Friend's LFT Normal but 1 week no drin... - British Liver Trust

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Friend's LFT Normal but 1 week no drinking beer before test. Should I get Scan? 8-9 beers 3 times a week otherwise

10 Replies

My friends' LFT is normal. Ferritin has been elevated for the past 5 years and GP is sending me to Hematology.

I QUIT beer today and Test is 2 months away. I always for the past 5 years of test dont drink for 1 week before tests and is that why my LFT is normal? 5 years I drank 8-9 cans of beer a day 3-4 times a week mostly 3 times a week.

But for 1 week dont drink and do the test and every time LFT normal. This is for the past 5 years about 8 tests. But rest of the times 6 months to 1 year between the test I drink 8-9 cans a night 3 times a week. Rarely 4 times.

I was sent to the Hemetaology once and they asked me if I will do a Biopsy and I said NO. Dont know why I went there.

BUT WANT a good picture of Liver health with a scan or something TO HELP QUITTING.

CAN I ASK FOR ONE? Can they FORCE me to be admitted or locked up to receive alcoholic recovery treatment? I am highly functional with 0 symptoms, fit and look healthy.

Should I ask at the Hemetology or what should I ask my GP if any.

KINDLY HELP !!!

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10 Replies
Grassroots112 profile image
Grassroots112

You’re obviously drinking above the recommended limit (UK anyway), and that won’t be good for your liver or your health in general, and if you feel it’s doing some kind of damage it’s always best to be reactive and proactive with your own health so getting seen to medically is a good idea and lowering your alcohol intake too.

You don’t have to quit drinking full stop if that’s not what you want to do, it’s all about moderation unless you feel you’re becoming an alcoholic. No-one can section you or lock you up for alcohol treatment (not here in the U.K. anyway).

Try remaining alcohol free if you can up to your test, that way your liver will be in better shape and hopefully no real damage will have been done, if you can start looking after your health asap it’s always best rather than when any damage has been done, it’s about preventing that and making sure you have the right tools going forward to keep healthy in the knowledge of knowing what you have to do so, that’s drinking in moderation or not at all, eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, it’s that simple. Good luck and take care.

in reply to Grassroots112

Thanks a Million. Very kind of you. I was so stressed when I was asked to do the test two months away and started googling about Ferrittin elevation and saw I had normal LFT all past 5 years with a 1 week no drinking before the test dates. So I thought my God what about the rest of the time? Is my liver a gonner? I WILL QUIT. PERIOD. But very very worried about this. You really helped me a Samaritan. Can you if your read this reply explain this situation further? (Or anybody else if he cannot.)

👍❤️

Grassroots112 profile image
Grassroots112 in reply to

If your ferritin levels are high that could be an issue with iron so it’s best you do get to the bottom of that to find out what is really going on, your alcohol intake at current rates if continued could cause liver damage on top of anything else that is going in. Hopefully the doctors will find out exactly what is going on and you can then go to work on fixing any problems or managing them.

If your LFTs are currently normal that’s a good sign or rather a positive start as a lot of people only find out about the extent of their liver functions when they are in a bad way and then end up with some form of liver disease they have to manage.

If I was you’d I’d remain alcohol free and try and eat a healthy balanced diet which is all a cliche I know, but it really is the correct method of keeping healthy, prior to any tests carried out by your doctor as that will put your liver in a better shape of health going forward. You don’t want to be going into your doctor’s appointment for tests with a compromised liver and whatever is causing your high ferritin levels progressing and getting worse.

in reply to Grassroots112

😂😂😂Lovely response.

YES. QUIT IT IS FOR GOOD especially after seeing the possibility of having the advantage of normal LFT and that way they can investigate of other things and knowing that Alcohol is stopped as a factor in things. One thing is out of the way, so they can focus on treatment if needed. Also, they can compare the results of prior to quitting and to that of quitting and have a good picture of recovery that the Liver is miraculously😂😂👍 capable of.

And honestly speaking there is no fun in partying or socialisng or what not after one knows all these info on liver etc. Happy innocence 😂😂😂.

Thanks once again!!

Ruby1960 profile image
Ruby1960

I am slightly puzzled. If you have no symptoms and-your LFT s are normal why you would be asked to have a biopsy? Why is your doctor concerned about your liver in the 1 st place. Not judging, just curious as I was under the impression they only do a biopsy when absolutely necessary.

Fibro2021 profile image
Fibro2021 in reply to Ruby1960

Apparently because of the high ferritin levels, they want to know exactly how damaged the liver may have been due to iron overload.

in reply to Ruby1960

Ferritin had no symptoms. Even if LFT is normal, one can have elevated Ferritin. "Biopsy" etc are all the Hospitals language associated with this ....etc..

Hope I am clear (As much as I am 😂)

Thanks for trying to help me here. Well, I was thinking of all the times I had gone to the hospitals for tests. Normally, I don't look into what the test is. What the results mean etc. Just blindly listen to GP results. My new GP said the Ferittin level is high for the past 5 years but nothing has been investigated (maybe that is what is on the system) so she is sending me for a Hemetology study as LFT is normal (Maybe Genetic study? I dont know). Because I have been to so many hospitals for all the tests I vaguely remember a conversation with a doctor asking if I will have a biopsy.. (maybe because I told him I drink a lot of beer after work and the LFT test is with one week of not drinking beer). I asked for a non invasive test...but in the end no follow up was taken..Maybe I because of LFT is ok...they just let me go?)

ThreeSmiles profile image
ThreeSmiles

Hi

Never refuse any test offered….

Yup. Sure. But when they say biopsy has some sideeffects but your LFT is fine, I thought it was something I requested of my own curiosity. Honestly, I dont care to know things just follow whatever the Doctor says. But I did not care that day and so my memory is sketchy..not sure what happened. Only couple of days ago cared to google and know something..😃😃😃😃

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