Liver blood tests

[foxglove]

I have peripheral neuropathy and taking pregablin had recent bloods don and liver function shows raised enzimes =- serum gamma 127(7-38 range), serum alkaline phosphotase 230 (30-130 range) does anyone know what this means? I'm worried sick Telephone appt. with doc on 15th Oct want this of course but frightened!!!

[rabbits65]

Foxglove , Why not give your doctors surgery another call and tell them that your far too anxious and worried to be left waiting till 15 Oct. and can someone please explain the test results .

[foxglove in reply to rabbits65]

I am going on the assumtion that if I have to wait and then have a elephone appt. itpossibly noy too serious or I would br seen face to face and quickly ...at least one hopes thatould be so! I have had nurse appt (face to face) but nurse either didn't know or didn't want to express an opinion. I didn't have a copy of results at this time so it was difficult for me I appreciate your concern and will try to forget about results for now, I feel normal - will just be accepting

[rabbits65 in reply to foxglove]

Good luck

[MSTKing]

Do you have a social worker - CPN - anyone else who works in the community with you? Would you be able to tell them your worries and ask them to get in touch with your GP for you?

[katieoxo60]

Hello foxglove, this is worrying but could be numerous things even just your body organs slowing down, they do as we get older. Can you not get a telephone appointment to releive your concerns as you may need specialist advice on this matter before your GP does any treatment. Sometimes our bodies give raised readings and when tested again all appears to be normal, but at this moment that does not help relieve your fears. A fortnight is a long time to wait but quite common these days. Thinking of you and hoping it is something minor, remember a worry shared is a worry halved. Have a nice weekend if possible. xx

[foxglove in reply to katieoxo60]

Thanks for reply and advice I am already put on vit. d and told to be retested in 3 months so doc. has in a way already started treatment. Not to sure what vit d has to do with liver and I haven't nbeen tested fot vit d but I've sent off for a test to do at home and with a bit of luck witll get that and get results before doc. appt.

Good to share worries, you too have a good weekend

[katieoxo60 in reply to foxglove]

I can help you on the Vitamen D , the government regs say we should be given the vitamin in the winter in England. But really we don't have to have it if our vitamin D is good i.e a blood test is the only way to tell. Mine was good so don't do tablets. However many take it as it can help releive ongoing pain I am told. Vitamin D can effect the liver result if you take too much. You sound like me if theres another way try, hope your postal tests come quickly as that seems to be the only service not adversly effected by the virus and its not usually a test tube test. Good luckxx

[foxglove in reply to katieoxo60]

Thanks agree with your opinions re. vit d I just hope I get the test done before appt. with doc!

[JannettG]

Hi Foxglove, I read your post mainly because I also have peripheral neuropathy. The pain is awful, however, I am not in the same situation as you. I would not wish it onto anyone. Reading through the responses, I think that you have been given much support and I just want to add, that you can ask to speak with someone over the phone, a clinician, or a doctor. I have found this approach helpful in my own case. Try not to worry so much because the stress can impact you more than you realize. Take heart and know that sometimes the symptoms are more frightening than actual damage. I will pray for you, even if you do not have a belief in a higher being.

[foxglove in reply to JannettG]

Thanks, I have a doc. (phone appt)on 15th Oct. and have had a "face to face" with Nurse Nurse didn't seem to know the answer but was encouraging that it might be something easily sorted(???) I would appreciate your prayers very gratefulof any help - esp. from a higher power

[bookish]

Try not to worry. The likelihood is that this has been building for some time as the liver takes a huge amount of punishment and gets very little love! It is possible that the pregabalin might not be helping, but more likely a blood sugar or thyroid issue, or both. What is your diet like? Lower carb intake if at all possible to take some of the strain. (Low vitamin D can be linked to poor liver function and can increase liver inflammation. Good idea to test though, and you may need some vitamin K2, especially if you end up taking a higher dose of vit D3). Best wishes

[foxglove in reply to bookish]

