gazmix
03-13-2008, 11:52 AM
Hi
I went to my doc as i was concerned about my drinking. He sent me for a Liver test & it came back with raised GGT but ALT/AST were ok.
He told me raised GGT was not unusual, & will drop, but i told him i have an ache in my side & that i put on a fiew pounds & he said it was posture!
He also palpated me & said it felt fine.
I'm still concerned that its something overlooked! I had the test in January, so i guess that tells me it isn't Liver as i'm sure it can't have changed much since then! My drinking has stayed the same, i'm on a bottle of wine & a fiew shots a night, but have cut the beer because of weight gain!
How accurate is a Liver function test!?
Also does drinking lots of water & taking milk thistle help detox the liver after drinking alcohol?
Thanks
Gaz
I went to my doc as i was concerned about my drinking. He sent me for a Liver test & it came back with raised GGT but ALT/AST were ok.
He told me raised GGT was not unusual, & will drop, but i told him i have an ache in my side & that i put on a fiew pounds & he said it was posture!
He also palpated me & said it felt fine.
I'm still concerned that its something overlooked! I had the test in January, so i guess that tells me it isn't Liver as i'm sure it can't have changed much since then! My drinking has stayed the same, i'm on a bottle of wine & a fiew shots a night, but have cut the beer because of weight gain!
How accurate is a Liver function test!?
Also does drinking lots of water & taking milk thistle help detox the liver after drinking alcohol?
Thanks
Gaz
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feelbad
03-13-2008, 12:51 PM
i just had a question about something that i just have to ask you? if you are that concerned about yout liver,why are you still drinking as much as you stated you are? that cannot be good if you do indeed have some level of liver problem,you know what i mean? any form of alcohol when you do have a possible liver problem can just exascerbate the problems and make them worse for you. cutting out the alcohol for like at least a month or so and see how you feel would really be a good idea at this point. one huge thing regarding any actual labs done on our organ function is that actual changes in any numbers really doesn't occur til the very real damage actually hits some particular range or point.
this 'could also be a possible gall bladder issue too or any number of upper GI issues.the one really great type of test that really should be done along with the basic labs is an ultrasound too. this just gives you the actual "look' at the organs themselves and not just going by numbers that wont change til a certain point. trust me on that one. i have both liver and kidney disease and despite the horrid looking utrasounds i have,all my numbers having to do with both organs are still(as of last month anyways)within all the normal ranges.but that US shows the very real damage to the kidneys espescially.
in you particular situation right now in trying to get to the bottom of your symptoms,an ultrasound really really would be most helpful. this will also include looking at the gallbladder too to check for flow and diameter of the duct,which if is too small,can create drainage problems. like i said,getting that type of test done when looking for a source or Dx of symptoms just really kind of 'hits' all the possibilities. this is what i would ask for if i were in your situation right now. its just a very helpful test that should be done along with the lab work anytime you are really looking for a possible GI issue. this would be called a full abdominal US. i would speak with your doc about it since he will have to refer you for it,but it just needs to be done in your particular case. and that alcohol should at least temporarily go til you actually find out what the underlying problems are. its not helping you at all right now,really. please let me know just what you find out. marcia
this 'could also be a possible gall bladder issue too or any number of upper GI issues.the one really great type of test that really should be done along with the basic labs is an ultrasound too. this just gives you the actual "look' at the organs themselves and not just going by numbers that wont change til a certain point. trust me on that one. i have both liver and kidney disease and despite the horrid looking utrasounds i have,all my numbers having to do with both organs are still(as of last month anyways)within all the normal ranges.but that US shows the very real damage to the kidneys espescially.
in you particular situation right now in trying to get to the bottom of your symptoms,an ultrasound really really would be most helpful. this will also include looking at the gallbladder too to check for flow and diameter of the duct,which if is too small,can create drainage problems. like i said,getting that type of test done when looking for a source or Dx of symptoms just really kind of 'hits' all the possibilities. this is what i would ask for if i were in your situation right now. its just a very helpful test that should be done along with the lab work anytime you are really looking for a possible GI issue. this would be called a full abdominal US. i would speak with your doc about it since he will have to refer you for it,but it just needs to be done in your particular case. and that alcohol should at least temporarily go til you actually find out what the underlying problems are. its not helping you at all right now,really. please let me know just what you find out. marcia
gazmix
03-13-2008, 01:06 PM
I see my doc in the morning for a 2nd oppinion. The 1st doc i saw said mt liver was OK, just the raised GGT which is normal after a night out & then lowers itself!
He said my ach is a posture thing, as it don't happen when i'm walking or standing or lying down!
I will ask my doc for US, but he said my LT was ok so i didn't need one! Do i tell him he's wrong?
I drink because i'm lonely & addicted. I have tryed to stop so many times, i guess only a shock would work!
I am realy anxious about them telling me i have a disease!
He said my ach is a posture thing, as it don't happen when i'm walking or standing or lying down!
I will ask my doc for US, but he said my LT was ok so i didn't need one! Do i tell him he's wrong?
I drink because i'm lonely & addicted. I have tryed to stop so many times, i guess only a shock would work!
I am realy anxious about them telling me i have a disease!
greens
03-13-2008, 06:10 PM
Why don't you do some volunteer work in your community, this would probably help you get off the alcohol as it would give something to do instead of being by yourself. Its also a great way to meet people and feel better about yourself.
gazmix
03-15-2008, 06:29 PM
I do 2 days of voluntary work at a mental health charity in my city, i then finish & go to the bar!
I know what your saying, that i should find a distraction, but whatever i do, my running, my mountainbiking, my football, maintaining my bike, cooking, my night college, i still find time to drink!
Today i was fixing a gate of a neighbour, i loved doing it, but i had a large mug of wine with me!! I'm stumped!
