Elevated Liver Enzymes, Help!!!

[DEBBIEANN]

akaline phosphatase 168 (38-126 normal range), GPT 154 (9-52 normal range) and GOT 176 (14-36 normal range) I have been diagnosed with fatty liver disease and am not a drinker. I am about 40 pounds overweight and am a 51 yr. old female. I do take Atenonlol blood pressure medicine, premarin and nexium. I feel medication has caused my liver high enzymes. Also total protein 8.5 ((normal range 6.3-8.2 normal range) anyone have any comments. Am going to try taking milk thistle. Do not know anything about it but am willing to try anything and am watching what I am eating and going to lose weight. Am starting to feel pain in liver area. Last year when I saw a liver specialist all he said was don't drink, I don't. He did not see alarmed but my enzymes have gotten higher for the past 3 years. I had to have my gallbladder removed 2 years ago. Any comments will be appreciated!!!!!!!!!! Exactly how alarmed should I be with ezymes this high????

[butterflytrans]

From what you've said, you probably have NASH, or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. It is a liver disease which is identical to alcoholic fatty liver, but there is no history of alcohol consumption. As you likely know, the biggest risk factor for getting NASH is either high blood lipids and/or being overweight. It's strange that you know that you have NASH (what you're calling fatty liver disease), but are surprised that your liver enzymes are high. The two go hand in hand. The reason your liver enzymes are high is because your liver is inflamed. There's no treatment for NASH except for conservative things like weight loss.

[sam-e]

I am new to this board and computers in general, so pls. bear w/me. I was dx w/NASH, non-alc. fatty liver dz. last year after a liver biopsy revealed that I had severe changes to my liver d/t this dz. I am overweight and have had hi's and lo's w/my wt. my entire life. I urge you to research this dz. if you can lower your lft's (liver enzymes) thru diet and exercise, great. I have had success w/ a supplement called SAM-e. look into this, the research is still in the prelim. stages. Also I have been told that right upper quad. pain is common with this dz., they are unsure as to the cause of cont. pain, my enzymes are almost normal after a year, I take 1200 mg of SAM-e daily and have changed my diet and lost some wt. Good luck, but pls. be proactive in your health related to this problem, it often goes undiagnosed.

[DEBBIEANN]

Originally Posted by sam-e

I am new to this board and computers in general, so pls. bear w/me. I was dx w/NASH, non-alc. fatty liver dz. last year after a liver biopsy revealed that I had severe changes to my liver d/t this dz. I am overweight and have had hi's and lo's w/my wt. my entire life. I urge you to research this dz. if you can lower your lft's (liver enzymes) thru diet and exercise, great. I have had success w/ a supplement called SAM-e. look into this, the research is still in the prelim. stages. Also I have been told that right upper quad. pain is common with this dz., they are unsure as to the cause of cont. pain, my enzymes are almost normal after a year, I take 1200 mg of SAM-e daily and have changed my diet and lost some wt. Good luck, but pls. be proactive in your health related to this problem, it often goes undiagnosed.

Thanks so much for the information. I need to lose about 30-40 pounds and have been watching my weight. It seems like all my trouble started after having my gallbladder removed. I did go to GNC and purchase a bottle of milk thistle capsules since several people have had luck with those. I have never heard of SAM-e. Where did you purchase it??? How expensive is it?? My liver enzymes are higher everytime they do bloodwork so I know I need to make several changes in my lifestyle. I do not drink so that is not one of them. I also have acid refulx which I take Nexium for. I honestly believe that my bloodpressure medicine (atenolol) and previous bloodpressue medicine has caused damage to my liver. When I was hospitalized for the gallbladder the hospital changed my bloodpressure medicine which at the time was ziac and did not even give me a reason for the change. I think medication has alot of side affects. Thanks again.

[debbiec]

Originally Posted by DEBBIEANN

akaline phosphatase 168 (38-126 normal range), GPT 154 (9-52 normal range) and GOT 176 (14-36 normal range) I have been diagnosed with fatty liver disease and am not a drinker. I am about 40 pounds overweight and am a 51 yr. old female. I do take Atenonlol blood pressure medicine, premarin and nexium. I feel medication has caused my liver high enzymes. Also total protein 8.5 ((normal range 6.3-8.2 normal range) anyone have any comments. Am going to try taking milk thistle. Do not know anything about it but am willing to try anything and am watching what I am eating and going to lose weight. Am starting to feel pain in liver area. Last year when I saw a liver specialist all he said was don't drink, I don't. He did not see alarmed but my enzymes have gotten higher for the past 3 years. I had to have my gallbladder removed 2 years ago. Any comments will be appreciated!!!!!!!!!! Exactly how alarmed should I be with ezymes this high????

Hi DebbieAnn, I am responding because I have much the same symptoms as you do. I am 54 and had my gallbladder out last summer. I do drink some (did) and have quit that altogether. I have high alkaline phosphatase and mildly elevated ALT, had an MCRP, and have occasional pain in the RUQ under the rib cage. This is not consistent and I may go for days without any. I am having a biopsy on April 12 and my gastroenterologist told me not to worry. Why is it always easy for someone else to say that? This is especially scary for me since my dad died of liver cancer. Thanks for listening.