Mom--no insurance - Liver & Pancreas Disorders Message Board

fuzzysofa · 06-04-2005, 03:51 AM

My mom started a restaurant two years ago and it lead her to drinking. From what I can tell it's getting a bit too much, however, she comes from a culture that drinks a lot (Korean) and I never thought much of it. Lately she says she thinks it's catching up with her along with the stress. The really bad thing is, she also smokes. She said about two years ago they did a test and her liver was in a bad condition (not really bad, but not good)...anyway, since she is self employed she doesn't have insurance. So, she is being stubborn about spending a few extra dollars to go see a doctor. I heard getting your liver checked out isn't too steep, but just wanted to know if anyone knew?

Thanks

happyelf · 06-04-2005, 01:01 PM

Hi Fuzzysofa--first they'll probably do a CBC-blood test. It includs liver enzymes, bilirubin...etc. It's a simple blood test & the results are a really good indicator of further liver problems. Based on that outcome, if her enzymes are higher than normal, they may tell her to stop drinking for a few weeks (hard for her to do in your culture, I'm sure)and recheck her labs again in about a month. Usually if it's alcohol related-and there's no extensive damage or underlying cause-those #'s should go down and that should be it. That shouldn't be too steep, but some drs make you see them first--then she's incurring an office visit expense also. The liver is amazing-it can regenerate itself--up to a point. It takes quite a bit to do major irreversible damage--unless of course you are predisposed to liver disease.
Hope this helps you. Good luck w/your mom. You're a good daughter-she's lucky you care.
HappyElf

fuzzysofa · 06-11-2005, 02:38 AM

Doesn't sound too bad. Thank you very much for your help!

TheHappyMan · 06-11-2005, 05:18 PM

Hi Fuzzysofa - Happyelf is right - MOST Doctors will make you see them first and then usually again after the test.

If the price of a Liver Panel Blood test is of concern, you can get an accurate one without a Doctor by using "Health Tests Direct" (contact via the internet).
After you purchase "the test" (which you can pay for with a credit card) they email you a form and give you the address of a professional blood draw lab near your location (with 10 miles usually). You dont even need to make an appointment. Just print out and take the Email authorization to the blood draw lab, they do the test, and mail the sample to a professional lab via overnight mail, and then you get emailed with 24 hours with the results (showing which enzymes are in the "normal range" and which are not).

The whole thing costs about $25, thats for Everything.....Good Luck