Elevated liver enzymes???

[DLgal]

I'm sure if you have been taking acetaminophen regularly for decades and your liver enzymes are now up, your doctor will address that risk factor with you when the full numbers come back.

I am afraid of what the solution would be though. I can't function with the headaches. Not taking meds for them isn't an option.

 

[mom2rtk]

I am afraid of what the solution would be though. I can't function with the headaches. Not taking meds for them isn't an option.

It's complicated for sure. My best friend has liver issues and her choices are very limited.

Please be careful though and take what the doctor says about it seriously. I'd hate to see you have to deal with everything my friend has dealt with recently.

 

[lifesavacation]

I am afraid of what the solution would be though. I can't function with the headaches. Not taking meds for them isn't an option.

On our last trip to Disney, my son’s girlfriend got hepatitis from a combo of food poisoning (airport) and CMV (Disney). Her ALT and AST were both over 800. She was having migraines and they were able to give her medication.

 

[Lehuaann]

I am afraid of what the solution would be though. I can't function with the headaches. Not taking meds for them isn't an option.

You sound like you need to see a neurologist. I just started seeing one a few months ago, and he performed his own testing/blood work beyond what my internist ordered.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am afraid of what the solution would be though. I can't function with the headaches. Not taking meds for them isn't an option.

Don't be afraid! It is a huge PITA to have to deal with this stuff. We all have issues in my family with it.

Here is one for you. My 21yodd who was having medical problems & sitting out of college because of it, FINALLY got her lipid panel results a few months ago. Drum roll..cholesterol 990 Triglycerides 4905

My dd was having pancreas pain and on the verge of pancreatitis!

I flipped out for sure and call my cardiologist. He got her in and her internist put her on TRICOR immediately.
Her numbers have dropped but they are still way too high. She is feeling better and can go back to school.

She has other health issues as well that we are exploring. She is on syntheroid, for thyroid? She also may have an autoimmune disorder.

 

[DLgal]

You sound like you need to see a neurologist. I just started seeing one a few months ago, and he performed his own testing/blood work beyond what my internist ordered.

I have had NO luck with neurologists...

I do have Imitrex that I can take but Aleve actually works better for me. I have tried many preventatives including Topamax and Elavil, but they didn't make much difference and the side effects were bothersome.

I basically have over reactive vessels in my head and LOTS of triggers so I have some sort of head pain at least once per day (not always something I need meds for though).

 

[DLgal]

Don't be afraid! It is a huge PITA to have to deal with this stuff. We all have issues in my family with it.

Here is one for you. My 21yodd who was having medical problems & sitting out of college because of it, FINALLY got her lipid panel results a few months ago. Drum roll..cholesterol 990 Triglycerides 4905

My dd was having pancreas pain and on the verge of pancreatitis!

I flipped out for sure and call my cardiologist. He got her in and her internist put her on TRICOR immediately.
Her numbers have dropped but they are still way too high. She is feeling better and can go back to school.

She has other health issues as well that we are exploring. She is on syntheroid, for thyroid? She also may have an autoimmune disorder.

Yikes! That is crazy! I didn't know those numbers could go that high.

 

[DLgal]

So, I got my numbers

ALT 84 (normal range is 10-49)
AST 49 (normal is less than 40)
ALP (normal)
Bilirubin 0.7 (normal)


My cholesterol has gone up quite a bit from last year. It is now 200 (HDL 67; LDL 111). Last year it was 153. Yikes! Maybe I need to look more closely at my diet and try and lose some weight. My ALT last year was 24 and AST was 21.

 

[maxaroni]

Don't be afraid! It is a huge PITA to have to deal with this stuff. We all have issues in my family with it.

Here is one for you. My 21yodd who was having medical problems & sitting out of college because of it, FINALLY got her lipid panel results a few months ago. Drum roll..cholesterol 990 Triglycerides 4905

My dd was having pancreas pain and on the verge of pancreatitis!

