Liver exzymes up again

Sorry, I never look at a whole post before I reply..just the original question...so you have to wait 2 weeks!

That s*cks....

I just did some research on why they would be elevated....didn't really get an answer on that...but what I did read...and we really can't go BY THE INTERNET....is that they should be under 40.

It sounds like your liver is struggling to repair itself and what I read is cirrohoisis....which really means you shouldn't drink again. 

I hope that they re-test you ....and as you know if you drink....that would be BAD....I know it is not easy...I am also TRYING not to drink and it has only been 3 weeks....Congratulations on your 9 weeks!

How long have you drank for?

How old are you?

 

Hmmm..I'm 52...and been drinking as long as you too (with an 8 year break)....and I have never had my liver enzymes discussed..unless I was in the hospital after a binge. 

As far as I know...I'm ok.

Hopefully with time you will be too....Maybe others will come along with the same experience you are having 

OK - some viruses and infections in other parts of your body can cause changes in LFTs. They go back to normal after a while.

Have you had any infections or viruses in the last ten weeks?

Just as a shot in the dark, check over any meds you're taking, (especially any started recently) to make sure they're not a problem here. Because if they might be, then your doc might have to get back to you sooner (hint, hint).

No,none that I know of.I had been taking methocarbamol and calcium/magnesium,but neither are supposed to affect the liver.I have pain under the front ribs,the side and back also,which comes and goes,sometimes dull,sometimes stabbing.

Right - now all the other things are pretty complicated and it's best your GP explains what is happening. Also, the relationship and ratio between various liver enzymes is of more importance than one random reading, so that has to be taken into account, too.

If you've stopped drinking and have a normal liver scan I reckon this has not got anything to do with liver damage, but as I said, I'm a nurse, not a doctor, and I haven't got your notes in front of me!!!!

I really hope you can stay calm until you see your GP. All the best and keep in touch, Tess.

Good idea.I used this to get the doctor to phone me.He didn't know why it should go up again,but is contacting the gastro in the hope that he will bring forward September's appointment.

That's good to know, Eric. keep taking it one day at a time. You've done so well. Love Tess

'In the meantime,if anyone has any further input I would be very grateful.'

Well, LFTs are a blunt instrument, not always a good indication of what is happening and often not that understood by doctors. If they were, your doctor would have explained all the information and you would not need to be posting here and asking the question.

I have seen a plethora of people on here, state that they drink like a fish but they had an LFT and apparently all is fine, when blatanly, we know that this cannot be the case.

If you've been a regular heavy drinker for many years, there will always be some damage and because of that, the readings are going to fluctuate. The long term trend is the best indicator.

I'm not a doctor, but I've had more LFTs than hot dinners in the last two years. My letter from the gastro last month, said both of the following. My liver function has returned to normal. I have cirrhosis. So there we go, I am both okay and not okay in the same letter.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it, but get another test in six months and see what the trend indication is like.

Thanks RHGB.I value your opinion.It wouldn't be as bad without the pains I mentioned above.

Ah, missed that bit. I always got the short sharp stabbing pains. Of course pain is our body's warning sign, but most ignore it and tell ourselves that it is nothing and will go away of its own accord - or at least that's the way I worked.

The liver doesn't have any nerve endings, so doesn't signal any pain. It can if enlarged, rub some of the other internal organs, which do have nerve endings and will produce pain. I can't remember which ones, but I've read it several times, especially in the liver forum here.

There are of course several other organs that can cause pain, pancreas, gallbladder etc. I can't remember where they all are, but most of mine are enlarged through drinking, but a quick Google will show a picture of the human anatomy.

My advice is, the only person that your health is of the utmost importance to, is you, not your GP, you are just a name on the books, one of many. Don't leave it to someone else, take charge of your health, don't worry about becoming a nuisance. Politely, call the surgery and ask for an earlier appointment, because you need to know now and that two weeks is unacceptable.

Wait for them to offer you a sooner appointment and if they don't, tell them they have obviously misunderstood you and which part of not willing to wait two weeks do they not understand.

apologies for changing the subject, but is there an a;ternative to lactuloe that you recommended because husband is diabetic and is not allowed to take it.

Sorry Eric! I quickly pinched your discussion.. Tess

Both the pancreas and the gall bladder are siuated next to the liver.

If either are inflamed the pain is often described by others as unbearable.

But if they're only mildly inflamed it might explain the pain you've been having.

Get to the doctor on Monday, please.........if either your pancreas or gall bladder are playing up you need to get on top of it before you start getting severe pain and possible damage to these organs. Don't worry all weekend about it, though, as early treatment means optimum recovery. If, however, you find that the pain is getting a lot worse and making you feel ill, call 111 for advice - or just go to A & E.      Tess

'because husband is diabetic and is not allowed to take it'

Who told you that? Not your GP I hope?

It's nonabsorbable.

Most people think that lactulose is like lactose and that it is a sugar that will raise glucose readings. However, lactulose is a synthetic sugar that is broken down in the colon into products that pull water out from the body and into the colon. It works by drawing ammonia from the blood into the colon where it is removed from the body. Because it is broken down in the colon it is not absorbed in the intestines and therefore has little if any effect on glucose levels.

Look away now people if you have just eaten or are about to eat.

It's an Osmotic laxative that draws water into the stool to make the stool bigger and also softer/more moist and therefore easier to move along the colon. It doesn't actually give the runs, it just regulates the process and keeps it moving along.

It restores gut bacteria and reins in overgrowths of a gut bacteria that produce ammonia and cause encephalopathy, in liver failure.

Thanks for your help.

Yes, it was the ddoctor who said he couldn't have lactulose.

We'll go back armed with neew information