Hello. I’ve come to this forum as my dr doesn’t seem to be giving much away and I do suffer with anxiety.
I’ve been having a dull pain in my right side under my rib cage. Almost felt like I could feel a swollen organ if that at all makes sense. Not physically just aware of something.
So, I went to my dr and he did a blood test. These where the results
Bilirubin 12 UMOL/L
ALT LEVEL 125 u/l
Alkaline phosphatase 78u/l
Total protein 65 g/l
Albumin 44 g/l
Globulin 21 g/l
My dr asked me just to make a routine appointment to discuss my results. He said over the last few years me ALT level has been around 25-30 I had a blood test in January and an abdo scan and my liver was absolutely fine. So was my liver function results.
He was concerned that it’s jumped to 125. Should I be worried? I also suffer from a gluten intolerance and had a stomach perforation 4 years ago. So I do have issues with acid.
Can anyone give any light on this as I’ve been told to stay off booze and do another blood test in a week.
Any advise would be appreciated
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Iamtaylor1983
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Hiya, he giving nothing away not to be awkward but because he doesn't know... But he doing the right thing and re testing you which is all he can do for now and also advise you not to drink alcohol x
Please don't stress too much because it's only one of the results alt that has risen it could be a number of things and a lot of them are nothing to concerning
Sorry I can't help anymore at the moment but fingers crossed everything will have returned to normal on your next test 😊
It’s just the receptionist said it wasn’t an emergency appointment and it was nothing to worry about. Then, when I went in he told me. I said I’d this serious. He said ‘ yes it is, it isn’t good’ which made me pap myself. But looking online it’s saying it’s only a ‘ mild’ rise. My bloods have always been perfect. But recently I’m getting a lot of discomfort in my stomach. I just put it down to stomach ulcer flare up. So it was a little shock to know it’s jumped up so much. But he did say other results are fine, it was just that only one. I just wanted to know if the 125 level is classed as ‘high’ or not
I should have said that I do enjoy a glass or two of red wine a night. But probably more at weekend. Odd really as I have cut down a lot over the last month due to my stomach. Or what I thought was my stomach. So I’ve not touched a drop all week. Doesn’t help that I’m watching muse Saturday also. God dam it x
Sounds like your gallbladder, if it's only sometimes, can you associate it anything like when you eat fatty foods? If you have gallstones your bile would back up into your liver & cause issues over time.. Even gallstone pancreatitis is a possible culprit.
My dr suspected it might be my pancreas but my blood test came back normal for that. I had a scan in January because of the abdominal discomfort/pain but my kidneys, liver and pancreas was absolutely normal and in size. This is why it’s so strange that the blood test was elevated. I’ve been getting Esophagitis pain for a while which I can feel in my back. My dr said this could be due to my liver. It’s an odd one. But I’m a worrier. And he didn’t make me feel reassured at all. Next week ( after being booze free) he’s running another liver function test. Just from 25 to 125 is a jump. It I’m not sure if this is what they call a high reading or not?
No I have no problems eating. The pain is on the right hand side and slightly in the middle. Oddly if I do have a beer the pain subsides? Ha of it’s taking my mind off? I also had some discomfort when I lay on either my left or right hand side. Not so much now, but I did last week x
There's still the possibility of intolerance or sensitivity to gluten.. Damage to the lining of the small intestine would confirm a diagnosis of celiac while a lack of damage would suggest wheat allergy, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten intolerance. So many possibles! But you can be sure that if you get symptoms when you consume it you have some kind of allergy to it.
A glass or two and more at weekends probably means at least five bottles a week (ex alci talking here, my "glass" was the size of a bucket!) and that's way more than enough to cause problems!
A week off booze before repeating blood tests is not long so there might not be much change.
My Dr checked again after 3 months and now repeats every 6 months.
Dont listen to suggestions on here about what it might be, it's against site rules to suggest a diagnosis.
If it's still high then only your Dr can suggest what its caused by and should include a review of any medication you take, including stains, OTC vitamins/supplements and OTC painkillers.
Best scenario is it returns to normal now you stopped drinking and you take it as a warning that your drinking is at a dangerous level.
I’m currently under investigation since my alt levels went up for 150! Pain under ribs radiating to my back. My alt levels have dropped to 40 since (about 5 months it took) but my bilirubin levels are increasing up to 26. They can fluctuate for many different reasons! Hydration, stress, anxiety, diet and how much alcohol you drink. What’s your life style like?
Hi
I cannot give medical advice on your symptoms but they do sound similar to mine!
Almost a year ago my GP picked up on raised ALT GGT's and AMA bloods.
I highlighted the same discomfort under my right ribs but also in my back plus pains in my legs with itchy skin and tiredness.
Since July I've under gone MRI CT Ultra sounds scans along with numerous camera investigations top and bottom! Which were all clear except for MRI highlighted inflammed Esophagus!
My bloods highlighted weak but positive for none alcoholic PBCwhich could possiblybe iin the extreme early stages. However I've improved my bloods by exercising and eating healthy as per consultant.
I occasionally have one or two gins a month but unfortunately even those bring the discomfort back on!
I'm still being monitored by the liver consultant as I'm still having bouts of extreme tiredness weekly with itchy skin and feeling very cold !
Since last Feb I've lost 2.7 stone by not dieting but eating healthy and exercising!
I would advise reducing your alcohol or stop it all together if possible! I still like a treat now and then but must cut this out!
Please try not to get to concerned as stress can only make you worry more and it could be nothing other than changing your life style and your discomfort may then ease!
Hi trish. Did your Esophageal pain feel like pressure at all? Mine is more of a pressure pain/ discomfort. Almost feel like your struggling to talk but you aren’t. I’ve had many cameras down my throat and nothing. Even a 24hr test last year and nothing. But I find my chest area and throat hurts along with my back. But I also think I have a pinched nerve in my back that comes through to the front. Very strange feeling
With regards to my Esophagus pain, it was extremely sore after eating and even after drinking a cool drink! The average was horrid.
To be honest a good diet may help you! I've cut out all things fatty! No fried food at all which I hardly ever had anyway. I've cut out cream which I used to use alot for cooking naughty sweets and savory dishes! Unfortunately cooking has always been a hobby of mine ! I've also reduced my love of cheese in take which was the hardest thing to do as I adore all sorts!
Another I've cut back on is fillet steak plus other red meats, again I adore all the naughty rich stuff.
As your results are showing negative results I would try what I've suggested if your diet is a bad one! Give it ago and reduce the naughty drink@,
Yeah I love cooking too! Cheese is my down fall... see I don’t get pain when eating or drinking. It’s just a pressure feeling down my Esophagus and sometimes in my throat. I do suffer from GERD. Id say that is more bothersome than my liver at the moment. God knows. Thank you for your response though. X
All I can recommend is try reducing your daily cheese intake to a smaller amount or if possible reduce to once or twice a week.
I no longer have the horrid discomfort and I can confirm eating healthy has been the best thing ever which has totally changed my life in so many ways!
Did your liver consultant suggest a healthy diet ? If so, please give it a try as you maybe surprised!
I haven’t seen a consultant yet. Just my dr. He wants to do another blood test next week. Just been and bought some beet juice as it’s good for getting rid of toxins in you liver. Apparently it’s an ‘ in thing’ to do... oh my word. It’s an acquired taste!
Thankyou all for you replies. I’m very great full.
My life style isn’t much really. I don’t do much on the working out front. But I’m
Going to now. I’m a healthy weight but I could probably lose a little bit... yeah it’s frightened me a little. Wasn’t expecting it at all. But looking back now I’ll probably easy do 3 bottles a week. Even a sneaky brandy or two on a Saturday night. I haven’t had a drink all week and the pain has almost gone. My body most definitely was telling me something.
I’ll go for my bloods again next week. It could be something and nothing. When I had the tests done I think I had some
Sort of virus so who knows if that’s affected it.
Yeah see I’m the opposite. I never feel cold. I’m always like a radiator. Although my partner has noticed my feet feel cold in bed when they usually don’t. That’s could be nothing though. As far as itchy skin. I’ve had an itch back where my bra sits but I’ve just put it down to just that as I get a few spots there. But other than that.. I can’t say I’ve suffered with that either.
I do seem to be going to the toilet a lot though. Passing a lot of urine. Does anyone else have that issue? No pain.. just very full bladder.
Bladder issues and cold feet too could be connected.
Since 1994 I've been under a urologist due to numerous bladder infections which they've never been able to confirm the full cause but these infections have led to 2 operations!
Going to the loo a lot could be a sign of a possible infection ! Possible being the word here! Why dont you drop a sample into your docs for testing unless your docs already done one as routine!
Good luck on the beet detox! Apple juice is good too!,
I'm about to watch my favourite film in the world which is on now Sony Channel which my hubby has just put on the TV for me as I totally adore the final song!
What you have explained your symptoms are exactly the same as mine, like swollen or squashed feeling. ive had blood test and scans all normal. Im feeling really frustrated!
Yeah it’s not like a pain.... it’s like a squeezing pressure discomfort. And sometimes I can feel it al the way through to my back. I’ve had a camera and my Esophagus is fine. I do find those herbal heating pads that you pop in a microwave good. I place it in between my should blades and then in the middle of my chest and that helps. Apparently it’s spasms. But some times it feels like it’s hard to speak.. even though it’s not! I’ve been having some green tea too I find that helps. X
I have nothing with the Esophagus, this feeling under my ribs where my liver is. I used to drink about 3 bottles a wine a week, but have stopped, but everythings come back normal, scans blood test etc, but that feelings definetly there. I also Want to know if its ok for me to drink in moderation in the future
My next lot of blood tests. It’s gone up again from 125 to 155 ALT LEVEL. All other levels are normal. So referring me to specialist. I was taking lanzoprazole which he’s asked me to stop taking. Apparently there’s evidence of PPI’s causing issues with liver? But worried now. I haven’t touched booze at all since my last test and it’s still gone up
Hi Taylor! Id like to know how this worked out for you! Ive been tested have same pains and exact same alt level as your first. I am also taking lanzoprazole! Having aches and pains everywhere my ggt level was a bit high but alt was high and Ive had a bunch of other tests but not the abdominal ultrasound yet. What was your verdict ?
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