I only drink after i exercise & can't before. I'm just getting to the stage where i'm losing control!:(
gaz
I know what your saying, that i should find a distraction, but whatever i do, my running, my mountainbiking, my football, maintaining my bike, cooking, my night college, i still find time to drink!
Today i was fixing a gate of a neighbour, i loved doing it, but i had a large mug of wine with me!! I'm stumped!
I only drink after i exercise & can't before. I'm just getting to the stage where i'm losing control!:(
gaz
eric5555
03-18-2008, 03:22 AM
Hey I understand your situation. Very similar for me. Like you, I know I should cut down or stop but it's difficult when everything else is OK (work, paying bills, personal relationships) I too had some lower right ab discomfort. Comes and goes and doesn't seem related to my liver. I have had Ultrasounds, CT scans, and multiple LFT's and all is normal. Drinking, even heavy drinking doesn't always mean you WILL get serious liver problems. It's different for all people. Not sure of your age or how long you've been drinking, but it can eventually catch up to you. Most doctors I've know will get an ultrasound if you're experiencing any abdominal pain cause it could be many different things that could cause that. Do you have one of those crappy HMO plans? They won't test for nothing. But try going to another doctor to see if they can order one for you.
As far as someone mentioned that if your liver panels are elevated then it's too late and permanent damage has occurred is totally untrue. The liver is a remarkable organ that can heal itself unless it has advanced to cirrhosis which it cannot. Fatty liver for example will raise LFT's but if the cause is removed the liver will heal itself.
Don't panic, but think about cutting back or stopping if you can. If you do continue to drink, drink lots of coffee (3-4 cups a day), it is rich in anti-oxidants and known to reduce the onset of cirrhosis and take milk thistle.
Hope this helps.
As far as someone mentioned that if your liver panels are elevated then it's too late and permanent damage has occurred is totally untrue. The liver is a remarkable organ that can heal itself unless it has advanced to cirrhosis which it cannot. Fatty liver for example will raise LFT's but if the cause is removed the liver will heal itself.
Don't panic, but think about cutting back or stopping if you can. If you do continue to drink, drink lots of coffee (3-4 cups a day), it is rich in anti-oxidants and known to reduce the onset of cirrhosis and take milk thistle.
Hope this helps.
gazmix
03-18-2008, 06:22 AM
Hi Eric
My doc has done the palpating test, layed me on couch & felt around with me breathing in & out, used stethoscope & he says my kidney & liver feel normal & not enlarged.
I have had the LFT that just showed raised GGT which he says we all get if we drink anything.
He won't send me for ultrasound as he says there's no point!
I take milk thistle & drink water & tea a lot.
He said that if i continue with my wine & beer, i will get damage. I need to cut down & somedays i do, just others i don't :(
My doc has done the palpating test, layed me on couch & felt around with me breathing in & out, used stethoscope & he says my kidney & liver feel normal & not enlarged.
I have had the LFT that just showed raised GGT which he says we all get if we drink anything.
He won't send me for ultrasound as he says there's no point!
I take milk thistle & drink water & tea a lot.
He said that if i continue with my wine & beer, i will get damage. I need to cut down & somedays i do, just others i don't :(
nela34
03-26-2008, 07:25 PM
Hello,
As the others told you, you should get a full abdomen US to look at all the organs, it might not be your liver, but an ultrasound can show the state of your organs. I had the same problem as you, I used to be a really heavy drinker, sometimes because I was lonely or stress, after last Christmas I made the mistake of taking Tylenol mixed with alcohol and since then I've got terrible bowel problems, I went to the Doc and my blood tests were normal, I was really worried about cirrhosis as I've heard you can have it with normal FLT's, so he did an US and the liver looked normal, I gave up alcohol completely after that incident with the tylenol, my GI syntoms are not better and he has referred me to a GI specialist. My advice to you is to give up drinking as soon as you can, before it's too late. I blame everything that happen to me to the alcohol.
Try to get some help if you can't stop drinking by yourself, now I do other things like going to the gym, cinema, listening to music, ....I do other activities during the time I used to spend drinking and I don't miss it at all.
good luck.
nela
As the others told you, you should get a full abdomen US to look at all the organs, it might not be your liver, but an ultrasound can show the state of your organs. I had the same problem as you, I used to be a really heavy drinker, sometimes because I was lonely or stress, after last Christmas I made the mistake of taking Tylenol mixed with alcohol and since then I've got terrible bowel problems, I went to the Doc and my blood tests were normal, I was really worried about cirrhosis as I've heard you can have it with normal FLT's, so he did an US and the liver looked normal, I gave up alcohol completely after that incident with the tylenol, my GI syntoms are not better and he has referred me to a GI specialist. My advice to you is to give up drinking as soon as you can, before it's too late. I blame everything that happen to me to the alcohol.
Try to get some help if you can't stop drinking by yourself, now I do other things like going to the gym, cinema, listening to music, ....I do other activities during the time I used to spend drinking and I don't miss it at all.
good luck.
nela
eric5555
03-28-2008, 04:23 AM
I totally agree with nela. But from my understanding normal LFT's w/cirrhosis occur at late stage 3 or 4 when the liver is functioning at only a small percentage and no longer able to produce as much enzymes. To be at this stage would be highly unlikely to have none of the symptoms of cirrhosis. Of course stop drinking and you won't need to worry about cirrhosis. IF you do continue, visit your doctor at least once a year to check your LFT's. If those start to rise, then you will have to stop otherwise it can lead to cirrhosis. Best of luck.
gazmix
03-28-2008, 07:40 AM
My doc has examined me on the couch with stethoscope & palpating & feeling & said my liver & kidney are ok, urine test ok, blood ok only slightly raised GGT, but i know i need to cut down & will have regular tests in the future. He said no need for ultrasound.