Just found out my Liver scores. Heart Attack 31/12/19

[jon22]

Hi, Just getting over my heart attack on 31/12/19. I had 4 stents all joined together and am on the usual cocktail of drugs (2.5mg bisoprolol, 10mg atorvastatin, 10mg prasugrel, 75mg aspirin, 5mg ramipril, 15mg lansoprazole each day).

Before my HA I took no tablets.

All my blood tests both before and after (up until August this year) my heart attack were normal range with the exception of low platelet count and low neutrophils which are being investigated. However my last 2 bloods have shown an inflamed liver:

Serum total bilirubin level 12 umol/L [0.0 - 21.0]

Serum alkaline phosphatase level 138 U/L [30.0 - 130.0]

Above high reference limit

Serum alanine aminotransferase level 161 U/L [0.0 - 41.0]

Above high reference limit

Serum albumin level 46 g/l [35.0 - 50.0]

Serum total protein level 64 g/L [60.0 - 80.0]

Serum globulin level 18 g/L [18.0 - 35.0]

Serum calcium level 2.33 mmol/L [2.2 - 2.6]

Serum adjusted calcium concentration 2.29 mmol/L [2.15 - 2.55]

Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase level 374.0 U/L [0.0 - 60.0]

Above high reference limit

My doctor ordered another blood test 3 weeks ago and I went for that 2 days ago and he is calling later today. I am very worried.

I have been drinking since I was 18 years old, and am now 61. I tend to consume most of my units on friday and saturday. After my HA for January/February/March/April I hardly drank but have now gone back to around 15 to 20 units over the friday & saturday evening.

I was shocked that I now have the above bloods and very worried.

My doctor has stopped atorvastatin about 3 weeks ago but I doubt that is the cause?

I said to my doctor that I had not had these blood test results in the past and he just said it can happen suddenly?

He has ordered an ultrasound scan of my liver and am awaiting my appointment.

Since my HA I have lost 4 stones (27% of my bodyweight) and am now ok BMI for my height (5 11 and 10stone 11 pounds). I have been exercising since my HA. Also dealing with retiring, sorting out my late fathers probate, which has been quite stressful.

I would appreciate what questions I should ask the doctor when he calls later today with the results (hopefully if they are ready) and whether I should be worried about the above results.

Many thanks.

[AyrshireK]

Hopefully you get your scan pretty soon so they can 'see' what is going on with your liver.

Obviously you have some elevated liver results as you know.

This might be in relation to some of the medications you are now taking or it may be as a result of fatty liver disease which you've probably had for some time if you were over weight before your heart attack and perhaps not living the healthiest sort of life style.

Also you are drinking in excess of the weekly guideline limits which is 14 spread throughout the week - in a way having your alcohol all in one go at the weekend isn't going to do your liver any favours.

I wouldn't be surprised if your results are fatty liver related. The good news is this can be reversed with positive lifestyle changes. Well done on the weight loss to date as that can only improve matters, however, you would be well advised to reconsider your relationship with alcohol. You might find if you really have a good long trial of zero booze your figures will come down. Your liver is living with the stress of new attacks from all those tablets plus booze into the equation .

You'll find advice on Non Alcohol Related Fatty Liver disease at:- britishlivertrust.org.uk/in...

Obviously you've also got alcohol thrown into the mix too so it can lead to Fatty Liver too.

Best wishes,

Katie

[Hidden]

Good afternoon jon22,

Welcome to this friendly supportive forum.

We do ask that you dont post test results as no-one here is medically qualified to interpret them for you.

I can see AyrshireK has addressed most issues,

I will simply included the link to 'questions for your doctor' which may be useful.

britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...

Take care,

Trust9

[jon22 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you very helpful.

[Kristian]

Hi Jon,

You've already had the messages about sharing results, lol. So, I'll not repeat those. I would though say that its not unusual for some of the liver tests to go a bit ary with some medications. It may also just be related to something you may have recently picked up. Its good that your doc is trying to get to the bottom of the cause and removing some of the obvious things first is a common way to do that. Hopefully it will be down to something simple that can be resolved by a change in meds or other straight forward thing.

Good luck

[jon22]

Just had my results back today and ALT is now 50 (from 161) I stopped the strenuous exercise about 3 weeks before the blood test and cut right back on the alcohol to about 6 units a week. However now notice that the doctor did not retest for GGT ? Do you think this was just an oversight and should I still ask for another blood test and also for a liver scan? Thanks.

[jon22]

I have my Ultra Sound in 2 weeks (finally came through). Its at 7.15pm in the evening ? It says :"Please do not eat any food for 6 hours prior to your scan.

You may drink water, fruit juice, squash, black tea or coffee during this 6 hour period.

If your appointment time means that you can fit in a meal or snack before this 6 hour fast, only eat fat free foods such as fruit, Ryvita, dry bread (no butter) etc. Please avoid fizzy drinks, and any foods that may make you "windy" on the day of your scan."

Is 7.15pm a normal time for an US and how long does it normally take for the examination and to get back the results? Should I just eat fruit all day (apples/oranges etc), + Ryvita/Dry wholemeal bread?

Many thanks.

[AyrshireK in reply to jon22]

Obviously they are trying to work round all the other stresses on services so you get what appointment time you get - at least at that time of night it 'should' be fairly quiet as you would imagine no other clinics will be working then. Hubby had his on 10th January - we haven't had the results yet (normally get them off consultants secretary within a week or two). We don't know whether his consultant is currently working in that field or seconded to deal with covid etc. so we ware going to wait a bit longer before chasing up. (This is hubbies routine 6 month scan).

The ultrasound itself takes about 10 minutes max and you'll be able to eat normally afterwards.

As regards what to eat before then keep to what they've advised fruit, dry bread, ryvita etc. & make sure you keep hydrated with it being so late in they day.

Most of my hubbies scans have been in a morning so he usually just fasts from bedtime till after his scan but you can eat up to that 6 hour before mark. Definitely avoid anything that makes you windy as it says because having bowel gas in your abdomen can block out some of the organs they need to see. I don't think they've ever yet seen hubbies pancreas on scans - reports always say "obscured by bowel gases" (despite fasting).

Best wishes with it, Katie