What's your LFT (gamma gt) history?

[berg944]

2 years ago 290

1 year ago 600, referred to liver specialist.

6 months ago 280

6 weeks ago 190

2 weeks ago diagnosed PBC

Have been taking 750mg Ursodeoxycholic for a week.

At what figure does the situation become urgent?

[Val02]

URSO can take up to a year to do its work - Im afraid its a waiting game to see how much things wil improve. In my own case at the first 3month check up my LFTs were visably improving and after a year I was back in the normal range. I hope that helps to reassures you.

All your readings sound quite high - but there again you have just been diagnosed with PBC!

[jennyhall06]

I have just been diagnosed with PBC and prescribed URSO, my LFTs have been 400-500 for the past 2 years. My GP and Consultant don't seem to be too concerned with these readings, but I'm hoping the URSO will bring them down

[Hidden]

Hello berg944.

You know I have absolutely no idea what is considered an 'urgent situation' with regards to one having abnormally high LFTs in PBC as it's not been made known to me, it is like top secret!

Mine on getting print-outs off all the bloods I had during 2010 and starting urso Dec 2010 at diagnose they don't look what I would consider abnormally high (one was double the top normal figure range).

My LFTs have bounced down and then back up again over the last 2yrs. I go tomorrow for the LFTs as when I went last week the GP surgery nurse only did the FBC!! This is now the 2nd time it has happened to me in the last 6mths so I don't know what they are doing at the surgery anymore. So until end of the wk I won't know if my LFTs are back on the incline as this time last yr they were back to almost what they were after just starting on urso (Feb 2011 was 1st blood on urso). Then in May last yr., only 3mths on, they had bounced back down again to be on par and two better than my best one May 2011, 6mths on urso). Oct 2012 my bloods were showing another increase and it will look like if they are like Feb 2012 again that mine are going to perhaps go up and down in a sort of seasonal way!

Personally I don't bother, sort of switched off middle last yr. I don't have a very good GP surgery and can't wait to change once I have got these bloods next wk and then a repeat script for urso.

I simply go with how I feel. Yes I still have the itch at night-time as I've always had but it's not as prevalent as it was most of the time these days. I don't get the fatigue like I used to do (but at present only work Saturday and once back in work (I am searching for part-time not exceeding 20hrs per wk. I didn't cease work later 2010 due to how I was feeling, other reasons as in bad job change in 2009)).

[crundalite]

Hi berg 944

In my going on 20 years of taking Urso and being diagnosed with PBC I have found that blood results can vary tremendously. LFT's appear to go up or down whenever I have had ablood test. It may just be yet another peculiar or inexplicable result which appears to be the norm in PBC. Try not to worry. Good luck

[SC49]

mine went up and up for a year while I waited for someone to make a diagnosis. Once i started on the Urso, they started coming down straight away. My GGT never got as high as 600 - I think I got to about 300 but I can't remember

[MoPo]

When I first went to the doctor in 2010 with a pain on my right hand side under my ribs he organised a blood test. He was on the phone at 7.30 a.m. the next morning asking me to visit the surgery urgently and told me he wanted to organise an ultra sound immediately. As I walked back into the house the phone was ringing and it was the hospital. I have to thank him and the hospital for their swift response to my condition.

I was also feeling extremely tired at the time but put this down to the fact that I’d been ill a month or so earlier with severe diarrhoea, a very high temperature a chest infection and rash. Thinking back this may have all been connected to my liver problem.

My Gamma levels were 900 at the time. Since taking URSO my LFTs they have definitely come down in huge numbers. In 2011 the Gamma was down to 89 but it did go up last year to 117.

I have good days and bad days. I am fine if I pace myself - I cannot gallivant the way I used to. My head tells me one thing but my body tells me another.

If I have a day out visiting family or an extended shopping trip or an evening socialising with friends or family it takes me a couple of days to recover so I try to organise myself to rest for those days. Unfortunately this is not always possible; especially for me over Christmas and since Christmas there have been several birthdays and meals out with family with christenings, hen nights and weddings to come!

Christmas was particularly stressful for me as there is so much to do and it led to me taking ill the day after Boxing Day with a chest infection and a virus for which I have not yet fully recovered. At the moment I feel totally exhausted and can’t wait for the spring and some sunshine.

This PBC lark is certainly no fun. Once upon a time I used to dread getting older as I liked to look nice and have a fun filled and active life. I used to walk to work rather than get a bus, walk over 100 stairs rather than get the lift, go to the gym for a few hours three times a week and keep my house in tip top condition and entertain regularly. Now all I wish for is my health. How your priorities change!

[berg944]

6 months on Urso. Gamma GT now down to 90.

[Bonnieanne54]

Twenty five years ago 600

Five years ago 237

Now 180