Liver function test help

[Melgas]

Hell I went for a liver function test yesterday my results for gamma308, alt 73 and ast 130 I have a medical with Dvla in 2 weeks I have stopped drinking will my levels goo down and what should I do too help me bring levels down

[RHGB]

In order to offer the best help, can I ask if the medical is for an HRO?

[Melgas in reply to RHGB]

No for dvla too get my driving license

[RHGB in reply to Melgas]

Okay, why was your licence revoked? HRO stands for High Risk Offenders. If you are trying to get your licence back after DD with a high level of alcohol, this is what you will be classified as and the reason you need a medical. Confirmation is important as to what advice to give you.

[Melgas in reply to RHGB]

My license got token away from me in may 2015 for drink driving for the seconde time in 10 years, I got a 3 year drink driving ban, I went for a course which reduced it by 9 months.

I should be getting my license back soon as I complete a medical I was worried soo I went too harly street and got a private one done 308 gamma 73 alt and 130 ast. I drank on the Thursday Friday and Saturday night leading up too my private medical.

I have stoped drinking now I am taking milk thistle turmeric tablets and a liver detox tea and drinking plenty of water

I have my dvla medical on the 24/8/17, and was wondering would my. Levels go down by then

[RHGB in reply to Melgas]

Okay, yes then, that is a medical under the HRO system (high risk offenders). Jim has pretty much covered it. They are looking to see if people are alcohol dependent and are likely to re-offend.

They stopped using LFT tests at least five years ago and use the Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT) test. This is able to detect alcohol usage much further back than a LFT test.

With a GGT of 308 and the fact that you were still drinking up until the weekend, I would say, does not bold well. I have never had the medical or take this CDT test,so I can't be more specific than that. My advice would be to register on the drink drive forum (Google it) and you will get more specific advice there, as there are a lot of people posting about the medical. You can also buy a CDT test kit for about £80 which will let you know what your score would be and whether you are likely to pass not not.

forum.drinkdriving.org/

[LAJ123]

Melgas,

You don't say why you are having a medical but here is what I know about the DVLA medicals.

I had end stage alcohol related liver disease which resulted in a liver transplant in 2016.

When I changed address I applied for a new driving licence. On the application form I was honest and answered yes to having been alcohol dependent within the last two years.

Because of this, I was referred by DVLA for a medical.

The medical looks for evidence of excessive use of alcohol over a long period of time. The way they do this is by a blood test that is able to detect the level of use for up to the previous two months. Hopefully, you will have stopped drinking a lot more than two months.

The Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT) test has been used for DVLA medicals for some time. Liver function test results are now irrelevant and its current and recent alcohol use that is important.

Because I hadn't had a drink for well over one year there wasn't a problem, however, they still only gave me my licence for one year - I have to reapply in a couple of months.

I hope this helps and I'm sure the medical will go well for you.

Jim

drinkdriving.org/drink_driv...

[Melgas in reply to LAJ123]

My license got token away from me in may 2015 for drink driving for the seconde time in 10 years, I got a 3 year drink driving ban, I went for a course which reduced it by 9 months.

I should be getting my license back soon as I complete a medical I was worried soo I went too harly street and got a private one done 308 gamma 73 alt and 130 ast. I drank on the Thursday Friday and Saturday night leading up too my private medical.

I have stoped drinking now I am taking milk thistle turmeric tablets and a liver detox tea and drinking plenty of water

I have my dvla medical on the 24/8/17, and was wondering would my. Levels go down by then.

What does a cdt test do, and how do they doo this

[AyrshireK in reply to Melgas]

The Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin (CDT) test is a particularly sensitive biomarker that tracks heavy alcohol consumption over an extended period of time. If an individual drinks steadily and heavily (4-6 units of alcohol per day) for several weeks the percentage of transferrin which is deficient in carbohydrate will rise. The longer a person drinks at this level, the higher the level of CDT. Intermittent or binge drinking can also increase CDT levels. The extent to which this occurs is dependent on the frequency of binges and the amount of alcohol consumed on each occasion.

Elevated CTD will decline with reduced alcohol consumption, and will revert to normal after several weeks of abstinence.

This test has a very high level of specitivity (i.e. it is not affected by other drugs or substances) and therefore it has been adopted by the Secretary of State's Honorary Medical Advisory Panel as the sole test for assessing harmful use of alcohol for high risk offenders.

[Melgas in reply to AyrshireK]

How long will I have to stay sober for befor my system will be clean, as I have a dvla medical in 2 weeks

[Jimbob12078 in reply to Melgas]

I failed the cdt last year with a reading of 8.4% and went for bllod test a couple of weeks later and my gamma was only 21 and alt 23. what cdt result did you get ? I'm only asking as I have another test and can't work out out how I failed so badly before any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jay

[Melgas in reply to LAJ123]

Will steroids come up on the test oral ones

[RHGB in reply to Melgas]

My last post on this thread. I think you should join the forum I linked above, which has many people in the same circumstances and they can give you first hand advice. This is the British Liver Trust and the people on the drink drive forum are far more qualified to help you.

[LAJ123]

Melgas,

Good morning.

I'm sorry that perhaps we have not been able to give you much help with regard to the medical.

The whole point of changing the system was to prevent people who are maybe drinking too much from 'cheating' the system by abstaining for a short time and then resuming unsafe levels of drinking.

That's not me being unsympathetic, just saying how it is.

However, as you are clearly concerned about your liver health, you are definitely in the right forum and as a group we will give you all the advice and care that you need.

I would suggest that delaying the medical might help. Just reschedule the appointment for a time when you have been without alcohol for much longer and have maybe thought more about your drinking for the future.

Take care,

Jim

[Melgas in reply to LAJ123]

Hi Jim thNks for response I have delayed it till October, would this be enough time if I don't drink for my system to be cleaned for me too pass my cdt test I am soo worried, and if I am taking steroids for gym purpose should I stop these as they will raise my enzymes I'm taking milk this and a liver detox tea as well

[Hidden]

Hi Melgas,

It would be advisable for you to make an appointment with your GP and discuss your situation with them.

We would also suggest that you discuss with them your use of steroids for gym purposes and how that may be affecting your body. No one on the forum is medically qualified to advise you about this, your GP is best placed to be advising you.

The British Liver Trust do not recommend the use of ‘liver tonics’ and alternative remedies or therapies and supplements such as milk thistle, but if you do wish to consider their use then it would be advisable to always discuss first with your doctor.

See below for our page on Complementary therapies and milk thistle;

britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

Best wishes,

BLT Admin