I had my blood draw 10 days ago, and my liver enzymes was normal. I had another blood draw Friday and I got my results back today. My alt is 25. Dec it was 12. My ast was 14 in December and today it is 56. I have autoimmune hepatitis and pbc. My liver enzymes have been normal for 4 years. I was diagnosed 5 years ago. Does high ast mean that I now have cirrhosis? I started taking a lot of cinnamon, maybe to much. I was trying to lower my fasting glucose. I was just diagnosed with prediabetes. My a1c is 5.7 and my fasting glucose was 114 in December. Today it was 106 but a1c is still 5.7.
Does this sound like I now have cirrhosis. This is what I’m reading. Has anyone ever had a high ast alone and not have cirrhosis. It seems like my alt is elevating too, but in range for now. I called my liver specialist but he’s out of his office for a week. My primary ordered my blood work March and my liver specialist ordered my blood work 10 days ago.
I have so much homework and stress.
Any help will be appreciated
Jenny
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Jennyhadenough
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sorry to read you are going through this worrying period of time. The best person to help you of course is your specialist but while you wait for your liver specialist to get back to you I offer you the following, also the following does not substitute for professional help and I am only a lay person.
The parameters for AST results from the laboratory here in the UK is 15-41 so depending on the paratmeters for the laboratory results in the USA will depend on how elevated your results have come back.
You will know by now that stress can cause variations in our blood test results and although it may be difficult for you to build time in to your day a 15 minute break for meditation, breathing exercises or a good walk would almost certainly prove beneficial to you.
Like you I wonder if the cinnamon you are taking is overdosing your system. I remember a conversation a while back about cinnamon not being so good for those with diseases of the liver and there being different types with different levels of toxicity, I copy below a piece taken from labtestonlinw.org.uk
"An injection of medicine into muscle tissue, or even strenuous exercise, may increase AST concentrations within the bloodstream. In rare instances, some drugs can damage the liver or muscle, increasing AST concentrations. This is true of both prescription drugs and some 'natural' or herbal health products. If your doctor finds that you have high levels of AST, tell him or her about all the drugs and health products you are taking."
With a diagnosis of pre diabetes perhaps an overall approach to your diet rather than concentrating on one herbal remedy. A diet of vegetables, wholegrains and lean proteins avoiding pre-prepared foods which may be full of salt may be more beneficial to you. From my own point of view I know that before retirement when I was very busy and stressed from work, gaining weight was very easy so I appreciate you may find it difficult to make changes.
I realise this does not answer your question but I think only your specialist and further investigations only can do that.
If it's the cinnamon I stopped using it hopefully I can go back to normal range. My alt was 25. My alt looks like it may be elevating as well. Maybe my first autoimmune hepatitis flare. Thank you for responding.
No comments on the liver test results but you can definitely reverse gloucose levels using Intermittent Fasting. My endocrinologist recommended it to me because I wanted to lose weight. I lost 5 lbs doing it for a month and my cholesterol numbers and alk phos went lower. And I intend to lose another 15 or so lbs. I decided to do IF consistently. There are different IF strategies that you can follow. Just find the one that suits your lifestyle.
I’ve had great success with IF. I do the 8 hour eating with 16 hrs fasting. At first the 16 hr fast was difficult but after you get into the swing it becomes a lifestyle. I lost 25 lbs over the past 18 months - slow I know but I can’t exercise because of arthritis. I’ve never had a doctor tell me to now consider a way to maintain by doing the IF 5 days/week and eating normally 2. I also do no sugar, no beef, no alcohol, no processed food or white flour. I eat mainly fish, chicken, whole grains, nuts & seeds, occasionally pork, vegetables & some fruits. Rarely eat out. Good luck.
Great success, 25 lbs is impressive. I only did this for ~6 weeks now and only lost 5 lbs, but it lowered my cholesterol numbers and alk phos. This way of eating reduces fat in the liver so it is good for the liver too. My liver doctor was okay with me doing this and the endocrinologist highly recommends IF. I am doing this daily for life and might deviate 1-2x a week for social activities.
Intermittent Fasting, fast for 16 hours, eating for 8 hours. I fast from 8 pm-12 pm next day and eat from 12-8pm. And am trying to just eat clean...no junk food; no added sugar. During the fasting period, can only drink black coffee, plain tea, and water.
Thanks so much apologies for not getting back to you sooner. Last year a doctor recommended this kind of fasting to me and I will try this after I have finished the big job that I'm on. As I need to conserve my energy right now so don't want to change anything too much.
J- I too have both PBC and auto immune hepatitis. My specialist (at Mayo) has used a drug combo to suppress my immune system to gain control of the AIH. Was pretty adamant that we would not get results with PBC until other was under control. Tough part was steroids as part of suppression has caused type 2 diabetes. I’m getting good results with PBC now that the AIH is under control. I have had minor ts with a random number shooting up but over long haul we are seeing results. And I see my results every 2 weeks.
LiverLonger, which Mayo Clinic do you go to? I go to the Jacksonville, Fl clinic. I have been dealing with both PBC and AIH was diagnosed together for five years.
I'm sorry that you have type 2 diabetes. I'm fighting hard not to pick up any more unwanted medical headaches.
I take Urso for PBC, and I did take prednisone for three years, then we switched to budesonide. I have been off steroids for over a year. I also take 100 mg of AZathioprine. I was hoping to lower my dosage of AZA with my June visit.
How long have you been diagnosed?
My concern is that my ast is higher than my alt 2:1. I read that means cirrhosis. I was in stage 1 for five years.
I decided last year to go back to college. I’m in my second year. I am hoping for the best but it is what it is.
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PBC suspecting
Sudden Drastic Change in AST and ALT
Anyone have symptoms like mine?
Could high AMA be something else? 
***Revision at conclusion***ALT, AST, Alk-phos and their possible insignificance in monitoring PBC progression? 
