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Liver Function Test results approx 100 - not sure what tests

Posted , 17 users are following.

gav44887
gav44887

Hello all,

Apologies for starting a new thread (and thanks to those who contributed to the last one I created).

To repeat briefly: I have been suffering from depression, anxiety and insomnia for the past two years.

Since last August, I have been drinking heavily intermittently - though hardly at all from November 2014 to March this year.

I then re-started drining heavily on-and-off from April, but my drinking was particularly heavy in the last week of July this year - I drank three 1.5 litre bottles of vodka that week.

I had liver function test done on 4 August (just over a week ago).  Subsequent to that, I got a letter from my doctor's surgery asking me to come back and have the tests repeated in a few weeks' time.

Yesterday, I had a regular appointment with my doctor.  He went through the liver function test results with me.

I cannot remember the names of the specific tests, all I can remember is that they were both about 100, the doctor said the upper figure for normal for both was 61, he said one was more importnat than the other, I need to reduce my drinking to within the recomened limits and to come back and have the tests repeated in a few weeks' time (as per the letter).

Since the binge in the last week of July, I have not been feeling well.  I am sweating very easily, feel achy, lacking energy, insomnia has got worse, and my appetite is not so good.  However, I have not lost any weight.

How concerned should I be (even if I reduce my alcohol intake)?  I have done so - I didn't drink any alcohol for a week, and have only drank wine since, and my alcohol intake is much, much lower than it had been in July.

Thanks in advance of replies.

Gavin.

2 likes, 119 replies

119 Replies

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  • gav44887
    gav44887

    Posted

    So, as I had to go to the surgery today for a repeat full blood count test, because I've been feeling so unwell with lots of vague and strange symptoms, the nurse taking my blood suggested I speak to a doctor who had a slot available.

    So, I had a chat with him (a locum).

    He said that the falling GGT (down from 121 on 4 August to 72 on 17 August) and AST now normal (25, down from 96) are reflective of the end to the very heavy drinking and that, in a short time, GGT will return to normal, too.

    Should I now content myself that, in the continued absence of the heavy alcohol consumption, my liver has not been badly damaged and is recovering well?

    I know this is probably my mindset, and is indicative of what Paul was cautioning against a few days ago, but I haven't been able to resist Googling my on-going symptoms and have even come-up with a condition called Haemochromatosis to explain the symptoms I'm having ....  I mentioned this to the locum doctor and he said that, if I had this condition, it would have shown-up in some of the full blood count tests done on my blood in June.  Would it?

    (He added that the FBC in June also showed that I do NOT have diabetes and my kidney function is also just fine.

    Cheers.

  • gav44887
    gav44887

    Posted

    Hi again,

    Unfortunately, I have lapsed.

    On Friday evening (two days ago), I felt I was struggling a bit with depression and anxiety.  However, I got through Saturday and bout some high-dose Thiamine to heal with withdrawal symptoms.

    I have been dealing with various, very difficult negative life events for the past two years.  One of the main problems has been severe, chronic insomnia: when I try to sleep, my mind is just full of memories, regrets, guilt, etc, etc.

    I have been on alternating types of sleeping pills for two years.

    Last night (Saturday night/Sunday morning), I simply could not sleep, in spite of 20mg Temazepam.  So, I took another one.  Still, I could not sleep.

    Sadly, I have resorted to alcohol (not an awful lot, but some).  This has stopped the sweating, though not the clamminess of skin, and has not been enough for me to fall-asleep.

    I feel depressed, sad, guilty, and as if I have undone any of the good done I have done since stopping the REALLY heavy drinking three weeks ago.

    I had been trying so hard: not drinking, trying to eat well, exercising (long walks), etc.

    I think this is probably the worst I have felt, all in all: exhausted, dehydrated, guilty, hating myself, full of regret, etc, etc.  I don't know what to do.

    :-( 

    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 gav44887

      Posted

      You need a proper detox, Gav, with sufficient doses of Benzodiazepines (Librium or Valium) to stop you having withdrawal symptoms. Thiamine can help some of the symptoms but you cannot detox on Thiamine alone.
    • gav44887
      gav44887 PaulJTurner1964

      Posted

      Unfortunately I have a very suspicuos symptom which indicates to me that I have damaged my liver.