Thanks for reply don't know anything abiut the pregabalin -I didn't know it had any effect on liver! Thyroid test shows TSH as 1.7 , (all that gp checks)lower than it's ever been but I'm taking NDT instead of levo and (naughty, naughty ) haven't told doc. My diet is abismal but glucose (HbA1c) lower than before takes me into " normal"range My vit.d hasn't actuaully been tested although I was told it was low (how comee/) when I saw nurse she said vit d has been found to help liver!!! I know about K2 and when I get result for test , arrived today and I will do early on Mon. Oh dear I have a lot to sort with doc and silly me thought nurse woul have there answrs I think she had but was being cautious she didn't want me to get copy of bloods because "it would cause worry"...Ha-Ha) all the best

[bookish in reply to foxglove]

I do wish doctors would tell us useful things like 'Vit D helps liver and test was low' before we get high liver enzymes, not after! Hope the test goes well and then you can decide what/if/how much to take. Good for you with the NDT, often thought about that myself although tried thyroid glandular and didn't get on well - part of the reason I ended up trying to resolve blood sugar, liver, gut, oestrogen - all things that can mess with your thyroid function. I went gluten free and my HbA1c dropped very well, but you can still have an insulin issue and HbA1c and glucose look ok. What a cop out from the nurse. The only way I worked out any of what was going on and how I could do anything to help myself was by getting as many old results as possible and making a huge spreadsheet on a big piece of paper of each thing, what it meant, what was 'optimal' rather than 'in range' and whether it had gone up or down or stayed the same over a few years as I got worse. Pregabalin isn't metabolised in the liver, I believe, but can cause raised enzymes as a reaction in some. Fairly uncommon and generally happens quite quickly if you are going to react, but worth thinking about, especially if trying to add some less-starchy veg and cut a few carbs doesn't do much. Is your thyroid autoimmune? An anti-inflammatory diet might help that too, if it is. Best wishes.

[foxglove in reply to bookish]

Thanks for your hepful advice I'm worriying terrily Sorry just can't hep this My Nature!!!

[bookish in reply to foxglove]

You may find it isn't only your nature - my anxiety levels calmed hugely when I got my diet a bit better sorted and my B12. Can also be thyroid and /or blood sugar imbalance symptom. Sending hugs.

[foxglove in reply to bookish]

Thanks, I mean to keep working on my diet!! Amazingly thyroid (on thyroxin), B12, glucose all optimal, lab refuses to test b12 anymore as I have good levels, and my glucose (HbA1c) is lower than it ever has been but maybe if I ate more sensibly than I do and gve up alcohol completely I might feel better in myself!!!

[bookish in reply to foxglove]

I have the same problem with B12 testing - unfortunately the blood level can look fine but it still needs to get from the blood to the cells and there are several reasons why some of us aren't very good at that. If you are the reading type, I'd recommend Datis Kharrazian's 'Why do I still have thyroid symptoms when my lab tests are normal?'. His epic tome on brain function 'Why isn't my brain working' is also very useful. One little step at a time x

[foxglove in reply to bookish]

Thanks for suggestions x

[Konagirl60]

I have neuropathy to. Lyrica didn’t help my nerve crush injury. Is it helping you?

I wasn’t monitored by my pain specialist when I was taking it over a two month period. It caused brain fog, massive water weight gain, and I lost my sense of smell and taste for years after using it in conjunction with Cymbalta. Neither pill helped my severe intractable neuritis. I stopped using them.

I’m glad your doctor did those tests. Do you drink alcohol? I wouldn’t drink it while taking any medicine. Long term med use can cause ‘non alcoholic’ fatty liver disease. I developed it when my liver enzymes were elevated and I quit taking Tylenol #3 as a result. Some doctors assume we ARE drinkers and I know my GP did. I am educated and I didn’t drink while taking pain meds at all.

I have always integrated natural good quality supplements with meds. I used a liver cleanse containing milk thistle and it helped. My enzymes returned to normal.

The suggestion to eat an anti inflammatory diet is a good one. Avoid gluten, white flour and eat lean and green. Try to exercise if you can. Good luck.

[foxglove in reply to Konagirl60]

Thanks for reply and avice!

[Konagirl60]

Anytime sunshine. Good luck.