High AlT

[Leonlass]

Hi, I had recent routine blood tests done and my ALT is 135, I suffer with health anxiety and I’m petrified, my doctors ordered multiple blood tests which I’m due to have Monday and an ultrasound, my doctor didn’t say much, I said can it be cancer she said I can’t no, my mental healths spiralled these past few weeks, I’m not overweight don’t drink, I was on high dose progesterone but had to come off that, my cholesterol was level 6 so she said alter your diet. I have 3 kids and a grandchild I’m so scared to leave them. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Sunnyskies33]

I would wait until you have the other tests and try not to worry. Some medications and viruses can cause liver function tests to blip up.

[AyrshireK]

Whilst your ALT is raised it isn't massively so. Normal protocol would be to repeat bloods to see if it was just a blip or whether there is a pattern of elevation and in case of the latter then do scans. Your doctor is on the ball arranging a scan already. All sorts of things (most very minor) can elevate ALT so don't leap to worst case scenarios - stress and anxiety can elevate liver enzymes.

Katie

[QuietButBold]

I respect your having shared that you experience your situation through health anxiety.

While I do not have medical knowledge to comment on those test parameters, in case it might ease your experience; I offer a few tips which may help people addressing their anxiety (I deploy each of these ideas - depending ):

- it can help someone to pick a (time limited) time of day / week within which to sit down to think through some of their current issues as a scheduled"worry time".

- some people find it useful to better "park" their worries by writing them down as they arise - perhaps in a little pocket-sized diary / notebook, or by sending yourself a brief email or WhatsApp message, or writing it on a small piece of paper which is folded up and put into a jam jar with the lid screwed back on afterwards.

- maybe you could find a small object associated with a happy experience (some like e.g. a smooth pebble / seashell / a glass pocket hug / a piece of fabric gift ribbon / coloured glass marble / silicon wristband for a charity you like to support / an elasticated beaded bracelet which has good fidget-value). People keep the item with them in a pocket / purse / wallet / bag - and when they notice the anxiety level start to escalate - the idea is to handle the item to help remind yourself that, thankfully, life is not all about the current point of concern.

At first glance, the ideas might strike you as seeming overly simplistic. (Hoping that doesn't make you feel too cross!).

They are intended fourfold:

1) to reduce any concerns that you might forget an important aspect which worries you,

2) to help you feel you are proactively doing at least "something" about whatever you were thinking / feeling,

3) to (repetitively) give yourself a tactic by which you can apply a (subtle) reinforcement nudge ...away from rumination over external factors (often beyond your current control), and

4) to give you a micro-break from the potential mental and physical escalation ladder which anxiety can present.

Wishing you well.

[Leonlass in reply to QuietButBold]

Thank you really appreciate the advice.

[Nerico in reply to QuietButBold]

Great advice.

[NieceByMarriage]

Liver readings can go off the scale high. In the greater scheme of things that reading could easily be a blip especially if you had the tests as a matter of routine rather than following any sort of symptoms. It is quite right and proper that things are investigated and I am glad this is being done, but there is every likelihood that there will be no problem or an issue that is readily treatable.

[Shloma]

As you have gotten good responds on this group it's good to know that a one-off isn't always an issue. When it comes to liver there are many factors that it can make it sound worst then it is. It is most likely nothing & it can be many things like as small as fatty liver (if so, should be dealt with & not wait till...... There are things to do). It can be what your doctor said & it can be something ells that effects the liver that can heal on its own or treating the what the issue is that causes the effect to the liver. Like someone can have severely hi blood pressure but its not the heart. It can a bad Kidney function the dominoes chemical reaction to his blood pressure. Just like that there can be many factors liver function.

By the way I'm wondering why Doctors having such a hard time diagnosing liver issue.

It's the same with many other health issues.

It's worth looking into alternative health & private companies that might be able to do deferent test that the medical system will not do but can be done through other systems or other countries. Just take note they can be very expensive but can worth it, depending on your situation.

very important in the meantime look after mental & emotional health as they take a big role dominoing to physical health. First worry isn't going to help, only put stress on the people surrounding. Talk it out to a trustable friend & a health care practitioner.

A very big thing can be a help to see a good nutritionist as this can a few little things killing many big issues. Again, this can be expensive but worth it. even if it can cure but will give lots of strength