Abnormal liver results

[Clown12]

Hi

I’ve had raised ALT, AST and GGT for circa 15 years now. My ALT has been up and down between 55 and 90, the AST around the mid 40s and the GGT between 90 and 200. I am 56, overweight, but with a muscly physique due to several years of resistant training. I have drank alcohol all my life and feel fit and healthy apart from cartridge damage in my right ankle. After reading up on liver issues, I’ve asked my GP for a scan on my liver to assess the damage. I haven’t had any alcohol now for 2 weeks and will abstain for a further 2 weeks, then I aim to enjoy a drink on Saturdays if my ALT and AST drop after a month of not drinking. I’ve also cut the junk food out and I’m determined to get to an healthy weight. I’ll update when I’ve had the scan.

[golly123]

Good for you. I think it's really good what you are doing. I'm 60. I was diagnosed with decompensated cihrossis in July 2021 - I tested positive for Covid at that time and was in hospital with a serious leg fracture. I haven't touched a drink since then. I'm overweight now as I eat too much. I can't exercise really as I ended up with mobility issues due to the fracture. But I do my best. I have seriously decreased my sugar intake and I'm mainly eating salads. A bit of healthy cereal too. I feel much better with the decrease is sugar too. Much more energy. No hangovers anymore. No paranoia which is what I used to get. No drink related anxiety anymore either. I feel terrible about the things I did in my drinking days.

In fact without alcohol, I feel like a completely different, calmer person. No haze anymore. And I feel good. Filled with energy, calmer too. EVERYTHING IS POSITIVE. No longer that alcoholic, emaciated, anxiety ridden, horrible person that I used to be.

Oh, what a wonderful world.

Good luck with everything and good for you. Best wishes Golly

[Clown12 in reply to golly123]

Good to hear you’ve turned the corner and are feeling fitter and healthier.

[golly123 in reply to Clown12]

Thank you. I still have cihrossis but it went from decompensated to compensated after i gave up the booze. Totally my fault. Really lovely of you to reply. Thank you x

[mtk0925]

Definitely a good idea to cut down the alcohol. My enzymes have been elevated on and off for years as well. Scans have been good

[Clown12 in reply to mtk0925]

Agree.

I’ve also been reading up on the AST/ALT ratio and all my readings have been less than 1 which suggests a fatty liver due to the ALT been higher than AST. Fingers crossed I can reduce the levels by cutting back on the alcohol intake and losing a few pounds.

[mtk0925 in reply to Clown12]

interesting mines are

Alt 42 should be 35 and under

Ast 34 should be 30

[Clown12 in reply to mtk0925]

They don’t look bad to me

[Tizzwas]

To be brutally honest the only way to prevent liver damage is to quit booze completely. I appreciate not everyone can just do this but the harsh reality of it is that a lot of us here are here because we poisoned ourselves with alcohol. Don't be that person ❤️

[Clown12 in reply to Tizzwas]

There’s no reason why people have to pack up with alcohol if they keep under the harmful limit threshold, unless of course they have a serious alcohol related liver disease ie: Cirrhosis

[Tizzwas in reply to Clown12]

My point being, don't end up with cirrhosis because then it's too late to do something about it.If you have concerns about your liver and your bloods are outside of normal range then abstinence is the only way. You've said yourself you'll abstain and then have a drink if your ALT/AST comes down, but after the drink it will just shoot back up again.

Do you know your bili marker?

Let us all know what the GP says.

[Clown12 in reply to Tizzwas]

I totally get what you’re saying, but I intend to have a drink on a Saturday night ONLY as opposed to drinking every day.

Bilirubin, Albumin, ALP, Platelets are all fine.

[Mondy122 in reply to Clown12]

same here i used to drink every day and now only have a few on a Saturday,i find nowadays i can’t drink much and end up shit faced really easy and cant abide the hangover so easy answer is don’t drink much and i now realise how much it ruled my life,just need to lose some weight which is hard and try shrink my liver down a bit cos im sick of the pains i get

[Clown12 in reply to Mondy122]

I expect you also enjoy the few drinks on a Saturday a lot more than drinking every day.

[SharanV]

Its great to read you’ve cut back on alcohol as it will allow your liver to repair, but do remember to follow the guidance of your liver consultant at all times.

[Clown12]

Thanks and I will do.

[Fibro2021]

Hi. Long-term elevation of liver enzymes and overweight may be associated with NAFLD and more specifically with NASH. An indication of regular alcohol consumption may indicate that alcohol is a second arrow for your liver. Drinking on weekends in such a situation will not stop the damage and restore the liver. Only total elimination of alcohol can stop liver damage. All other easy ways are self-deception. I think you should take your health seriously and discuss it with your doctor.

[Clown12 in reply to Fibro2021]

Thanks, I’ll have a chat with my doctor, but he has stated previously that I should be fine with cutting down to a few beers at the weekend.

[Clown12 in reply to Fibro2021]

The ratio does suggest NAFLD as the ALT is near on twice that of the AST. 🤔

[Clown12]

As stated I abstained from alcohol for 4 weeks from mid Feb to mid March and since then I’ve been having a few beers on a Tuesday and Saturday (circa 24 units as opposed to 90 plus) - yesterday I had blood tests and there’s been a significant improvement in the ALT, AST and GGT, with readings of 38, 30 and 50 respectively.

I’m aware that the latest levels don’t discount any liver damage, but it appears to suggest that the amount of alcohol I’ve cut down to is not adversely effecting the liver.

Another plus of cutting back on the booze and junk food is that my blood pressure is back in the normal range again.

I assume the scan will be a while yet.