you can lose 25lbs on the spot but dropping a massive load down her pretty little throat (and maybe a follow-up up der poopenhausin). This may not help your liver, but you'll die happy.

[gatorboy]

During the course of the conversation, I said that I love hoppy beer. She didn't know what that meant....she even mentioned that she can't drink beer because she gets sick. I knew right then that I was talking with some alien life form...and that I needed to talk to my Dr....maybe over a beer.

This is what has to occur:
Lose weight
Exercise
Maybe stop drinking beer until my tests show improvement (but having a hard time excepting F O R E V E R

[concretejungle]

Not all cases are the same, I would feel uncomfortable giving out this advice to the OP when a complete cessation from alcohol has been recommended. We might not have all the information.

Alcohol withdraw exists for some people. Even VERY moderate 1-4 drink a day dudes/gals.

Be prepared, and get advice.

No disrespect either if my tone sounds urgent.

From some of the other posts it seems the cries for a second opinion might lead to finding a "yes man" so to speak. I would be careful with that mindset, and look for reasons why someone would make the tough conclusion.

Tye1on didn't give any advice you did you pompous twat. He gave his own personal experience and then gave the same advice you did which was get a second opinion. Nobody said get a "yes man." What they said was that it didn't sound like he drank that much and other measures might fix his levels so he should seek a second opinion. Fuck, you're annoying.

[sb]

I may be wrong but diverticulitis is mostly preventable by avoiding the foods that cause the flare ups, ie little shit that gets in the pockets.

Get second opinion.

Read up about liver cleanse. Years ago my wife had her gall bladder taken out due to it being inflamed. In all likely hood it was filled with stones that we know now are produced in the liver. Since this was done she has found out that she needs to take dietary supplements and pancreatic enzymes to replace the things the GB used to do. She went for years not knowing this and the doctors did not tell her which caused a lot of other health issues.

Good luck, take charge of your health and inform yourself. Do not depend on medical folks to know it all.

[carvedog]

Tye1on didn't give any advice you did you pompous twat. He gave his own personal experience and then gave the same advice you did which was get a second opinion. Nobody said get a "yes man." What they said was that it didn't sound like he drank that much and other measures might fix his levels so he should seek a second opinion. Fuck, you're annoying.

you don't get a nickname like Das Cunt without trying.

To the OP: this winter I underwent a major lifestyle change. A naturopath I was seeing for help with a diet plan. Tested me and suggested that I was wheat intolerant. ( Notice I didn't say celiac). She was very gentle about it. Suggested I try no wheat for a while as part of my diet and then try getting back on the wheat slowly in a controlled form to see if it was affecting me.

I did the diet for three months and lost 55 lbs. It was actually rather easy in a way, but I am still a rather fat bastard so I started needing to lose a lot. I had a case of semi-craft beer ( not going to say which one cuz that fucking beer snob Crass3000 just can't help himself in his beer douche snobbery - but it's a beer I really like) on the lagery side, not too hoppy and so yum. I waited all those three months and was really looking forward to drinking beer again. I did no alcohol at all during the diet.

So I had my first beer in over three months and it was so good. ......but within a couple hours I felt like I had caught the flu. Stayed with me until the next morning and then gone. WTF? Gluten in beer seems to not work for me. Fuck. Still coming to grips with this. Tried again a couple of weeks later and the same thing. Double fuck. My weight also yoyos when I eat gluten of any kind including the gluten in beer. When my autoimmune system reacts and attacks the gluten I will gain up to 8 lbs overnight and it is usually gone in a day or two. Even though I feel relatively great all the time now ( no flu symptoms ) she wants me to weigh regularly while I am figuring out what I can eat, as the reaction shows up first with disproportionate wieght gain to quantity of intake.

/dietblog.

So I don't have much to add but I feel your pain. At least I can drink whiskey, Redbridge is ok. The canned beer I tried on the river was.....ok, but rather disappointing.

