The 61-year-old was diagnosed with cirrhosis, a condition that can be caused by alcohol abuse, and was added to a waiting list for a liver transplant.
The unnamed woman would have her urine tested and always tested positive leading two sets of doctors to believe she was hiding an addiction.
She went to see specialists at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre and they were able to diagnose bladder fermentation syndrome.
High levels of Candida glabrata, yeast naturally produced by the body, were accumulating in her bladder when she ate or drank sugar.
Tests showed the yeast was then fermenting and turning into alcohol in the patient's bladder.
Because of this, the liver worked harder to eliminate it from her body every time she ate certain foods, which took its toll.
She was prescribed oral antifungals, to get rid of the yeast infection
The case report was revealed by medics from the University of Pittsburgh's Presbyterian Hospital in Pennsylvania.
They said it showed 'how easy it is to overlook signals that the syndrome may be present' in some liver transplant patients.
They also want to raise awareness in doctors so that they can be more aware of the condition and then patients can avoid being mistaken for alcoholics.
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