I flipped out for sure and call my cardiologist. He got her in and her internist put her on TRICOR immediately.
Her numbers have dropped but they are still way too high. She is feeling better and can go back to school.

She has other health issues as well that we are exploring. She is on syntheroid, for thyroid? She also may have an autoimmune disorder.

Oh my, that is a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone a 21 yr old. Hoping she gets all results and continues to feel a bit better each day.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Don't be afraid! It is a huge PITA to have to deal with this stuff. We all have issues in my family with it.

Here is one for you. My 21yodd who was having medical problems & sitting out of college because of it, FINALLY got her lipid panel results a few months ago. Drum roll..cholesterol 990 Triglycerides 4905

My dd was having pancreas pain and on the verge of pancreatitis!

I flipped out for sure and call my cardiologist. He got her in and her internist put her on TRICOR immediately.
Her numbers have dropped but they are still way too high. She is feeling better and can go back to school.

She has other health issues as well that we are exploring. She is on syntheroid, for thyroid? She also may have an autoimmune disorder.

Holy crap.

So, I got my numbers

ALT 84 (normal range is 10-49)
AST 49 (normal is less than 40)
ALP (normal)
Bilirubin 0.7 (normal)


My cholesterol has gone up quite a bit from last year. It is now 200 (HDL 67; LDL 111). Last year it was 153. Yikes! Maybe I need to look more closely at my diet and try and lose some weight. My ALT last year was 24 and AST was 21.

These seem like they're better.

Mine were out of whack after I was taking a lot of acetaminophen (tylenol) for severe pain prior to my surgery. I really never took much tylenol before that, but I was desperate. My doctor kept quizzing me about alcohol use (I rarely drink) and possible hepatitis, but it wasn't from anything like that. I kept telling her it had to be from the meds. We followed the numbers and they slowly downtrended after my surgery when I was no longer taking it anymore.

My DH has been taking tylenol over the past couple of weeks and I'm a little worried to see what his LFTs are going to look like.

I have seen some very bad cases of liver damage when someone tried to OD on tylenol. Not good.

Ronandannette, we have a lot of people come in with heart attacks who've had very high lipid numbers but refused statins. One of the first things that happens is they go on a statin. A big one! (80mg!) Or something else to help lower their numbers. Just wanted to throw that out there. I haven't seen anyone refuse yet. Having a heart attack is pretty sobering. I'm not a huge fan of statins myself, but numbers need to be controlled. Family history and other factors also play a big part.

 

[goofyernmost]

Would you mind mentioning what type of diet modifications have this result? At my last physical my Dr. mentioned I have a "slightly" fatty liver but didn't say anything about liver enzymes. I've got another round of blood-work scheduled and we will talk then about recommendations. I'm curious to know what I could be in for. (I also have very high LDL for which I've declined statins - not sure if that has anything to do with the liver issue.)

Years ago my Doctor was scanning my blood results and looked at me and said... You have a fatty liver, you need to do something about that. He never said what to do, just to do something. I did nothing.. this was before the mind boggling information that is now available online. It was never mentioned again for a couple of years, then at a physical he said.. Hmmm, your liver looks OK now. Nothing has been said about it since then and I have had plenty of opportunities to have it noticed. I'm talking 20 years ago this was mentioned.

 

[DawnM]

I have not really had my liver checked in a while. I have a fatty liver. This thread is helping me re-think about it and what i need to do, like get it checked and get back to losing weight.

 

[ronandannette]

Ronandannette, we have a lot of people come in with heart attacks who've had very high lipid numbers but refused statins. One of the first things that happens is they go on a statin. A big one! (80mg!) Or something else to help lower their numbers. Just wanted to throw that out there. I haven't seen anyone refuse yet. Having a heart attack is pretty sobering. I'm not a huge fan of statins myself, but numbers need to be controlled. Family history and other factors also play a big part.

