Please read, so scared! - Liver & Pancreas Disorders Message Board

jllbee · 06-29-2005, 09:23 PM

Hi, any insight here would be greatly appreciated as I am a nervous wreck. I am a 37 year old female, 5'6, 115 pounds and in what I thought to be good health. I have had some issues with my bowels in the last few months and I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy next week, but I also just found out about my liver results. I took a routine blood test last week as part of my physical and my liver enzymes were very elevated at 84 AST and 89 ALT (or maybe the reverse, I can't remember). In any event, I had an ultrasound today and my liver was definitely enlarged and measured 15.6 - I think it was borderline as I was getting this info from a technician not the Dr. I took another blood test today for Hep A, B & C. Although I am so stunned by all of this as I am a mother of two who has been in a monogamous relationship for well over a decade and in my past was never very sexually active, never had a tatoo or did drugs, etc. I'm so confused on what this could all be. Does anyone have any experience where they were elevated at these levels and had an enlarged liver, but it turned out to be nothing? I'm a nervous wreck - please give me any info/advice, etc. that you might have...thanks!

meatball · 06-29-2005, 11:27 PM

hi jllbee-
first off don't panic- there are several reasons you might have elevated enzymes- have you started a new medication or have you been sick lately? Having a flu or virus can send your enzymes up. It's great that you had an ultrasound already- an enlarged liver can mean a lot of different things- mine was severely inflammed a few months back w/ enzymes in the 1,000's and it turned out I had mono- and eventually my #'s started going down but I was freaking out. You definitely came to the right place, there are tons of smart people that know so much about the liver.. please try not to panic. It sounds like your doctor is taking all the right steps to figure out what is going on. Please don't hesitate to ask any of us anything- there are great people here that can answer any question/concern you might have.

So take a deep breath and try not to stress- keep us posted on the hep test and how you're doing.

OhioMOM · 06-30-2005, 06:32 AM

i agree with meatball, it may be nothing at all, illness and medication can create elevations.... there is a cheap test called an AMA test, and a test that is called an ANA test that can rule out autoimmune disease if the other tests dont rule out a problem. it sounds like your doctor is aggressively searching for a diagnosis and that is good!

i had to go through that entire battery of tests as well, doctors cautiously eliminate the easiest things to eliminate and then go on to things that arent so easy to identify.

just because one has been drug, sex and alcohol free, does not mean one can not contract liver disease. i have 2 autoimmune liver disorders. both of them were the result of my bile ducts destroying themselves.... no sex, drugs or alcohol needed! lol

all the best, sarah

feelbad · 06-30-2005, 07:18 AM

Do you know the actual results(the radiology report)of the ultrasound yet?is there anything else in it other than just the enlarged liver?Did they also scan your kidneys?Marcia

happyelf · 06-30-2005, 01:59 PM

jllbee--you've got some great advice above. I had #'s in the 500 range a few yrs ago and that was after a flu and from some meds I took...I'm not a drinker, never was sexually active, no tatoos or IV drugs, and my #'s came back downafter a few mos and I stopped taking the meds. They'll probably re-check your #'s again in a few weeks no matter waht the U/S says. Rverything we eat, drink and BREATHE is filtered through our liver--even excercise can elevate your enzymes. Your dr is definitely taking the right steps to figure this out for you. When it comes to the liver, it's easier tell you what it's NOT than to tell you what IT IS....that's why they rule things out via BW & u/s and go by process of elimination. Hep ABC are easiest b/c it's bloodwork, and then fatty liver/fattycysts/fatty tumors w/ Ultrasound .The fatty's are all very common and not a big deal--they will cause your liver to be enlarged but they usually don't do anything about it--maybe check your liver by U/S every 6mos-1yr to make sure nothing has changed size. Stress will definitely make things worse...Did you get any info from your dr yet on your U/S? Hopefully this helps you--I know it's a scary time. Hang in there--we'll help you!! ;o) Keeping my fingers crossed for you!!
HappyElf