      I have what I think is a spider naevi on my left arm at the joint. There is one that I can see.

      I am devastated, but have only myself to blame.

      I was drinkiñg to block out the effects of insomnia, depression and anxiety, but it looks like I'm going to pay a heavy price.

      :-(

    • PaulJTurner1964
      PaulJTurner1964 gav44887

      Posted

      Even if it IS a spider naevi, that doesn't mean you have liver disease, Gav. Your LFT results suggest that you don't.
    • Richardt
      Richardt gav44887

      Posted

      If u have problems sleeping why not, listen to the radio in bed till u sleep LBC talk radio 97.3 is quite good, a lot of everyday topics , its like u have a friend all the time as people call in, and u start knowing u are not alone, 24 hours of chat give it a try, on sky its on 0112, cheers take care.
    • Paper_fairy
      Paper_fairy Richardt

      Posted

      The "mental illness happy hour" is a good podcast to download too. It's for addictions like alcohol and anxiety disorders. American but good. I listen to it when walking dog..
  • annirudh47447
    annirudh47447 gav44887

    Posted

    When you drink that much its pretty obvious your liver is going to suffer. But its awesome that your alcohol intake is a lot lower than it used to be. I think you would be able to monitor your drinking very well using an app called alcochange. Its pretty useful if you want to cut back on your drinking. Helps you maintain daily drinking goals. My understanding when i used it (still using it) is that its basically designed to help you manage your liver health. Take a look and see if you like it.
  • pmcg21
    pmcg21 gav44887

    Posted

    Hi Gav,

                    you have to stop tormenting yourself looking for symptoms of liver damage - your liver is fine - your WD's symptoms will disapear, so you gotta start focusing on the positives in your life- put this episode behind you and move forward- there is no future in the past- trust me i know how that works it will only keep dragging you back under- look to the future Gavin- all the best

  • gav44887
    gav44887

    Posted

    Today, I have of the following:

    - a spidee naivi on my right arm. It's horrible;

    - awful sweats;

    - pink palms, especially left palm;

    - numerous red pin-point marks ;

    - eye-whites discoloured;

    - some hair fell from a left arm;

    - indigestiion.

    At least at this stage my urine is pale, there no blood or bloody faeces and blood from a bleeding fingernail stopped promptly.

    I'm besode myself with worry and grief.

    :-(

    • annirudh47447
      annirudh47447 gav44887

      Posted

      oh dear, ouch. That sounds extremely terrible.  Now youve got some of us worried as well
    • Paper_fairy
      Paper_fairy gav44887

      Posted

      Gavin. I don't want to sound condescending but you might have health anxiety and there is a forum on here for that. I was a beauty, holistic therapist for 25 plus years and used to treat people with spider naivea(veins) with specialist electrolysis. It would just disappear before your eyes. Everyone gets them but if they get unsightly they can be treated. It is a superficial skin problem which you've probably done when you've bumped yourself. Nothing else. Please stop looking and think of the positive fact that your liver is ok smile
    • gav44887
      gav44887 Paper_fairy

      Posted

      The spider naivea doesn'y really look like veins. It looks like a dark blot.

      I forgot to mention I also have many bruises.

      I think it's inevitable that this is cirrhosis and the recent very heavy drinking episodes have been life changingly costly.

      I never enjoyed drinking enough to be worth this.

      :-(

    • gav44887
      gav44887

      Posted

      One thing I should say that I really don't understand is that the GP who physically examined me said my liver was soft and supple and fine.

      So my very last drinking night must have been the costly one - a process of course.

      It still seems soft and supple to me, not that that's any consolation ....

    • gav44887
      gav44887

      Posted

      My penis and testicles have got very dark too. They were always quite pale.

      I don't know where this going to end - a complete life change.

      The sweat is pouring out of me and my arms, legs and chest are full of pucks and perforations and pimples.

    • Richardt
      Richardt Paper_fairy

      Posted

      Thanks for reminding gav44887, l also told him 2 weeks ago , to put himself on both sites, bcz gav44887 suffers from anxiety, and he is tormenting himself for nothing.He is in good health liver wise.
    • Richardt
      Richardt gav44887

      Posted

      It takes 6 years of heavy drinking, to get cirrhosis, that's if u drink about 2 litres vodka a day, and your Gamma t results will be over 600, yours gav33 are great stop worrying.
    • Richardt
      Richardt gav44887

      Posted

      Hi gav44887 is your family still around, l mean brothers, etc ,.
    • gav44887
      gav44887 Richardt

      Posted

      Sister, mother & father.

