He may have healed from past behaviors, but since he's already prone to problems, they could easily return.

I knew that I was drinking to much, but always expected there would be some sort of warning sign where I knew it was time to cut back or stop. Never happened.

Literally overnight I became jaundiced, ascites started and a month later I nearly bled to death from varices and spent nearly two weeks in the hospital.

He's gambling with his life, especially since he's already had symptoms.

This disease may take years to develop, but it's like approaching the edge of a cliff, you may feel great but that final step pushes your body a bit to far and suddenly everything starts to fail.

I'm one of the lucky ones and have so far recovered (stopped drinking immediately but it was to late), but many people don't get that second chance.

If your insurance and doctor approve it, an abdominal MRI is a good test to see how things are inside. It has been 5 1/2 years for me and I still get one every six months just to see how things are going.

Thank you both for your feedback! This disease is cunning and dreadful! When he had his first bleeding variceal bleed he was drinking very heavily he says. Thats why he says that hes okay now because he doesnt drink nearly half of the quantity he used to drink when he got sick. I know that the only way we will really know is thru an MRI or Ct scan however he refuses to get one. I think hes scared to find out to be honest. Unfortunately i know that i will most likely get my answers thru our next visit to the ER! Very scary thought but there is nothing I can do. He has insurance and could get good medical care but he just doesnt want it. He's a grown man and I cannot take him by force so I guess I must leave it in Gods hands and wait and see. THanks!

Dear Rummi, back to your original post and question: "Just not sure what to think about this man??"
Do I correctly understand that he's (A) previously had varices, (B) is currently drinking ..(C) has good health insurance coverage, and yet (D) refuses to have any imaging done? All of the above? Because if so, then I can easily answer YOUR question for you:
With all concern and respect, something is very, very wrong with this picture.
I assure you that a person can have cirrhosis with perfectly normal AST and ALT....and absolutely no symptoms whatsoever. More often than not the symptoms will not appear until it's fairly advanced and his liver is nearly destroyed. He apparently thinks that 'ignorance is bliss' - but be not deceived, I beg of you. This man is 'playing with fire.' Very foolish and very unfair - to himself and especially to you. I hope that you will INSIST on an MRI (ultrasound often misses cirrhosis) or a CT scan. And I mean immediately. Please do this - and pls keep us posted - -

I second pugdaddy's info about an ultrasound. Very unreliable test, but they're cheap so some doctor's will push for them rather than a much more reliable MRI.

I nearly had my gallbladder removed because of a faulty ultrasound. It "looked" like it was blocked and not working properly. Thankfully they did and MRI and found out it was nothing, otherwise I'd be missing a pretty vital part of my body. This was when I was originally hospitalized, my GI doctor hadn't been officially assigned to me yet.

My doctor used to use ultrasound tests as a quickie view to see if anything was wrong, followed up by MRIs if something was questionable. He no longer does ultrasound because of its' unreliability.

Pugdaddy I have been pushing for that MRI for years and he refuses. I dont think he wants to know the truth. I think he wants for the disease to do its thing and take him when its ready to do so. I have been with this man for 6 years now and its been hell not knowing what the hell is his diagnosis. Because he has never had consistent healthcare there is no definative diagnosis with the exception of those ER visits. And those ER visits conclude alcohol intoxication as the primary problem with suspicion of cirrhosis. I know he is playing with fire and I know that the way he is choosing to handle the situation will only lead to his death. But ultimately that is his will. I can only do so much as his wife. I try to find answers and be informed of the disease so that I can be prepared for when the end comes. I even called a transplant center just to know what steps I will have to take when that time comes. I know he has to be 6 months sober to be eligible and that is something that I fear the most. ALthough he does go to AA meeting twice a week. I just pray that he will be enlightened soon and he will choose sobriety so that we will be eligibile. He is also well insured with private insurance and I got him Aflac as a supplemental insurance. I believe that covers up to $25,000 for a transplant. I feed him very well and I provide all the vitamins that I read on this forum to supplement his health. I do all I can that is in my control. The rest is up to him and as you can see he is not much help. But I love him and I am determined to fight this disease with all I got and I just pray he will soon join the fight with me! Thanks!!

Rummi looked back at a post you sent in 2009' we,re given some amazing advice in 2009 from Logan Craig and won't. Amazing husband alive as then and now still justifies his drinking. Did you ever go to Al anon?

No Kirrie I have not gone to Alanon. Although I do go to his AA meetings. I have been advised to go to Alanon by many however I dont believe that there is anything anyone can tell me that will improve our situation. I believe I have a grip on myself and handle the circumstances pretty well. There are times when I lose my patience and have a venting session like many others however as far as how I cope with my dilemma I believe I am well for now. Perhaps I will need it down the line but right now I choose to get my direction thru my faith, research, and lots of support from friends and family. I love my husband and I know how sick he is. But I also know that I have my self to care for and I an no good to him if I am sick. I take care of myself very well. I make a promise to myself that no matter what I will not allow myself to forget who I was before him and who I am now. I like to believe that adversity can only make me stronger and use this experience as a mode of empowerment rather than a destruction. I have to be strong because obviously he is not. SO for now I will continue the battle and hope for the best but prepare for the worst! Thanks for your comment.

