‘I had no idea being a social drinker would damage my liver by 31’

BBC ^ | Nov 25 | Hazel Martin, BBC

[RandFan]

At 31 years old, I was told by doctors that if I didn’t stop drinking alcohol, I could die.

I was shocked because I didn’t drink every day, I never drank alone and I drank because I enjoyed it as a social activity, not because I felt alcohol-dependent.

But by definition, my alcohol consumption from my late teens to late 20s would be considered binge drinking. It felt normal because people around me were doing the same - and now it was catching up with me.

I’d recently become a mum and had gone to the GP because I felt tired all the time. This led to blood tests and a liver function check.

Further tests revealed I had severe alcohol-related liver fibrosis, or extreme scarring on my liver, most likely because of my drinking habits.

I trundled home from the hospital in a daze, with my daughter in her pram. This might have happened to me, I thought, but I could not be the only one.

I wanted to know what this said about the UK’s drinking culture and began looking into it for BBC Panorama.

Alcohol-specific deaths are at their highest levels in the UK, since records began in 2001.

While the problem is undoubtedly bigger in men - particularly older men - more women under the age of 45 are dying due to alcohol-related liver disease, or ARLD, than ever before, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures from 2001-22.

[Chicory]

I agree! When I get my prescriptions filled, the pharmacist comes over and makes sure I know about the medication — even for the one I have been taking daily for 7 years!

We think OTC drugs and safe and don’t think too much about how we are taking them, yet some are very dangerous.

I am very grateful that I had a painful condition before Tylenol came out— I loved on aspirin and have had no problem with my liver!

[JohnnyP]

I didn’t know wine except for the “Dago Red” my gramps used to make. I walked the wine aisle in the supermarket and saw Bogle, chose it because the label said it was family run, or something like that. It tasted good, then I googled it and saw it had a good review.

Eggnog is what I have a problem with. This brand:
https://www.thewinecountry.com/broguieres-old-fashioned-egg-nog-32oz.html

My wife and I used to drive to the family dairy and get six bottles at Christmas.

Once I open it I can’t leave it alone. I bought three quarts last week, gave two away for Thanksgiving. The third one was mine, it barely lasted three days.