      I'm not married, currently single.

      I am actually in hospital in Belfast right now for an unrelated matter. I persuaded a doctor to do LFTs, CBC & clotting factors. He's just told me the LFTs show no evidence of cirrohsis, they were similar to the values in mid-October though the AST was worryingly higher again. Mo evidemce for jaundice other, and clotting factors normal (I knew they would be because I stopped bleeding a few seconds after the nurse took the blood.

      However, the CRP was reactive.

      He says he will do all of the bloods again tomorrow to get to the bottom of this.

      I am literally covered in bruises, pimples, that ugly dark blot, red palms, serious sweating, and eyes are yellow.

      He says it's not cirrohsis and definitely not hepatitis.

      Fatty liver? I'd settle for that as my drinking days are over

      I daren't allow myself to feel that it's not cirrohsis as we don't know what it is. Hopefully the figures will be better tomorrow, the symptoms don't get any worse and we can take ot from

      I kmow that blood tests alone can't rile anyyhing in or out and physical tests may well be required.

    • Paper_fairy
      Paper_fairy gav44887

      Posted

      Spider naevie can also come up as a red blob too. Women get them on their legs a lot when they are pregnant. It has nothing to do with your liver. They can form around your nose after many years of excessive drinking. THEY ARE NOT DANGEROUS. Please stop this as your Dr has told you your liver is clear..thank God for that and stop panicking
    • Paper_fairy
      Paper_fairy gav44887

      Posted

      Hi. Wrote the last post not realising you were in hospital. I hope they find out once and for all what the problem is. Good luck and stay calm smile
    • gav44887
      gav44887 Paper_fairy

      Posted

      I know this can seem tiresome but the GGT was over 70 and the AST was over 90

      It's just that I have all of these symptoms and they match chirrosis symptoms on the NHS website.

      I also feel rotten, have also blood in my nose and when clearing my throat.

      A lady in the hospital here has looked at arms and the bruises and red hands and can't explain them either.

      It all seems like too much of a coincidence.

    • gav44887
      gav44887 Paper_fairy

      Posted

      It's just that my synptoms pretty much match the published symptoms of chirrosis down to a tee. My body looks fairly ravaged actually.

      It just seems like too much of coincidence.

    • Paper_fairy
      Paper_fairy gav44887

      Posted

      Good luck Gav. We are all rooting for you and hope you find some peace of mind about your health
    • gav44887
      gav44887 Paper_fairy

      Posted

      Thanks Paper Fairy, but I fear the die is cast.

      I now have puffy knickles in both hands and a big bruise with a red pimple on my left hand.

      I feel debastated for my parents as well as myself.

      I never saw any of this coming. My sister is an alcholic but was lucky enough to give up in time (though she drank heavily much longer than me).

      I feel unfortunate, but no one forced the drink down my throat.

    • vickylou
      vickylou gav44887

      Posted

      Gav you are making yourself I'll with worry. It's almost like you've been told your liver is fine, but you need to prove there is something seriously wrong. You must be spending hours looking all over your body for almost anything, then googling certain conditions. Can you not accept that your liver is ok? You have health anxiety where a little knowledge can be dangerous. Please try and not imagine the worse. At this rate you will give yourself an illness .and then you will have something to worry about
    • gav44887
      gav44887 vickylou

      Posted

      It's because the difference between one thing (cirrohsis) and the other (not cirrohsis) is so stark. And the symptoms are horrendous to endure: painful, substantial and now intimate too. Large parts of my body feel poisoned.

      The results today were: AST 90 and GGT 72. The others were normal except CRP which was elevated - I've also had a chest or throat infection.

      Hopefully the resilts later today will improve again

    • Richardt
      Richardt gav44887

      Posted

      Does your family know ,u are having problems with your health, its good to share with them how u feel and what u are going through.
    • gav44887
      gav44887 Richardt

      Posted

      Hi Richard,

      Yes, I told my father and sister.  Also, that I planned not to drink from now on as both the scale of my occasional and now the start of symptoms of liver problems was scaring me.

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