Jacob Davis89 said:I'm facing a bit of a predicament. I’m currently working out in some remote part of Africa, far from any semblance of civilization, and I won't be able to get back to the States until December.
During my last checkup, the doctors flagged some issues regarding my liver function.
The physician essentially cornered me, labeling me an alcoholic—though if his definition of that involves having two beers a day, then I suppose he isn't wrong.
The reality is that my last trip back home was too brief to properly investigate these findings, and there isn't a doctor within reach out here.
I'm wondering if these test results indicate something life-threatening, or if I can realistically hold out until December.
Thanks.
First off, you'll survive. Secondly, you don't need to be stumbling drunk to be classified as an alcoholic; addiction is simply defined by the consistent consumption of a substance over time. That's the clinical reality. Furthermore, even if you are strictly limiting yourself to just two beers a day, it is clearly taking a toll on your liver. It makes perfect sense: if you consume alcohol daily, your liver never gets the chance to recover because you're constantly introducing toxins faster than the organ can process them. This leads to fatty liver disease, elevated bilirubin levels, rising GGT, and the gradual degradation of hepatocytes—your liver cells. From there, it's a slow slide toward hepatitis, cirrhosis, or death. While that process typically takes a long time, once you've received a warning that your liver function is compromised, you really shouldn't touch a drop of alcohol until you have a definitive diagnosis. Sometimes, a situation reaches a point where you have to quit entirely to prevent complications. So, those two beers aren't "nothing"—if your lab results say they're causing damage, then they are.