Don't mean to burst your bubble, but his insurance covering $25,000 for a transplant is almost meaningless.

If he does eventually need a transplant, he's got to prove six months of sobriety as you mentioned. Just attending AA meetings while still drinking doesn't count, it will still show up in his blood tests.

As for the $25,000, the true cost of a transplant is more in the $500,000 range.

He needs to stop drinking and hopefully his liver isn't to far gone so it can begin the healing process on it's own. It may take years, but it's well worth the effort. No alcohol, healthy diet and exercise, and you'd be surprised what the body can to do recover.

Wilbur's exactl right - $25K might cover the pre-operative evaluation and assessment. The actual transplant surgery, hospitalization, etc is typically in the $350K to $500K range...obviously a very complicated and expensive undertaking!
Perhaps most significant: if he stops now and gets help then he could quite possibly be able to avoid any need for transplant!!
Good luck and God bless!

Aflac is typically a supplemental policy that pays in ADDITION to the regular hospitalization coverage. If he has a good primary policy in place, then the $25K will just be an additional 'spending money' check that they drop on you....and would no doubt come in handy!!

That correct pugdaddy. I pay $100 a month extra for that supplemental insurance just to be a little more prepared than just our regular insurance. We have United Health Systems, Health Select, as our primary coverage. I know that none of it will be of help as far as the transplant goes as long as he keeps drinking. Thats why I am so desperate to get him to stop. But like I said before this man either doesnt believe he is sick or simply is in denial. The only thing I can do is prepare myself for what is inevitable. Perhaps I can prolong the progression through all my interceptions. You see, I am on his butt and I am relentless. If I find anything I throw it away. I hat to say it but I keep him very close and so far he has allowed it. I know that perhaps he will become more rebellious but for now he does all he can to avoid trouble with me. This is why he tries to be sneaky with the booze. But I have been pretty good at the catch. I am often heavily criticized on this DB for my approach to this problem but like I said before I must stay strong and I must fight fire with fire. I cannot back down and to me running away from the problem is not the solution because that would mean I would not have him in my life. I love him with all my heart and soul, you see he is not only my husband but also my best friend. He is a very sick man and by that I mean sick in his head considering he is not yet to face the reality of this very cunning disease. I pray that things will change soon and perhaps we will have a chance for a long life together. The liver is a remarkable organ and I know that with a little TLC we might still have that chance. I ask for your prayers for my husband to awaken and fight for his life. Thank you all for your support! It is so nice to be able to come on this site and share my most inner thoughts and fears without feeling as though I am being judged. I know that I dont walk this path alone and i respect and love all those who walk along with me. May God Bless us All!

His story sounds almost identical to mine - only my "luck" ran out, as his likely one day will. Am I correct that he does NOT have any viral hepatitis?

Yes you are correct pugdaddy, he does not have viral hepatitis. Other than his chronic drinking he is perfectly healthy. In fact healthier than i am which is ironic. He has perfect BP, no diabetes, perfect heart and that man can eat like a horse. He is strong and manifests no symptoms of this dreadful disease. Like I said before, the only thing I have to go by is his past history with the variceal bleed. Other than that he has been fine since. There have been times when he has over drank that I think he is going to get sick , but no he wakes up fine as if he never had a drink. I guess he has just been lucky! Do you think that perhaps his age is what helps him? I see that many of the members are either older or they have a history of hep C. Perhaps my husband has an advantage because he is young and does not have HEP? Do you thing thats the difference?

Hi Rummi,

Again, I will comment on what a wonderful wife you are! Someone mentioned eariler that ignorance is bliss. And you know something? I really think it is! An ultrasound is the 1st line of imaging and only takes about 20 minutes. In my case, mine showed nothing. CT scan showed nothing MRI series showed nothing. But the biopsy showed EVERYTHING. And...now I know what I have to look forward to.

The thing about it is, now that I know, a drink does not sound appealing anymore. It is not even tempting. And now that my protein metabolism is all sorts of messed up...a steak simply doesn't seem worth it.

All you can do is encourage him. He is probably afraid. Even though lifestyle changes are totally beneficial and help people feel good...no one is really excited about initiating it. Keep encouraging him, it looks as though you are doing a great job of that. Maybe he could repay the favor and get an ultrasound, if not for himself, for you.

Best of luck!
Tess

Rummi, like you said in post #14, he has been lucky.

I was also lucky. Went for years with no symptoms, no problems, never had hepatitis. I was what I now know is called a "functioning alcoholic". No problems with my job, never had a DUI, everything was great.

But within the course of about a month things changed drastically. First the jaundice then water weight gain from ascites. My doctor sent me for a paracentesis and I stopped drinking immediately.

A month later I had bleeding varices and off the scale blood sugar levels. Spent almost two weeks in the hospital, four days in a coma and wasn't even expected to come out of the hospital alive.

As I posted earlier, everything was fine, but I took that final step off the cliff and nearly died. He's living on borrowed time and eventually it catches up. Might be months, maybe even years, but it's the type of behavior that always ends badly. Having already had a variceal bleed, it will only get worse.

I hope things change before it's to late.