Routine

Does just a routine blood test show elevated liver enzymes. Thankyou

[DavyGravy]

I think of a routine blood test as a general purpose search, it looks for warning markers. If something is flagged it generally means that a further test or scan is required. The next test could be just another routine blood test to see if, the warning marker has gone and it was just a blip, or it could be a more specific test such as a specific blood panel test or a scan, US, MRI, CT, gastroscope etc...

Julie you are worrying yourself unecessarily, your son has a flag, but, that is his business (we worry as parents), but, it may be absolutely nothing. My colleague had a cancer warning on his bloods and a later test showed nothing, sometimes even an inflammation or an infection can cause a flag.

Also, if your son has something wrong, I'm sure he'd tell you if he wanted to share. But googling all night is a serious anxiety issue. If I were you, I'd be more concerned with that problem than my sons bloods. Anxiety, stress and depression are very serious problems, they can slowly take over our lives without us realising. We can then start obsessing over illnesses, mortality and it sucks the joy out of life because we spend hours wasting our precious time on google instead of enjoying the moments.

I know, because I have been in your position, I've read your posts and I think you are aware that something is wrong, you just need to confront it. I got help, from a counsellor who talked to me via telephone consultations, I can highly recommend it.

For your own mental wellbeing, please ween yourself off google.. it makes us ill because it feeds anxiety.

Dave.

[Hidden in reply to DavyGravy]

Hi Dave Thankyou I know exactly what your saying my son does know I’ve googled but I don’t tell him anything you have been so kind to me I really appreciate it. May I ask that you know I’m aware something is wrong and I don’t mean that offensive to you in any way at all it’s just freaked me again but not your fault at my anxiety and stress has made me ask you. Xx

[DavyGravy in reply to Hidden]

Well Julie,

I recognise the same things in your posts that I used to do.

It is because you apologise often. I used to do the same It was as if I felt compelled to do something and would apologise for it before I did it... My counsellor told me that subconsciously, it was because I knew it was anxiety making me do it, so I'd apologise.

Anxiety is a tough enemy, it is sneaky, it constantly picks away at us, prodding our fears and escalating tiny things until we no longer have a life, it consumes us, we just go from panic to panic. That is why it is such a serious problem.

When I got rid of my anxiety, I got my life back again, I don't worry over what will be, I am too busy trying to enjoy the now. There are tips and techniques you can use to battle it. But it is not easy. Personally, I used distraction. I have a playlist of my favourite 80's music and sing along to that, or I watch comedy, (sometimes, laughter really can be the best medicine) or my favourite is "what would I buy if I had £10,000,000" then I do look at google for houses, cars, holiday homes etc... that one will keep you busy for hours.

I wasted many hours worrying about whatever my anxiety could imagine.. now I have all that time to enjoy. You're still young, you have 40 years ahead of you Julie, I'd rather you spent that chatting, laughing and enjoying yourself than looking at google

Dave

[Hidden in reply to DavyGravy]

Thankyou so much so when you said I already know my son has something you were saying that about myself and convincing myself he’s got something and I take no offence to that at all. You’ve helped me immensely but I obviously need help for this x

[Kristian]

If you go to the doc with some symptoms they'll tend to run a standard set of blood tests to narrow down a potential cause. Its pretty standard for these to include a complete blood count and liver tests.

These are usually sufficient to suggest a potential cause and treatment route, or rule out various potential causes.

They do the liver tests because a lot of the time common illnesses can show in a raise in enzymes produced by the liver. Thats part of its job. So having the liver tests is a good way of trying to narrow down a cause relatively quickly. The test is cheap and if you are already drawing blood you may as well do the test as it can help get to a diagnosis or help rule out various things by having it.

I did read once that having abnormal liver test results was one of the most common findings in general practice. So hope that puts things in to a bit of context.

[Hidden in reply to Kristian]

Thankyou so much for such a lovely message. It’s definitely easing my anxiety. Apparently his doctor said his test is borderline whatever that means . Have you been diagnosed with anything

[Kristian in reply to Hidden]

I've had a liver transplant due to the effects of Primary Scleroding Cholangitis. That is an immune system related disease that attacks the bile ducts in the liver that eventually lead to cirrhosis and finally liver transplant in 2017. Since then all has been relatively well and I am perfectly active and lead a relatively normal life. Having liver disease of any kind does not have to lead to worst case situations, indeed it rarely does. Even then many options are available for treatment.

[Hidden]

Dear Julie,

Whilst we appreciate you are concerned about your son's blood tests, there is nothing more that any forum members can add to the conversation right now.

Liver blood tests can often come back outside of the reported reference range and that can happen for many reasons. A repeat blood test will give a comparable set of results and the GP can then make some clinical decisions if needed, about another tests then. This occurs a lot and the GP will be very used to managing this.

We wish you all the very best and would very kindly suggest to stop googling as it will not help at all in this situation.

With warm wishes,

Trust1

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou