Bit of a mystery

[Frenchielove78]

Hi all

I am a 47 yr old female, currently having investigations on my liver. Was wondering if anyone had had anything similar?

So, at various points throughout my life, I’ve had raised liver function results. I remember having a blood test back in my early 20s and the doctor raising it then, but they seemed to go down and it was never really explained. In my early thirties, in the first few weeks of being pregnant, I started to itch all over my body. I was given a blood test and the liver function readings were off the scale. I was hospitalised for a week with jaundice and the general consensus was that I had gallstones, one of which was blocking a bile duct. I had ultrasounds, cat scans and an MRI, they never found a stone and assumed I’d passed it. The latest episode started in October last year when I began to itch again. Blood tests showed liver function was off the scale again, some readings were 12x the normal range. I have had an ultrasound, which looks normal, an MRCP scan, which looks normal and have just had a liver biopsy. I’m still awaiting the results of the biopsy, but my consultant appears to be baffled.

Now, full disclosure, back in my younger days, I did like to party (it was the done thing in the 90’s), however my alcohol intake isn’t much these days. I am not overweight and I exercise regularly (runnning & gym).

I’m googling all sorts and scaring myself silly. Has anyone been through anything similar? I’m not sure what the biopsy will show, as the consultant said any scarring etc would show on the MRCP or ultrasound.

Any advice would be appreciated xx

[carmik]

Try and get an appoi ntment at kings college liver unit. They are excellent. We waited four years attending a local hospital getting .nowhere. Took one sppointment to get a correct diagnosis .Good LuckCarole

[Scrags64 in reply to carmik]

Best advice is to stop googling things!! Your consultant is the person who knows the truth and will give you a diagnosis. X

[Frenchielove78 in reply to Scrags64]

I know googling doesn’t help, but it’s hard not too when you’re waiting on results.

[Frenchielove78 in reply to carmik]

Thanks for replying, I am seeing a private consultant through my medical insurance, but will bear this in mind, as I can basically choose who to see.

[Scrags64]

You would be better looking on the British liver trust website. They also have a nurse led helpline if you want to chat with someone. X

[Readlots]

Hi, waiting for results is hard, and googling is so easy! But do try to resist. A lot of what you find will be out of date and just plain wrong. Most of us on here will have similar stories to you of tests. And most of us will have been diagnosed with liver disease, but that doesn’t mean you will be. When you see the consultant ask them to check for autoimmune and genetic conditions. Don’t Google those! Just rule them out. There’s a good section on the BLT site about questions to ask the consultant.

[Smegmer]

Biopsy is considered the "Gold Standard" of Liver tests. Although small, it provides a sample of actual Liver cells, which blood and scans can't offer. They will put them under the Mirco scope and have a good look!

Your 12X results are alarming, but there aren't any signs of issues with all your other tests(good news). A biopsy isn't without risk, but your consultant thinks that it would offer new medical information. This is a correct decision, I think. You can't really leave someone running around with 12X inflammation markers and do nothing.

Doubtful your 90s binges are a factor at this stage.