Elev8edLFTs
11-14-2006, 06:17 AM
In August of this year my glands in my throat swelled up to abnormal size and I was given a ton of antibiotics including stereoids, two weeks later I developed red bumps on the inside of my palms and bottoms of my feet, 3 dermatologists looked at me and after a conclusive huh? they biopsied and said it was psoriasis from an upper resporatory infection. At this point I was told I may have Hep C (which came back non reactive for all types of hep)and they started doing blood tests. My ALT,AST, both over 100 and ALK Phosphates were extremely high, my ALk were 500+ and have not gone down much if at all. I have been in since September for lab test after lab test looking for genetic disorders, they have done an ultra sound that showed some fatty spots on my liver, I recently lost a lot of weight, a ct guided random biopsy (that came back with no conclusive results) and on Friday I go in for an MRI, so far no one can tell me anything. They are having me do an HIV test to rule this out as well. I am having a lot of issues with bloating and gas that is more of an annoyance than anything else. I am becoming seriously depressed and am assuming its due to the fact that I don't know whats wrong with me and the tests are starting to wear. I am only 23 and am not a heavy drinker, have never used drugs, and don't have an at risk lifestyle. Its very frustrating and I'm just not quite sure how to deal with it at this point. My LFTs have not gone down and have not increased, my doctor is basically at a loss since I have no prior blood tests to this to tell him whether or not the antibiotics and stereoids caused my LFTs to elevate. I'm curious how some of you are dealing with not knowing whats going on or if there are any good way to get these to start going down. I have of course researched it a lot however what one person says another discredits and so forth. I have talked to my doctor about the best and worst case scenerios, though he can't tell me much.
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danielm
11-14-2006, 06:37 PM
At this stage, without a difinitive diagnosis and without exhausting all testing, it's difficult for the Doctors to give you any relief, either with a positive diagnosis or with a proper treatment. I understand what doubt and pain you are going through, because it's not only physical, but mental as well.
If your liver is under stress and your enzyme levels are raised, it can actually have an effect on your thinking too. The chemical balance in your body is very delicately balanced and even just a small inbalance can have a large effect on how you think and feel. it's very important that if you're feeling depressed you tell your doctor what is going on.
I am just getting over fatty liver disease myself at the moment and I went through severe bouts of depression during the worst days - even suicidal thoughts. I was lucky in that I am the type to talk to my partner about my feelings and she immediately got me to speak with my doctor who put me on an anti depressant which helped a lot. Anti depressants will not harm your liver at all and they can help you cope with what you're going through, both medically and emotionally. Don't be afraid to ask for help, as depression left unchecked can be as dangerous as any disease.
Your doctors can only keep running tests to rule out what might be going wrong. The blood levels indicate there's an issue there obviously, but it doesn't pinpoint exactly what's causing it. Literally, there's dozens of reasons why your enzyme levels are raised and whilst we tend to focus on worst case scenarios (human nature I guess), often they can be minor things that once discovered, can be treated. It's the fear of the unknown that drags us down and keeps us worried.
On the raw stats you've provided and the little background you've posted it's impossible to suggest what might be wrong. it could simply be a fatty liver like what I've had, it could be auto immune disease, it would be iron levels in your liver or any one of a dozen things.
The thing I would stress is that your try and relax and see what the doctors come up with first. The one good thing I can say looking at what you've posted is that if you had any serious damage done to your liver it would have shown up on the biopsy immediately - that's actually a GOOD sign.
Since they can't seem to find what's going wrong straight up, it seems they're going through the process of elimination instead. I know it's frustrating and worrying (I had 3 CTs (Head, Tummy, Cholangeogram), 3 Xrays, stool/urine testing, Endoscopy, a dozen blood tests, Sonograms etc etc) - and you hope that each test will be the one to reveal the problem and get disappointed when it doesn't - but you need to hang in there and let them do their thing. I know from practical experience what you're going through and you have my complete sympathy. It sucks I know, but you really need to know that you're not alone and that people go through this kind of stuff every day.
Most importantly, see your doctor and let them know how you're feeling at the moment. Getting help for those emotions is really important while they continue testing, so don't ignore it. If it helps, be sure to chat with the people on this forum. Their advice and support has been great and really helped me get through my illness too.
Best wishes and good luck
If your liver is under stress and your enzyme levels are raised, it can actually have an effect on your thinking too. The chemical balance in your body is very delicately balanced and even just a small inbalance can have a large effect on how you think and feel. it's very important that if you're feeling depressed you tell your doctor what is going on.
I am just getting over fatty liver disease myself at the moment and I went through severe bouts of depression during the worst days - even suicidal thoughts. I was lucky in that I am the type to talk to my partner about my feelings and she immediately got me to speak with my doctor who put me on an anti depressant which helped a lot. Anti depressants will not harm your liver at all and they can help you cope with what you're going through, both medically and emotionally. Don't be afraid to ask for help, as depression left unchecked can be as dangerous as any disease.
Your doctors can only keep running tests to rule out what might be going wrong. The blood levels indicate there's an issue there obviously, but it doesn't pinpoint exactly what's causing it. Literally, there's dozens of reasons why your enzyme levels are raised and whilst we tend to focus on worst case scenarios (human nature I guess), often they can be minor things that once discovered, can be treated. It's the fear of the unknown that drags us down and keeps us worried.
