In for a penny...: I just posted and... - British Liver Trust

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In for a penny...

billyde profile image
12 Replies

I just posted and thought, while I'm here...

When bloods are done for liver patients, do they also check hormone levels ?

Thanks.

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billyde profile image
billyde
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12 Replies
Aotea2012 profile image
Aotea2012

They tend to do a full blood count, including platelet levels. AFP levels - an indicator of liver cancer and Liver blood tests (sometimes known as Liver function tests). The Liver tests are bilirubin, albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alkaline transaminase (ALT) and Gamma - glutamyltransferase (GGT). The last four are enzymes which if out of normal range suggest liver damage. Thrombin or blood clotting times are also measured and are linked to platelet levels. I’ve never had hormone levels checked.

Positive001 profile image
Positive001

Unless you tell your doctor you are having symptoms which you believe are menopausal, it's unlikely they will check your homone levels on blood tests for the liver.

billyde profile image
billyde in reply to Positive001

It's not a menopause thing. I'm a bloke. I was on Spironolacton for sometime and they messed with my hormones (or so I believe). I lost most of my body hair, my belly fat moved to my hips and I grew boobs. Not man boobs.. quite perky (TMI). Learning that Spironolaton is used in gender reassignment didnt help. I'm a year off the tablets now but I still get bouts of 'boobyness' ! I've been prescribed Alendronic Acid for osteoporosis and I made a tenuous link to hormones. Then I read about Estrogen Dominance in patients with liver disease. Any thoughts would be great :)

Positive001 profile image
Positive001 in reply to billyde

Ah ha !!

RodeoJoe profile image
RodeoJoe in reply to billyde

I was put on Spironolacton too and it really messed with me as well. When I said about the side effects they changed it to something else.

I'm also led to believe that liver failure messes with hormones and can also cause the same problem, and I'm fairly certain that was the case with me too. I'm 7 years post transplant now, admittedly overweight but proper moobs. I lost about 3 stone a couple of years ago and still had them.

I don't like taking my top off anymore, beach and swimming.

MLB_77 profile image
MLB_77

My basic panel includes thyroid

Aotea2012 profile image
Aotea2012

Cirrhosis is a complicated disease and may well be responsible for the body changes you describe as hormone levels can be effected due to the liver not processing things properly. One of the side effects of spironolactone is feminisation too. Hormones are not routinely measured as part of liver disease monitoring. The main aim is cancer detection and measuring disease progression. If you are worried speak to your consultant and ask them how best to manage things.

Cat-B profile image
Cat-B

Which hormones are you concerned about? No they are totally separate test. Please don’t use dr google. Spironolactone is not used for gender reassignment in this country! Men can develop “ boobs “ you have stopped the diuretics so just give yourself time, the side effects of spironolactone might be a bit distressing but compared to the ascites it was treating it really is minor! Good luck

wurzle profile image
wurzle in reply to Cat-B

actually they do prescribe spiro for gender reallignment. That or Finesteride.

Cat-B profile image
Cat-B in reply to wurzle

Sorry, I only know it as a diuretic, I did check in the BNF ( British National formula) before I answered.

AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireK

It's not just the spiro that affects hormone levels but males with cirrhosis do end up with less testosterone and more estrogen hence the issue that you get loss of male pattern body hair, testicular shrinkage, moobs and frequently loss of sex drive and function. My hubby hasn't ever been on spiro but does have the latter symptoms As far as I am aware they haven't done hormone checks as routine - may be they did during the masses of tests at t/p assessmemt but we've never been told of results.

Katie

Readlots profile image
Readlots

Hi Billyde, If I’m going for my liver bloods I ask my GP to add my thyroid on too so that I only have to see the phlebotomist once. Nice as they are, I don’t like going. Can’t see why you couldn’t ask to have your hormone levels checked too given your symptoms. But agree with others that they aren’t routinely included