Normal LFTs but liver disease?

Im going crazy - is it possible to have normal bloods, full blood counts, LFTs, etc and still have liver disease ?

Its very confusing.

Thank you x

[Bolly]

Assuming your doc ran these tests as part of a diagnostic to see if you have IBS, then the assumption would be there is nothing wrong with your liver.

[Hidden in reply to Bolly]

Hello, these recent bloods were done for a dermatologist as I have a long term scalp problem. I did see a private gastro doc last month and had a colonscopy and he checked my tummy and yes, I do have IBS! Would these be the same blood tests used to see if there is a liver problem? Thank you.

[chynablue]

Usually if something is wrong with your liver, your LFTs would show up outside the normal range. Do you have any symptoms that make you think you have liver disease?

[Hidden]

Hello

I am about 6 stone overweight and not very active. Basically, I take the kids to school and sit on the sofa all day. Recently, my lower legs have had slight swelling on and off during the day. My GP said its because Im not active. Ive been Googling a lot and it seems leg swelling in a symptom of liver disease. x

[chynablue in reply to Hidden]

I agree with your GP. There are lots of causes for leg swelling. If you had liver disease you would have several other symptoms including abnormal blood test results.

[Hidden]

And I was a heave drinker.

[chynablue in reply to Hidden]

Usually, liver damage from heavy drinking first shows up as fatty liver disease. If you have fatty liver, your LFTs would be high. Yours are not. Another way to check for fatty liver is imaging to check the liver for fatty deposits, but doctors don't usually order imaging tests when blood levels are normal.

[jbrking]

Hi. I'm sure if your blood tests came back ok then you won't have liver disease. I have and I don't suffer from any swelling in the legs. If you are inactive then I would think it was more like fluid retention. I'm assuming your doctor also did your blood pressure? If that was ok then it sounds like it is down to your weight. You say you walk your children to school, is it possible for you to go for a slightly longer walk before going back home? Every little bit helps, even a 10 min walk, and perhaps increase it little by little. X

[Hidden]

Hello jbrking

Thank you for your reply!

Yes, I am very inactive and have bought a Fitbit to try and help.

It's amazing how little steps I actually do. I very rarely get to 10,000.

I will try to walk more.

x

[chynablue in reply to Hidden]

I hardly ever get 10,000 steps. If you get more that 5,000 then you are beating me! Hahaha good job

[dooley1]

Hi Lizzie it seems you are still quite young with small children your leg swelling is prob because of being inactive BUT if you continue to be overweight and inactive your liver WILL start to damage, why not be positive and view today as the first day of the rest of your life develop a new positive and determined mental attitude show your children that you can lose weight become active and become a fun mum. You deserve it! I'd love to read on here about your progress, and what you achieve and you can then inspire others to achieve!! Ditch that junk food and get moving. Look forward to hearing from you soon. 😃👍🏼😃👍🏼

[Hidden]

Thank you for your kind words! x

[Bolly in reply to Hidden]

Dooley is right. Being overweight means you can develop what they call 'fatty liver' (which can cause as much damage to your liver as more sinister diseases) but the good news is you dont have to take any medication to cure it. What you do need to do is go on a weight loss plan - there are lots of different ones, some go for things like the 5:2 diet, or a calorie controlled diet, or join groups like Weight Watchers. Whatever you think works best for you. Also being overweight puts you at risk of diabetes, heart disease etc. But you know that already.

What you need is the motivation to get going to lose weight. When you are carrying around an excess of weight exercise is difficult, but start slow and you should find you can do more as your body gets lighter.

Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Bolly]

Super advice, thank you x

[dianekjs]

I agree with the above comments about the importance of increasing your activity level, but even walking 20,000 steps a day won't make much of a dent in your weight if you're eating the wrong foods. You don't mention your diet or nutrition habits, but they are the key to weight management, ideally in combination with a more active lifestyle. Cut out processed foods and sugar, cut alcohol, limit or remove gluten and most grains, and you will see the pounds begin to melt away. Eat real food - lots of veggies, fresh fruit in moderation, smaller amounts of healthy protein, nuts, water, tea, coffee if you like, etc. Sample day: coffee, berries, eggs, and a little plain yogurt for breakfast (sub a slice of bacon for the yogurt if you want at first). For lunch, a green salad with a colorful variety of veggies, turkey breast or shrimp. Use olive oil with fresh lemon juice or balsamic vinegar for dressing, not a mayo or sour cream-based bottled dressing. Dinner could be some salmon or roast chicken, steamed asparagus, a little rice if you like. Those are just examples, but a lower carbohydrate, low processed food diet high in vegetables, plus more activity will result in weight loss. If your current diet includes lots of bread, pasta, cereals, sugar, crackers, or junk - that's the problem. Best of luck, I hope you find a combination that works for you. Btw, you will also feel healthier and more energized if you adopt the general guidelines outlined above. Win:win!

[Hidden in reply to dianekjs]

Hi, thank you for the good response. Since quitting the booze, I must admit I have been rewarding myself with a cup of tea and cream cake in the evenings. I know this has to stop. Even my GP has told me off for drinking copious amounts of water in the evening-I now drink too much water! Im keeping active as of today and will stop the junk food (which I am partial to). Im trying to keep busy and really want to lose the weight - not only for myself but for my kids. x

[Bolly]

Hopefully you are feeding your family a healthy diet - there is plenty of information out there as to what is currently viewed as healthy, nobody can miss the 'sugar is the new bad' advertising etc etc. If its possible that you and your kids/family are all over-eating (perhaps because it has become a habit, or you dont quite appreciate portion control) then why not turn the whole families nutrition around. If there are no cream cakes in the house the kids cant eat them either.

My OH was always nagging me to buy biscuits - he claimed his coffee was 'too wet without one', so we always had biscuits in the house and he could polish off a packet in a blink of an eye. And was about a couple of stone overweight.

He quite fancies a long and active retirement, so he put himself on the 5:2 diet, i stopped buying biscuits, he was not inclined to go the shops to buy them, bingo ... he lost weight.

Alcohol, while not being good for your liver in any shape or form, is also full of sugar. Stop drinking it and you will lose weight and probably save enough £££ to treat yourself to a new wardrobe once you drop a clothes size or two.

If you feel unable to stick to a diet on your own, do join Weight Watchers or Slimming World for the benefit of group support.

If we cant look after ourselves i think it begs the question why should the NHS pick up our pieces later in life.

[cazer]

Yes as i had the anti bodies for pbc but no symptoms but got pporly much later on.had a normal lfts but would b really sick ig had even one glass of wine...not alcoholic disease but my liver strugglimg

Cazer

[cazer]

Sorry mine is such a different answer but i think i was quite yoing 36 for diagmosis.

In my 20s i had some odd sympyoms...dry cracked knuckles which woild bleed jyst a bit longer !

As i say my lfts were normal but slight fatigue .if i had a busy time i didnt cope very well

I took longer than oyhers to get well after cstching a bug.imade too much stomach acid.....that showed on a gastroscopy and just a few wierd non sympyoms...doc never found anytjing conclusive .roll the clock foward 10yrs and afterore children ii had terrible symptoms and was diag pbc.i know now this was the beings 10/15 yrs b 4 but if id hsd a scan back yhen it wouldnt have showed.

However there are lots things as bolly and others have said coild cause probs....

Drink water but sensibly yyou can affect your kidneys by having too much however if u are thirsty mention this and asked to get your sugar checked.

Cut out the cake and try and gave fruit instead.when u are sat get yoir legs up higher to get rid of fluid..

Did u tell doc u used to drink yhis is a vital part of tge puzzle as your liver could have recouped a bit without any drink and now its under pressure from a food source it vould b struggling.good luck.cazer p.s try swimming you can do it with your chidren by at your own pace/level.

[Hidden in reply to cazer]

Thank you x