Raised LFTs: I have been feeling unwell... - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

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Raised LFTs

Katrina999666 profile image
10 Replies

I have been feeling unwell for over a year private bloods come back showing raised LFT's went to GP they did their own and they came back within range. I had a private ultrasound of liver nothing showed up.

I had bloods taken again privately again raised levels I am at a loss as to where to go next GP is useless. Bilirubin is only one that is in range

Bilirubin 10.3 lab range < 21

ALP 145 lab range <130

ALT 73.5 lab range <35

GGT 225 lab range 6-42

My Ferritin was also abnormal and has been in previous tests

200 lab range 13-150

I have tried to find out what these results could possibly be pointing to but I'm not finding any definitive if anyone could offer possible reasons or advise help I would be very grateful.

I am thinking that I should book to see a Hepatologist privately.

I don't drink and have never only at perhaps xmas an odd baileys and I don't smoke and I am not overweight.

Thank you

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Katrina999666
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I would ask the opinion of a private doctor. Doesn’t cost a lot and it will ease any concerns. It may be gallbladder related. My LFTS go up and down...in and out of normal But liver looks good.

Katrina999666 profile image
Katrina999666 in reply to

Thanks for replying that is my next course of action

CarpeDiem11 profile image
CarpeDiem11

The problem is that no-one is qualified to make any sense of your results and that is the reason that the BLT ask people not to post results. Sorry to be a killjoy, but we don't have full case history, don't know the lab ranges etc etc. I know that doesn't appear to be very helpful, but really we would just be guessing and we could end up giving you a bum steer!!! If you don't find the GP helpful, ask to see a different one.

I think it would be beneficial if you gave the helpline a ring as they could point you in the right direction and start to put you on the road as to how to get further forward with some answers. It seems strange that the private blood results are at odds with the ones done by the GP. Don't really understand this, but again you haven't given timelines or influencing factors, which is another reason we cannot comment on these numbers.

Bearing in mind that you have paid privately to have these tests done, they should really explain them to you, so if I were you I would go back to them and get answers. If you are in the UK, then the private doctors are generally the same ones that work for the NHS, so they should know what they are talking about.

The ALT is specific to the liver and whilst it is out of range, it is not massively high. (For reference, my ALT was over1000 when diagnosed with autoimmune liver disease) The ALP is not specific to the liver and can be raised by other parts of the body. It is the ALT that is monitored for liver inflammation. Generally they will not go off one set of results, but look at patterns, unless they are abnormally high.

I hope you get some answers. Good luck. :)

Katrina999666 profile image
Katrina999666 in reply to CarpeDiem11

Thank you for replying and I note what you say about advice it was general ideas more than anything I was looking for I live rural and the Gp practise is just 2 Gps they are not helpful and don't offer any reasons as to why the results are high. The bloods were done by Medicheck and on both occassions they have been raised and whilst they offer advice it is mainly to recommend that you consult with your Gp so back to where I was. Where will I find the telephone number to give the helpline a call please? My next port of call will be to find a specialist who deals with abnormal liver results to hopefully throw some light on what might be going on.

CarpeDiem11 profile image
CarpeDiem11 in reply to Katrina999666

Hi there, the details you need are :_britishlivertrust.org.uk/

Helpline 0800 652 7330 (Sorry don't know hours of opening)

Unfortunately because you are with a rural practice, they probably don't see enough people with these sorts of results to understand them. I have AIH and only 12,000-24, 000 in the whole of the UK currently have it, so the chances of a GP being familiar with it are very low. So, whatever is causing these irregularities may not be something they are familiar with and people don't always like to admit to lack of knowledge.

I'm afraid that I personally would not pay for results to be done by anyone that cannot explain them. Personally I feel sending you back to the GP is a copout. Maybe that's just me. Anyway, of more use might be the guides that the BLT provide. If you look to the right hand side of the screen, where it says pinned posts, you will see one that says

"Links to our patient guides"

Click on this and you will see lots of publications that are written by qualified docs and others specialising in liver issues (and not Dr Google). There is one that specifically explains liver tests. I had a quick look and as I suspected raised GGT and ALP suggest bile duct problems. Anyway, it's all there for you to read at your leisure and hopefully start to answer some of the questions. I'm not medically qualified, so can only make suggestions, but hopefully the publications are of more use!!!

Hope that helps. :)

Katrina999666 profile image
Katrina999666 in reply to CarpeDiem11

Hi yes thank you for taking the time to point me in the right direction the suggestions are very helpful. I also have pain in the areas that might suggest Gall bladder bile duct issues I've booked an appointment privately for Friday with a Liver specialist so hopefully he will throw some light on the matter.

TARZAN1 profile image
TARZAN1

alchepscores.com/Hi, try this score calculator and I was in the same boat like you. good luck

Katrina999666 profile image
Katrina999666 in reply to TARZAN1

Thank you for replying I will check that out now to see what it might indicate very grateful for your suggestion

Katrina999666 profile image
Katrina999666 in reply to TARZAN1

The link doesn't take me to a website or page ?

Hi Katrina 999666, welcome to the British Liver Trust forum. As others have kindly posted, blood results are not to be posted on the forum for the reasons stated. To reiterate other members suggestions, our nurse led helpline is open 10-3 on 0800 652 7330. Trust10

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