Please help - I can't get through to the BLT helpline & there are no emergency appointments left at GP.
Long story short, 41 female - suspected Covid Nov 2020. Stopped drinking completely Feb 2021 after a history of alcoholism.
BLT fibroscan Oct 2021 - 4.7kpa
BLT fibroscan Mar 2022 - 5.9kpa
BLT fibroscan today - 9.7kpa, IQR 26%
Labs April 2023: ALT 12, ALP 86, Bilirubin <3 , platelets 499, white blood count 20 (normal upper limit 11). Just finished a 4 week course of fluconazole for a fungal infection. White blood count now down to 14.00.
Liver bloods from Apr 2021 to date have all been in range, with a blip up to ALT 35 in Oct 2021. Two clear ultrasounds, shearwave elastrography in March 2022 showed F1.
I've booked to see a private hepatologist but it's not for 2 weeks. I am so scared and confused and I just don't understand what's going on.
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nerd1
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I've managed to speak to the helpline - best case is it's a blip, but I don't understand why an infection & fluconazole would affect the stiffness so much. Last bloods ALT was 12, indicating no inflammation, although this was before the 4 week course of fluconazole.
Even before this result my GP was completely baffled - my bloods are showing an infection & inflammation, but with no obvious cause.
I've had oral thrush for more than 2 years which still hasn't completely gone, Terry's nails on toenails and fingernails (although I still seem to have the lunula).
I've just noticed some cramping and unusual bleeding (I am not due for my period). Should I go to A&E for full liver bloods to see if there is inflammation? Does anyone know if an infection could be causing the fibroscan result?
Haemoglobin 149, MCV 90.7, RDW 14.1, C-reactive protein 9.6. Over the past few days I have noticed that the soles of my feet and my ankles look red, I also have red spots appearing on my face & chest.
But why are things continuing to get worse despite no alcohol & persistently normal (up to now) liver bloods?
I originally went to A&E on 12/04/23 because I thought I looked orange/yellow in the face, which looked worse in artificial light. Bilirubin was less than 3, so how could it be jaundice? Other option is carotenemia.
Hi, I'm going to A&E in the hope they will do full liver bloods. If anyone is available to chat on here while I wait in A&E I would really, really appreciate it.
I hope you are ok, if you are concerned A and E is the best place but with normal liver bloods it doesn’t sound like you are in immediate danger. With a bilirubin at that level it absolutely isn’t jaundice. My partners jaundice is noticeable when his bilirubin is around 50-60. I hope by now you have some answers
Although you have a fibroscan result, remember that you can get false positives and negatives. With the level of testing that you are doing and in particular the fact that you could "see" an orange / yellow face and were *still* worried about it after a bilirubin test of 3 (therefore making jaundice impossible), your posts are exhibiting all the signs of someone suffering from extreme health anxiety.
Health anxiety can be an absolutely crippling condition which needs medical assistance. If your immediate reaction to me posting this is "no, no, you don't understand, there's something really wrong" then that is *exactly* what people with health anxiety do - ignore the idea and go straight back to focusing on the supposed medical issues.
You have some liver scarring. It is not extreme or even that high. Take a breath and talk to your GP about your worries as well as the condition such as it is. This is a marathon not a sprint and you need to manage yourself with help.
Hi, I don't still think it's jaundice as obviously it can't be, but unfortunately my skin does keep developing an orange tint- whether it's because I'm generally not well or what I don't know.I'm a bit confused re these posts about anxiety, as obviously this doesn't explain why the fibrosis has continued to progress (according to the fibroscan) or why my white blood count is coming back persistently elevated?
I probably won't convince you, but just to reiterate that the anxiety I'm experiencing is in response to the symptoms and not the other way round x
Hi Nerd, this is going to sound a little harsh, but this doesn't really seem to be a matter for A&E. By all means get an appointment with your gp, or indeed wait for your private hepatology appointment, but going to A&E wouldn't really be appropriate. This isn't really an emergency situation. May be try 111 first and talk it through with them.As the trust nurses have said this is likely to be a blip. Quite possibly due to your infection and the medications you are taking for that which may have upset your liver a bit. From my experience of things that can be pretty common. I understand inflammation can affect the accuracy of a fibroscan, and inflammation of the liver is pretty common with a lot of infections. This is though a temporary thing that wouldn't cause any long term issues. By speaking to your gp, they can review your medication and check your liver.
Significant liver damage does not happen quickly. Your previous tests and scans have not given any indication that there is anything wrong with your liver. So, the likelihood that has changed, pretty much overnight, is almost zero.
Hi Kristian, thanks for your reply. What's confusing me though is that my bloods are not indicating inflammation of the liver - ALT was 16? Do you (or anyone) know if fibroscan results can be affected by high blood pressure?
No idea I'm afraid. But, having seen lots of posts about fibroscans on here it does seem that there can be quite a lot of things that can affect the results to give a false or temporary high.
I think you can be reassured from your trip today that from a liver perspective all is reasonably ok. You just now have to get to the bottom of whatever infection you may have.
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