Hi Everyone
I underwent some generic blood tests to begin the process of being tests for Lupus just over a week ago.
The results showed that I have a significant vitamin D deficiency and have slightly raised liver enzymes levels.
The raised liver enzymes levels has concerned me as I know that even a slightly high ALT and AST can point towards hepatitis which I have been led to believe can be quite common among Lupus pacients.
I've to return on Dec 8th to test the liver enzymes again and the doctor said we would take it from there.
Did anyone else have any abnormal liver enzymes readings and was it actually hepatitis or linked to their Lupus?
Thanks x
I had elevated liver enzymes - and it was neither liver disease nor lupus. Raised liver enzymes are found in several autoimmune conditions. So don't panic yet!
Hope your GP has given you a high dose vit D supplement - that alone could make you feel better.
Thank you for your reply!
I was getting myself a tad panicked as I know that a vitamin D deficiency is also a sign of hepatitis as is raised liver enzymes so to have them both sent my brain into overdrive.
I'm glad to hear that you didn't have either condition and have the same thing so it could be nothing sinister.
The GP has given me nothing for the vitamin D deficiency- I was told over the phone today when he called to explain the results to buy something for it.
Very helpful lol
Charming - how low was it? H&B do very reasonable higher dose tablets, often as an offer, and they are tiny so easy to take. Boots also do a higher dose tablet, but larger so I don't like them as much (I also don't patronise Boots on principle!). When I say "higher dose" I mean 12.5 micrograms/500 IU and 1000 IU - which is minimal compared with the recommended dose for severe vit D deficiency which is more in the region of 60,000 IU/week!
Vit D deficiency is commonly found alongside many autoimmune disorders - but they have no idea whether it is cause or effect.
Thank you for that- I don't have any idea about supplements as I've never taken any to date so that was helpful to me
I have no idea how low it was- he didn't give me the numbers of either abnormal result.
It was a locum that Ive never met as usual. I do have a named gp but he doesn't see pacients so I only deal with whoever is available and never the same person.
It seems a great system for information to be lost and results not to be passed on as even the reception staff don't know who half the locums are. Doesn't give much peace of mind when you're being tested for something as serious as Lupus.
That's a novel idea - give someone a named GP who doesn't see patients!
It really is time JH was sacked/assassinated/something else!!!!!
Definitely agree with you on that.
We can no longer book in advance for appointments. (Bloods yes because ordered by gp and nurse does it).
You have to call the day before you want an appointment and hope there is one available. If not you have to keep ringing for the next day. Only they don't answer the phone.
I called 3x daily (over 20 min each time) for 24 days before I had to go down to the surgery and refuse to move until I got an appointment.
It's sickening.
We have a very old-fashioned concept: each day there is a 2-hour window for surgery hours when the door is open. You turn up and wait. If you are in before (or shortly after) the witching hour you will be seen - and you will get as long as the doctor thinks you need. I have been in for 45 mins! She works alone, no receptionist/nurse or whatever. If you need bloods taken you are handed a prescription to take to the hospital phlebotomy clinic, held every morning from 7.30 to 10am, or to the clinic held in the nearest village if you are too far from town.
The fact she deals with you properly first time round means you rarely have to go back because it was wrong/inadequate. If you hoped for a script for ibuprofen - tough, it will be a private one, they aren't covered by the healthcare system and you pay the pharmacy price (no cheap supermarket versions). So if that's what you want/need - you go to the pharmacist for advice first.
She has a limit of 1500 patients - and has time to do emergency appointments if you call and explain, will do house visits to her sick patients. Her services are free - if you go to A&E you will pay 15 euros and that has dissuaded the "I need a plaster" mentality. If you are admitted - all free at point of service, if you are not admitted you have a small co-pay for each service. No-one is deprived of good healthcare because they can't afford it because if you have a low income or chronic illness you are exempt the charges or they are minimal.
Where is this healthcare heaven? Northern Italy - hope I can stay here! Mind you - a routine rheumatology appointment can take just over 3 months...