Try dropping the weight and eating as healthy as you can for three months and work for a reset on your body. Hope it works.

Good luck.

[crackboy]

Diverticulitis can be helped by taking a fiber and probiotic, it sucks but its manageable.

Fatty liver can be caused by a bunch of different things and its worth getting a second opinion.

you can have alcoholic fatty liver, which is from drinking (duh) or non-alcoholic which can be tied to metabolic abnormalities specifically, pre-/full on diabetes. third you can just be a fatty and have deposited fat in your liver since it had no where else to go

could be your early hard drinking borked your liver and you are just seeing signs now.

though your liver enzymes could be high do to the gall stone especially since the CT showed non-fatty liver.

a biopsy would confirm either way.

sorta rambly but i am still on my morning coffee. but yea, go get a second opinion from a non PA.

[bagtagley]

I quit drinking beer a while ago because it started giving me insane reflux. Half a beer, and I'm clutching my chest in pain.

I can drink wine and booze with no problems. I don't drink very often, but I sort of like rolling into a party with a personal bottle of wine, and ending the night purple-lipped and slurring.

[gatorboy]

Thanks for sharing guys. At least I can still laugh.

I have an appointment with my Doc on Wednesday. I plan on following BS720's advice and bringing my tests/paperwork. I'm not looking for a "yes" man. Unlike my father (chose booze and drugs over health and life-longevity), I plan on living into my 90's (both grandfathers did) and to be there for my children and....hopefully grandchildren. In my opinion, I don't abuse alcohol, but I do enjoy it probably a bit more than the average man. I just don't want a doctor to decide a life-changing program for me....when I've only met her once for 30 minutes and without a thorough diagnosis.

scottyb - This is how I understand it...diverticulosis is the infection of the pockets that form in the colon (diverticulitis). These pockets form over time...and many people older than 60 have this condition. Unfortunately...I am only 41. My first colonoscopy 2 years ago revealed diverticulitis in the first 6 inches of the colon. Last year...it went the entire length and 2 polyps were also removed. I also was told recently to avoid seeds, nuts, and skin of fruit due to their less-than-digestive properties that can clog the opening to the pockets...which would then lead to the infections. The PA told me that there is no proof that these foods can lead to clogged pockets and they are now recommending that I don't have to avoid those foods....but to chew my food very, very good.

[The AD]

This is going to be a total life change for me. I think I'm going to meet with a nutritionist and get on an diet/exercise program. And get a 2nd opinion

I think this is a great plan. It's not going to get any easier as you get older. Get in shape now and make it part of your lifestyle. That might be enough and you'll still be able drink alcohol in moderation--that's probably for the doctor and your enzyme tests to determine.

I don't drink a lot. 2 beers on Tu and 2 on Th...and 4-6 on Friday or Saturday. Maybe some scotch once a month. But I've been drinking all my life (past 28 yrs). Much harder when I was younger.

Damn near all of us can say that who aren't alcoholics.

If nothing else, those 4-6 beers on the weekend nights are adding a lot of extra calories to your diet. Just by cutting back to your normal weekday consumption and doing nothing else will cause you to lose weight.

[irul&ublo]

She didn't say anything about cutting out hookers and blow...so you're good

[DasBlunt]

Tye1on didn't give any advice you did you pompous twat. He gave his own personal experience and then gave the same advice you did which was get a second opinion. Nobody said get a "yes man." What they said was that it didn't sound like he drank that much and other measures might fix his levels so he should seek a second opinion. Fuck, you're annoying.

you don't get a nickname like Das Cunt without trying.

Fuck off you bassackwards retards. I was pretty damn nice about it, and not pompous at all, unless you can't read very well and are fucking retards, wait, there it is!

edit, looks like the doc had some sort of beer bias. That was not in the original post and Tye1on must have smelled it from a mile away. I was pretty damn nice though, so still, fuck off asshatgaper.