Should I be concerned?? - Liver & Pancreas Disorders Message Board

Midnight1020 · 06-30-2005, 07:54 AM

I am 27 and have drank for about 7.5 years (average 6-7 beers a night). I felt fine and had a routine physical. The blood work indicated the following:

ALT 63
AST 40
Bilirubin .5
Triglycerides 240, but cholesterol normal

The doc said that we will just test again in a month. A few days later after looking at all the stuff on the internet I was freaking out and went back to the doctor sure that I had cirrhosis (thought I had every symptom). He talked to me and said that in all likelihood, with the drinking, I probably have fatty liver. I left feeling better, but then I started thinking, "Could I have cirrhosis in the early stages?" I also occasionally feel a pins and needles feeling faintly behind my ribs, in the front and then sometimes in the back and then kind of in my arms. I figure I either have cirrhosis or fatty liver (which can be cured) with a side of nervous tension.

And yes, I have not drank a thing now in 3 weeks, and you couldn't force me to drink a beer.

greeneyes100 · 07-07-2005, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnight1020

I am 27 and have drank for about 7.5 years (average 6-7 beers a night). I felt fine and had a routine physical. The blood work indicated the following:

ALT 63
AST 40
Bilirubin .5
Triglycerides 240, but cholesterol normal

The doc said that we will just test again in a month. A few days later after looking at all the stuff on the internet I was freaking out and went back to the doctor sure that I had cirrhosis (thought I had every symptom). He talked to me and said that in all likelihood, with the drinking, I probably have fatty liver. I left feeling better, but then I started thinking, "Could I have cirrhosis in the early stages?" I also occasionally feel a pins and needles feeling faintly behind my ribs, in the front and then sometimes in the back and then kind of in my arms. I figure I either have cirrhosis or fatty liver (which can be cured) with a side of nervous tension.

And yes, I have not drank a thing now in 3 weeks, and you couldn't force me to drink a beer.

All heavy drinkers get fatty liver, but it's completely reversible if you quit drinking. It can lead to cirrhosis, but not always. Only about one-third of heavy drinkers go on to develop cirrhosis. But why take the chance?

I'm a little concerned about my liver because I have been drinking heavily on and off for at least 20 years! I'm don't understand how I never got cirrhosis,and actually, the last time I had my liver checked, it was normal! It's really hard to understand because of all the drinking I have done. About three pints of vodka three or four times per week and at one time even more than that. As a matter of fact, I was drinking about that much last time I had my liver checked and I didn't hear anything, so I'm guessing everything was normal.

I'm know I must at least have fatty liver, so I'm going to quit for awhile and just cut back to drinking one or two drinks occasionally. I was drinking a lot due to depression, but now that I'm on antidepressants, I don't feel the need to self medicate.

Also, I take milk thistle and a lot of vitamins, so that might have something to do with the reason my enzymes were normal. I just don't understand how some people can get cirrhosis so easily and others can drink more and never get it. I heard of one man who lived to be 100 years old and he drank a pint of vodka per day!

What gives???

happyelf · 07-09-2005, 09:25 AM

Midnight-Your numbers are w/in the normal ranges (ast 5-40 alt 5-65). Try not to look up symptoms on the internet-you'll only freak yourself out more. I know it's hard, but try go with it for a month-w/minimal beer intake-and see what happens when you go back for more bloodwork. I think you're fine but it's enough to scare the socks off you, isn't it?

Most ppl get elevated liver enzymes (and/or fatty liver) at some point in their life and don't even know it. They pop up during a routine exam-just like yours. Sometimes the #'s double or triple...even then the dr will usually wait a month or so and re-check them. Everything we eat,drink, and breathe is filtered thru our liver, so any meds we take will effect it. Also-any cold, flu or virus or illness (even a lot of strenuous exercise)can add to the elevation. Usually the dr will ask abt any OTC's you take also-specifically acetaminophen(tylenol) b/c that can easily cause high #'s. It's reversible-when you stop taking the med your #'s will go down. My #'s were sky high--in the 1000's from taking acet and they came back down.
Why some ppl get cirrhosis and some don't is just one of those things...it may have to do w/genetic makeup or predisposition--or also other things your liver has taken on over the course of the years.
Hang in there--let us know how your labs come back.

TheHappyMan · 07-09-2005, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnight1020

I am 27 and have drank for about 7.5 years (average 6-7 beers a night). I felt fine and had a routine physical. The blood work indicated the following:

ALT 63
AST 40
Bilirubin .5
Triglycerides 240, but cholesterol normal

The doc said that we will just test again in a month. A few days later after looking at all the stuff on the internet I was freaking out and went back to the doctor sure that I had cirrhosis (thought I had every symptom). He talked to me and said that in all likelihood, with the drinking, I probably have fatty liver. I left feeling better, but then I started thinking, "Could I have cirrhosis in the early stages?" I also occasionally feel a pins and needles feeling faintly behind my ribs, in the front and then sometimes in the back and then kind of in my arms. I figure I either have cirrhosis or fatty liver (which can be cured) with a side of nervous tension.

And yes, I have not drank a thing now in 3 weeks, and you couldn't force me to drink a beer.

Hi Midnight1020 -
Another voice of support here.... Your numbers, if high at all, are only slightly elevated. (the Bilirubin is totally Normal and the Triglycerides are just a little high).
I wouldnt worry at all. If you have stopped drinking for 3 weeks already there is a VERY HIGH PROBABILITY that your next test will come back with lower, normal numbers.

Also taking Milk Thistle, and some other things like Dandelion Root, and Alpha Lipoic Acid can lower your liver enzymes rapidly.

Midnight1020 · 07-11-2005, 06:18 AM

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I will post my results when I get them, I should take the blood test late in July. Summer picnics without beer have definitely been different, but I still haven't touched a drop. Hopefully everything is good, but I think I learned a lesson regardless. Thanks, again.