Worried about blood test

[LWCARAB]

Hi all,

I'm panicking a little and hoping you can put my mind at rest. I've felt wiped out and jittery for a few weeks, supposed to climbing Kilimanjaro in 3 weeks so thought I should get checked up, failed to see GP so got a private appointment which showed high blood pressure so they did an ECG (all fine) and bloods. The bloods have come back showing Gamma GT at 300 and slightly raised ALT and Cholestrol. GP has suggested more bloods and liver scan but not sure I can afford that privately... I'm only 36, slightly overweight, barely drink and never have and googling has put me into a state of panic, I lost my wife to breast cancer in 2021 so it's just me to look after my 2 young daughters.

[Kristian]

Hi LW

Many things can affect the blood tests you mention. Apparently out of range liver blood tests are some of the more common things a gp tends to see. Lots of common viruses or infections can have that effect. These are more likely to be the cause given what you describe so I wouldn't at this stage automatically jump to a liver disease diagnosis just yet.

The standard practice would be to get a repeat set of bloods done in a couple of weeks and then decide whether its necessary to do any further investigations.

I appreciate that doesn't help with your imminent trip to kilamanjaro. Its very bad timing if you have picked something up so close the when you are due to go ☹☹.

I think for me my next step would get in to see my gp to discuss this further although I appreciate getting an appointment isn't always easy, particularly given your rushed time scale.

Good luck 🤞🤞

[Aotea2012]

I agree with Kristian. Try to get an appointment with your GP. I know that can be difficult but speak to the receptionist and say you’ve had an abnormal blood test and would it be possible to get a repeat done with the phlebotomist at the practice if the GP is unavailable. The GPs check the results and follow up. It may help speed things up. If not then insist on an appointment. A raised GGT can be down to all sorts of things. Infection being one obvious one. So don’t panic. Liver blood tests often throw up a lot of out of range results. It’s important to follow it up…but it’s very often nothing serious. Interestingly, I have a diagnosis of cirrhosis and just had my regular 6 monthly blood check up…all my results were normal, bar my GGT which was very slightly raised at 50. My ultrasound scan though shows I still have liver disease very clearly….it’s just my damaged liver is coping with its 500 jobs because I’ve stopped drinking and improved my diet and it’s therefore stopped being battered every day. It goes to show that blood tests are complicated things that need medical support to interpret. So do try to get to your GP to get a bit more medical support. I suspect it’s nothing to worry about.

[LWCARAB]

NHS GP is re-doing the bloods with liver checks arranging a liver scan

[Smokey001]

Hi Sir

You worry way too much

You would likely die of exhaustion during the 20,000ft climb and the Tanzanian temperature, or suffer a heart attack just at the sight of the task ahead, before you liver were to fail.

I suspect your liver would be the only only part of you that would survive, it is very resilient

But best wishes and good luck on your monumental challenge

I struggle up a flight of stairs, so all due respect.

[Roy1955]

Don't forget to divulge your ongoing tests to your travel insurance company.You don't want to be taken ill up a mountain and have to pay for the rescue costs because insurance is invalid.

You MUST declare all medical history before you go.