HRT, Alchohol, and the Liver

[Heather Nicole]

I don't remember where it was, but somewhere I once came across the information that HRT can be hard on the liver. Obviously alcohol is well-known to be hard on the liver, too.

 

Not really sure what exactly to ask, but I wanted to look further into this, and see whatever I could find out.

[Susan R]

1 hour ago, Heather Nicole said:

HRT can be hard on the liver.

HRT, depending on the regimen, can be hard on the kidneys too. There are ways to help reduce the stress it puts on these organs. The Estradiol pills for example were at one time swallowed whole and digested normally. Now the pills are placed sublingually under the tongue to be dissolved into the bloodstream at that contact point. Some of the pill is inevitably swallowed so it is not as safe as patches and other methods of absorption into the body.

[VickySGV]

When you are on HRT, one of the blood tests that is done routinely is a liver function test and some chemicals produced by the liver's digestive enzyme contributions are also tested for levels.  My liver had made a reasonably good recovery from an Alcoholic relapse 14 years ago by the time I was given oral HRT meds.  I was fine for 6 years, but did develop a blood clot in my leg about the six year time.  I was taken off of the oral meds and they were replaced 6 months after the blood clot was discovered by Patches which I have now had for 5 years without a problem and normal liver function for my age. For the most part it is not the E itself that is the problem but  rather the "vehicle" parts of the pills.  Injections are generally considered the safest, with patches, and gels only a little behind for liver safely. Oral meds have the greatest, but still small chance, of liver problems due to digestion issues.

[Heather Nicole]

Thanks, girls.

 

*big hug*

[Charlize]

Both my gender therapist and doctor were happy that i had stopped drinking about 5 years prior to starting HRT. In fact in several ways sobriety and the fellowship that has helped me learn to live a happy sober life helped me transition as well.  The issues with liver is just one of the reasons why we are so adamantly against self medication.  There is simply too much risk if we don't have regular blood tests and monitoring. 

I seem to have a healthy liver despite a serious drinking history.  Instead it is my heart that took serious damage.  For that reason topical E is the safest for m.  Even with that regular monitoring is necessary!

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Rami]

Transition is so absolutely wonderful,  adding alcohol to the cocktail provides no upside and many downsides, the risk to the liver being just one.

 

[VickySGV]

1 hour ago, Rami said:

adding alcohol to the cocktail provides no upside and many downsides,

Oh so very true.

[BillieB]

This is all very informative, I guess I need to climb back on the wagon. ?

[Jackie C.]

1 hour ago, BillieB said:

This is all very informative, I guess I need to climb back on the wagon. ?

 

That's pretty much par for the course for us older gals. Do everything you can to improve your general health if you want to safely enjoy your HRT. Also, the advice my surgeon gave me before I went under for bottom surgery: Be in the best shape of your life. A lot of positive habits flowed from coming out as trans. Of course they became easier to maintain once I didn't hate myself so much, so win-win, right?

 

Hugs!

[Charlize]

If i was the kind of person who could have a beer every two months, or a glass of wine at Christmas then i wouldn't worry about alcohol.  There wouldn't even be a wagon to climb on.  The fact is that one is never enough for me.   

Wagons are for those who need a ride to get safely home and i'm one of those.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Annette MacDonald]

Oh jeez... So I had blood work done last week and my Dr had me come in today to talk about my results. My liver enzymes are very high and it's a direct result from my drinking. Of course I lied when he asked me how much I drank... I plan on calling him tomorrow and telling him the truth.  I'm not drinking hard alcohol anymore since May actually but I am drinking way too much beer. 

I've struggled with addiction and alcoholism since I was 12 13 maybe and I could never seem to figure out what the root cause was and I'm fairly certain actually 100% positive that this is why. So now I have to get an ultrasound on my liver and more blood work done so I really need to cut back if not completely stop. And like someone above said there are too many downsides and no upsides. I've stopped all of my antidepressants and psych meds and I have no more prescriptions that I take so I can't let alcohol hold me back, this is too important. 

[Carolyn Marie]

@Annette MacDonaldyour post made me think of this great song, "Reasons to Quit."

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=all+the+reasons+why+by+willie+nelson&client=firefox-b-1-d&ei=_9hQY5_XLv-jqtsPvJeOgAs&oq="All+the+reasons+why"+by+will&gs_lcp=Cgxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAQARgAMgUIIRCgATIFCCEQoAEyBQghEKABMgUIIRCgATIICCEQFhAeEB0yCAghEBYQHhAdMggIIRAWEB4QHTIICCEQFhAeEB0yCAghEBYQHhAdOgoIABBHENYEELADOgUIABCABDoFCC4QgAQ6BQgAEIYDOgUIIRCrAjoKCCEQFhAeEA8QHUoECEEYAEoECEYYAFDvDljuHmC7MGgBcAF4AIABhQGIAbAHkgEDMC44mAEAoAEByAEIwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:ad9d2dc0,vid:TCD7wyHaqeY

 

Carolyn Marie

[Charlize]

   Annette i remember lying to my doctor at every visit.  I just couldn't stand another lecture about how i "should" quit.  When i got back after my first bout with the withdraw DDTs;  which happened as i was lying in a recovery room, post open heart surgery,  i went right back to my oldest friend....alcohol.  Hospitalization, insanity or death faced me but my old friend promised relief.  It only got worse.  

    It has been over 15 years since my last drink.  I could never "modify" my intake.  One was never enough.  I found help , love and support in the program.  It works.  I was powerless over alcohol and my life was unmanageable.  Admitting that to myself and others who truly understood was the first step.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Lydia_R]

It's not just alcohol.  My liver is starting to get a little itchy again.  Initially it was soda pop addiction that led to NAFLD.  Then 8 years ago I bought my house and the plumbing has lead solder.  After 2 years of drinking it, I started getting bottled water delivered.  Then 2 years ago, I replaced the water line from the street to the kitchen faucet with PEX and one 6' copper section with some valves.  I drank that for 2 years and then my liver started itching again, so I went back to the 5 gallon water bottles early this year.  The itching went away in about 2 months.  I've certainly done some damage to my liver.

 

Of course they are monitoring all this.  They always say it is fine, but I know what I feel.

 

Good luck with getting clean and sober Annette.  And be careful with getting off those psych meds.  Staying on my psych meds is the foundation of everything I have.  Every time I try getting off of them I wind up in the mental hospital.  And that's happened way too much.  It's almost impossible for me to admit that there is anything wrong with me and that I need to take this medication.  I've seen my whole life unfold.  I know all the reasons things happened to me.  To me, they were simply choices I made.  Anyway.  It's hard to explain.  When I'm on the meds though, I do great and I'm high functioning.

[Lydia_R]

It's hard to be scientific about this itching thing.  Maybe the itching that I'm having now is a seasonal thing with the drier climate indoors.

[Charlize]

If that is the case Lydia you might want to use a product like A+D ointment which moisturizes and seals the skin.  That really isn't an issue about alcohol so it would be better brought up in another forum.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize