Sent for an ultrasound...🤦🏻‍♂️ - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

36,240 members17,898 posts

Sent for an ultrasound...🤦🏻‍♂️

Harrison1 profile image
10 Replies

Hello

Just had a call; a month on, my bilirubin retest still shows it’s ‘still slightly raised’ (it was 30 last time) but I’m yet to found out the new number (talking with the doc Friday).

They have sent off for an ultrasound (precaution?) so no idea how long that will take. Last time out my kidney function and other liver tests were fine; plus over the last month the pain has subsided a lot (to very rare now) so I really don’t know what to make of it.

I am very concerned that it’s something quite serious as I’m a fit 45 year old who walks, cycles and does weights every week. I’m 6ft, just over 12 stone so we’ll in shape.

Any sensible thoughts please? Thanks in advance.

JT

Written by
Harrison1 profile image
Harrison1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
10 Replies
Harrison1 profile image
Harrison1

In addition, and sorry for being graphic, stools are normal colour etc

Wondering if it could be Gilbert’s? But you don’t always get sent for a scan of that is the case? Thank you

velvetunderground profile image
velvetunderground in reply to Harrison1

Gilberts is typically 'diagnosed' by elevated bilirubin with no known cause. It would be expected to rule out other possible causes before declaring Gilberts. Sometimes a test for conjugated v non-conjugated bilirubin will help confirm the diagnosis after everything else is ruled out. I presume the ultrasound is part of the investigation for other causes of elevated bilirubin.I hope you get some good news soon

Paul.

Harrison1 profile image
Harrison1 in reply to velvetunderground

Thanks Paul, so do I. It does worry me as I live life well and healthy. Someone did say stress can impact bilirubin?

velvetunderground profile image
velvetunderground in reply to Harrison1

Like you, I live in the gym, maintain a good weight, eat a very good diet and used to drink within government guidelines (I'm teetotal now)...I'm a few years older than you though. I've been diagnosed with a pretty rare condition, but my consultant can't explain the high bilirubin so has added Gilberts to my diagnosis. Easy to say 'try not to worry' but you can at least take solace in the fact you are doing everything you can to improve the situation. It sounds like you have had a pretty good set of test results (bilirubin aside) so far, so there is a lot to be positive about.

I believe that stress (along with exhaustion, illness, tiredness etc) has been known to exasperate symptoms of those with Gilbert syndrome.

Best

Paul

Harrison1 profile image
Harrison1 in reply to velvetunderground

Cheers Paul, I know my first score was 30 and the sheet I have says ‘serum total bilirubin level range 2-21 is over at 23’

So it seems to have gone down in a month. Fingers crossed. Could be gall stones perhaps which is manageable (I think)

Thanks again

velvetunderground profile image
velvetunderground in reply to Harrison1

I'm always reluctant to compare numbers as so many things can affect them and it's very easy to get fixated on figures. However, over the past couple of years most of my LFT tests have more or less trended in the right direction. Bilirubin is the exception - I've has 12 tests in 30 months ranging from a high of 43 and a low of 21, but it's up and down almost randomly ... perhaps I should check for a correlation between bilirubin and heavy squat sessions! I've stopped worrying about it. The other thing to keep in mind is that these numbers are not massively 'out of range'. There's a bell curve and although higher than 'normal' there's no magic thing about the number 23, some people with have higher or lower levels and as long as other causes are ruled out by your doctor, and the number doesn't get silly then that's ok. Hopefully you get some answers after the ultrasound, but no news might well be good news - Gilberts if fairly common.

Lucky87 profile image
Lucky87

I went for bloods for something else, I had liver enzymes alt 42 and ggt 216 they’re sending me for scan as I had obstetric choleststis with my daughter so she said usually they’d just retest but they’ll send me for scan first then retest bloods

Harrison1 profile image
Harrison1 in reply to Lucky87

Thanks. Not sure what ggt is?

Lucky87 profile image
Lucky87 in reply to Harrison1

My doctor told me they test it if one of the other liver enzymes are high but it needs to be requested. So the doctor said to me he wasn’t sure why the lab tested it but probably cos my other liver enzyme was high as he didn’t ask them to test it.

Harrison1 profile image
Harrison1 in reply to Lucky87

Thanks

You may also like...

ultrasound

LFT was abnormal but had an ultrasound and everything normal. My pain still going on. I have...

Portal hypertension Doppler ultrasound

diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis over 6 months ago. Still on dueretics for ascities &...

Endoscopic ultrasound

of the liver \\" . All other organs were normal. My question: Could it be that the right liver...

Being sent for assessment

News At Last Ultrasound,

I was told last year about gall stones but I wasn't told and its not mentioned on my last scan,only...