Hi. I had blood test for my liver last year, and all three readings are way over "normal" level. Alt 77. Amino 131. GGT 272. I gave up drinking for 6 weeks (I'm a social drinker) hoping the levels would reduce, but they increased! I'm not overweight, and try and eat healthy. I went to the doctor who took her own blood tests, and confirmed that I have some problems. She sent me for an ultrasound. The ultrasound looked at all my internal organs, and they found nothing wrong. No fatty liver. Doctor told me to cut down alcohol, and eat healthily. I did so.
About 6 months later I started to get pretty bad heartburn. Sometimes the reflux was so bad, I woke up in the night being sick in my mouth. One night was so painful I almost went to ER due to stomach cramps. Went back to doc. Took a blood and a stool sample. Turns out I have a common bacteria in my gut. Gave me antibiotics. and I haven't had any more episodes like that. The blood readings showed that my liver levels were still high. Doctor sent me to a specialist at the hospital. There he asked me if I have symptoms - pain, white stools, itching skin, yellow eyes etc. Answer to all these questions was no. Asked if I had some genetic history of liver or bone disease. Said wasn't sure. He took about 8 blood tests. Also sent me for another ultrasound. I went to this and they were checking for elasticity of the liver. Was told everything is ok, and there's no scarring.
Next week I go back to the specialist to find out the results of the blood test. He also mentioned that if these tests aren't conclusive, then he'll do a biopsy. The problem I have with that, is that there's obviously something wrong with my liver, so why the need for all the tests? It's just strange that the levels are so high, yet I don't have anything showing up on the ultrasound, or a range of symptoms. I have started itching a bit, but I am not sure that is just in my mind rather than an actual symptom. I have even visited a Chinese medicine doctor, who has given me a range of natural products which she says will cure me. I'm off alcohol completely now, and will be taking more blood tests for my liver levels in a month.
What worries me, is that I have read that the liver gives off enzymes if there's another problem in my body. But at the same time, the ultrasound had a look at all the other organs in my body, and all was ok.
Very frustrated and stressed! Trying not to worry, but the mystery around all this makes it hard.
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tallinn123
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DO NOT take the Chinese medicines, whilst you are in a diagnosis stage these could cause real problems with your test results and god knows what is in them - these all need to be processed by your liver and as doctors are trying to ascertain if you have a problem there you don't want to give your liver more to deal with.
Whatever is going on is obviously not being revealed sufficiently on the scans you've had. Biopsy will look at the liver on a cellular level and they can often work out which particular cells are being involved (is it bile duct cells or hepatocytes or whatever?.) If there is inflammation present in a particular group of cells it can often identify the cause of the liver illness.
Like you say there is obviously something wrong with your liver and the point of all these tests is to verify exactly what it is that is wrong. It would be wrong of your doctors to say ok yep there's something wrong with your liver but we don't know what and we won't do anymore tests to find out. The fact scans haven't seen anything just means whatever you've got probably hasn't reached the stage of being visible on scans but does need further examination.
I'd feel pleased that my doctor was running all the necessary tests and you arn't being neglected.
Liver problems can at times be difficult to diagnose but it is important that they try and determine if something is wrong so they can treat and manage it appropriately. So, having so many tests is a good thing even if, at the end of the day, it shows that at present they can find nothing physically wrong. That too is a good outcome.
It looks like your doc is doing all the right things for you. Having constantly elevated liver enzymes is not usual so it may end up that they just keep a long term eye on you to see if anything changes. It is though certainly worth trying to bottom out a cause if they can.
Good luck.
Hello tallinn123,
As our forum members have suggested, avoiding supplements would be advised at this time. If you choose to take supplementary medication - please discuss this with your doctor first.
I have included a link to our information on supllementary medications and also liver disease tests explained.
Hi Tallinn123, I had 3 Ultrasounds at various times and my liver was reportedly fine. They sent me for MRI scan which showed decompensated liver. That was one year ago today. I had transplant almost 9 weeks ago. They need to find out how damaged your liver is, trust them.
A bit of good news! I went to the gastro specialist for my blood test results and ultrasound analysis. He tells me all is fine. My GGT has dropped from 270 down to 50 and all others are within the normal range. The fibroscan I had showed no scars, the ultrasound no fatty liver. He said my blood is healthy and I should be a donor. He has no idea what happened to give such elevated levels. I go back in a month to ensure everything is still ok.Over the moon!
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