On the raw stats you've provided and the little background you've posted it's impossible to suggest what might be wrong. it could simply be a fatty liver like what I've had, it could be auto immune disease, it would be iron levels in your liver or any one of a dozen things.
The thing I would stress is that your try and relax and see what the doctors come up with first. The one good thing I can say looking at what you've posted is that if you had any serious damage done to your liver it would have shown up on the biopsy immediately - that's actually a GOOD sign.
Since they can't seem to find what's going wrong straight up, it seems they're going through the process of elimination instead. I know it's frustrating and worrying (I had 3 CTs (Head, Tummy, Cholangeogram), 3 Xrays, stool/urine testing, Endoscopy, a dozen blood tests, Sonograms etc etc) - and you hope that each test will be the one to reveal the problem and get disappointed when it doesn't - but you need to hang in there and let them do their thing. I know from practical experience what you're going through and you have my complete sympathy. It sucks I know, but you really need to know that you're not alone and that people go through this kind of stuff every day.
Most importantly, see your doctor and let them know how you're feeling at the moment. Getting help for those emotions is really important while they continue testing, so don't ignore it. If it helps, be sure to chat with the people on this forum. Their advice and support has been great and really helped me get through my illness too.
Best wishes and good luck
gudewan
11-14-2006, 08:53 PM
I totally feel for you cause my husband (now 27) has been dealing with this for the past 2 years. Different symptoms - actually now he has NO symptoms - and no diagnosis - but high levels.
You gotta look at it like this: Look at what you DON'T have. To me, its worse if they actually find one of those things on the blood test sheet - none of them are too nice. Thank god you don't have hep, HIV, cirrosis, etc.
Liver levels are just a sign that something is or was going on. They are not a good indication of what is going on, cause it could be a ton of different things.
I would recommend that you find a way to manage yourself mentally when getting tested. Honestly, once they ruled out the killer illnesses, its safe to say you will eventually get over whatever this is. Many doctors like to keep re-testing just to check your levels every 6 months or so. Try not to think of it as "I'm going to the doctor for my illness" as much as you are going just for a checkup.
Also, take stock of how you really feel and what you CAN do about it now. You can eat better, sleep more, drink more water, get out more, drink less alcohol, use over the counter meds, and topical treatments, use herbal remedies, etc. Even if a thing about you is for sure caused by an illness you have, there is usually something you can do to heal it directly in the mean time. (I am thinking of your hands)
I also really want to push the nutrition and herbal side of this issue and the importants of removing toxins from your environment. This can DRASTICALLY reduce the amount of crap your liver has to screen out and allow it to put its energy into healing itself.
-Jenn
You gotta look at it like this: Look at what you DON'T have. To me, its worse if they actually find one of those things on the blood test sheet - none of them are too nice. Thank god you don't have hep, HIV, cirrosis, etc.
Liver levels are just a sign that something is or was going on. They are not a good indication of what is going on, cause it could be a ton of different things.
I would recommend that you find a way to manage yourself mentally when getting tested. Honestly, once they ruled out the killer illnesses, its safe to say you will eventually get over whatever this is. Many doctors like to keep re-testing just to check your levels every 6 months or so. Try not to think of it as "I'm going to the doctor for my illness" as much as you are going just for a checkup.
Also, take stock of how you really feel and what you CAN do about it now. You can eat better, sleep more, drink more water, get out more, drink less alcohol, use over the counter meds, and topical treatments, use herbal remedies, etc. Even if a thing about you is for sure caused by an illness you have, there is usually something you can do to heal it directly in the mean time. (I am thinking of your hands)
I also really want to push the nutrition and herbal side of this issue and the importants of removing toxins from your environment. This can DRASTICALLY reduce the amount of crap your liver has to screen out and allow it to put its energy into healing itself.
-Jenn
Elev8edLFTs
11-15-2006, 04:15 AM
Thank you for the replies, I got my hiv test results today, thank god they were negative. They're still testing 2 more genetic disorders which will hopefully come back with nothing. I agree whole heartedly that it really is a good thing that these tests are coming back with no answers, they always say no news is good news, I suppose thats sort of true. I appreciate your concern and it helps when you can talk to someone who understands how you feel. Thanks.
SEVANS
01-05-2007, 10:58 PM
My daughter at her last blood test had elevated liver enzymes....this had happened once before....her doctor (mine too) had her go on milk thistle...it is an herb used all over Europe, it lowered them the first time so she went off of them....but since it happened again the doc asked her where she worked!
She works at a photo lab doing touchup on the computer, but there is spray in the building (even though there are fans supposedly getting it out of the building)
Milk thistle is one of the best things for liver problems....many times when there is a problem with the liver psoriasis will pop out!
Since I have psoriasis I have been taking milk thistle for years!
She works at a photo lab doing touchup on the computer, but there is spray in the building (even though there are fans supposedly getting it out of the building)
Milk thistle is one of the best things for liver problems....many times when there is a problem with the liver psoriasis will pop out!
Since I have psoriasis I have been taking milk thistle for years!
PiaSava
01-08-2007, 03:28 PM
Is there any possibility you have a STD? Chlamydia is one std that can cause perihepatitis. In the acute fase of perihepatitis the lft's will usually be elevated. It also causes pain in the upper right quadrant.