saira2
09-12-2003, 07:28 PM
I just found out that my ALT reading is 81. I have never had a liver test before and was concerned what this means and if it's high. Any response would be appreciated. I'm a 32 year old female.
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LauraE25
09-12-2003, 08:52 PM
Yep, it's high, as I'm sure you know. Only your doctor can figure out why by doing tests and taking a history of you. Is your doc running tests?
Laura
Laura
Moxie75
09-13-2003, 08:47 AM
Make sure they do complete liver funtion tests to see if it is functioning properly...Lisa
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ON THE WAY TO CAPE MAY!!!!!
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ON THE WAY TO CAPE MAY!!!!!
saira2
09-15-2003, 01:02 PM
thanks for the response. yes laura, they are doing some more tests tomorrow. i'm really scared cause i have read alot on the web about hepatitis but doesn't your liver have to have really high liver count for it to be hepatitis? i have been on spirnolactone for hormonal acne for a year and i'm hoping that is what caused it. anyways, any more info would be appreciated.
ralve
09-17-2003, 05:43 AM
Hi, yes, that probably is exactly what is causing your elevated enzymes. Almost anything can cause elevated enzymes, even tylenol, and I know for sure that acne medication can do it. Now, I don't know if that means you should go off the medication or not, you should ask your doctor that as soon as possible. If you do have to go off it, there are lots of good products out there that are natural for acne. And, I don't mean pills, I mean topical stuff, like cleansers and stuff. My daughter is 16, and has acne, but she won't take anything for it, since she is worried about health effects of pills for things like that, the liver enzymes being one of them. Everything you put in your mouth has to go through your liver, so it gets insulted with all kinds of things. Make sure you drink a really lot (!!) of water, and that will help your liver, and also your acne. Don't worry too much about the enzymes, it's very common to have elevated enzymes, and usually a self limiting thing, and reversed once the offending problem is found. Good luck! Val
saira2
09-17-2003, 12:43 PM
hi val, thanks so much for responding. you have put my anxiety a little at ease. i went in yesterday for more blood work and i'm just waiting to hear the results. i'm so scared that this could be hep b or c. i guess it's routine to check these two if the results are abnormal. i have never been so scared in my life so i'm praying that everything will turn out ok.
ralve
09-18-2003, 07:26 AM
Hi, try not to worry so much about the results of the blood tests. It's very common to have elevated enzymes, they are very sensitive, and can be elevated for hundreds of reasons. Your acne medication is probably the culprit. When you had these recent blood tests, were you still on the medication? I don't know how long it takes your body to get totally rid of that, but you may still have elevated enzymes if that is still in your system. I have been through so many blood tests, and now realize that you have to just try to calm down about it, I actually had elevated enzymes, and then the doctor ran the Hepatitis tests, and I came out positive for Hep C! You can imagine how upset I was when I found out what HepC was, I had to look it up on the internet, and learned everything about it. Anyway, to make a long story short, the test was a mistake, and I don't have HepC! I went to a liver specialist, and he took a series of tests, and my tests didn't show any evidence of HepC. Then, he went to another lab, and took the most sensitive test of all, the Heptimax, and it was still negative. So, it turns out that the first lab made a mistake, and I never did have HepC. What I went through with that though still makes me really mad. After that, I felt like just taking care of myself, and trying to not go in for so many tests, as mistakes are often made, and can put your life in hell for a while. Also, this made a huge impact on my life. When I thought I had HepC, my Dad was getting ill, and I didn't want to get on a plane to go and see him, since I wasn't sure yet of my health, and didn't want to contract Hep A or B, because I knew those together could be very bad, and I hadn't had the shots for those yet. And, I couldn't get the shots yet, since we weren't even sure at that point if it was HepC or not. Anyway, I didn't see my Dad, and he passed away last October. I guess my point is try not to worry so much, the liver is an amazing organ, and has the ability to heal itself once steps are taken to take away what is bothering it. And, remember, enzymes are very sensitive, and can even be elevated if you're not drinking enough water. Good luck, tell me how the next tests come out! Val
saira2
09-19-2003, 12:33 PM
hi val, well i got my results yesterday.. my alt was 29 and ast was 17.. phew.. what a relief. also i came back negative for hep c and a. they are still going to test for hep b cause they want to rule out everything but the doc said since my reads were so good, i really have nothing to worry about. i was really scared about the hep c. this week was so scary for me, i barely could function because i was worried something was wrong with me. i really did let my anxiety take over. so i think i will handle things alot better next time something could be wrong.. i learned alot this week to appreciate life.. anyways, wb when you can. thanks again for your words :)
ralve
09-20-2003, 04:10 AM
Oh sure, and congratulations!! I know, it's such a relief when those tests come back ok, isn't it?? It was so weird, I just had blood tests recently again for a different problem (I've been having lots of heart palpitations), and my AST and ALT were normal, but then something called my SED rate was too high. And, then I started going on the internet reading about that, and got nervous about that, imagining all the different things it could be. Anyway, the last ones that I had, the SED rate came out normal, so I also was relieved. But, it makes me really realize that something at one time or another is always elevated, or too low, and dosen't really mean that much. Also, it's kind of a good learning experience, like what you went through with the HepC, because each thing that you learn more about, teaches you more about your health. Like, before I thought I might have HepC, I learned so much about how to take care of my liver, things I had no idea about before. And, now that I know what a nightmare something like HepC can be, I wouldn't do anything that would risk me getting it, even getting piercings. I wouldn't think that would be a big deal, but when I was talking to people that had it, and had alot of experience with it, this is one of the ways of transmission, also tattoos. So, it's all good, except for that story I told you about my Dad, if I didn't think I had HepC, I might have seen him one last time. I guess everything happens for a reason, though. I'm so relieved for you that your tests came out ok, that's such a great feeling. And, don't worry about testing for HepB, I'm sure you don't have that, your doctor just wants to be thorough, and now that your enzymes are lowered, it was just a temporary elevation that is very, very common. Anyway, good to hear everything is ok!!! Val