What might the "something else" be? I've just been through another physical where my Dr. insisted on writing an prescription for Crestor, after I've flat-out told him I won't take it. I've tried Crestor, really tried, 3 times already. Don't know what it did for my cholesterol but within a week every bone in my body aches and within a month I'm so brain-foggy it's intolerable. Both symptoms clear up pretty quickly after I stop. I just simply can't deal with the side effects and I've informed my doctor. Never has an alternate therapy been offered. Google is full of Crestor horror stories but also doesn't turn up any clear alternative, except I've read a bit about niacin.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What might the "something else" be? I've just been through another physical where my Dr. insisted on writing an prescription for Crestor, after I've flat-out told him I won't take it. I've tried Crestor, really tried, 3 times already. Don't know what it did for my cholesterol but within a week every bone in my body aches and within a month I'm so brain-foggy it's intolerable. Both symptoms clear up pretty quickly after I stop. I just simply can't deal with the side effects and I've informed my doctor. Never has an alternate therapy been offered. Google is full of Crestor horror stories but also doesn't turn up any clear alternative, except I've read a bit our niacin.

Fish oil and a different statin. Crestor is notorious for that.

Second, see cardiologist. Let them do your statins, not your PCP. I go to a lipid clinic that my cardiologist has with his practice.

They really get down and dirty with your lipids and help you.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Holy crap.

Yea. I was in shock for a week after those numbers.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Years ago my Doctor was scanning my blood results and looked at me and said... You have a fatty liver, you need to do something about that. He never said what to do, just to do something. I did nothing.. this was before the mind boggling information that is now available online. It was never mentioned again for a couple of years, then at a physical he said.. Hmmm, your liver looks OK now. Nothing has been said about it since then and I have had plenty of opportunities to have it noticed. I'm talking 20 years ago this was mentioned.

I have not really had my liver checked in a while. I have a fatty liver. This thread is helping me re-think about it and what i need to do, like get it checked and get back to losing weight.

You have to lose weight. I mean, you have to get skinny. It FREAKING SUCKS.

I am down 12lbs. I have 20 to go. I am getting my blood draw this week, so we will see how much it changed.

My liver ducts are inflamed and my liver is inflamed. I had a CAT and a MRI last yr. That was ugly info for me. I have to get serious about it now.

 

[ronandannette]

Fish oil and a different statin. Crestor is notorious for that.

Second, see cardiologist. Let them do your statins, not your PCP. I go to a lipid clinic that my cardiologist has with his practice.

They really get down and dirty with your lipids and help you.

I'm not against a drug therapy of some kind, just not willing to lose what little mental acuity I have left to Crestor (I'm in menopause, so I don't have a lot to spare right now ). Doc did mention omega fish oils, and I'm definitely willing to try that. As for a cardiologist, well, in our heath system specialists are accessed by referral only. I can't just call up a cardiologist and make an appointment. I have seen one previously and had a full range of stress and non-stress tests including the one with the radioactive tracer, ekg's and a heart ultrasound. Heart function was completely normal and the only recommendation was to take Crestor.

 

[mom2rtk]

All of you reconsidering your "fatty liver" issues, please do it. My friend was told she had a "fatty liver" for a long time and nobody really went much past that with her. Now she's having serious issues.

 

[ronandannette]

You have to lose weight. I mean, you have to get skinny. It FREAKING SUCKS.

I am down 12lbs. I have 20 to go. I am getting my blood draw this week, so we will see how much it changed.

My liver ducts are inflamed and my liver is inflamed. I had a CAT and a MRI last yr. That was ugly info for me. I have to get serious about it now.

Yes...my Dr. is getting hysterical about that with me too. Hurtful words like "obese" are being thrown around . I'm a size 10 - who knew? But like you I've been ordered to drop 25lbs immediately.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm not against a drug therapy of some kind, just not willing to lose what little mental acuity I have left to Crestor (I'm in menopause, so I don't have a lot to spare right now ). Doc did mention omega fish oils, and I'm definitely willing to try that. As for a cardiologist, well, in our heath system specialists are accessed by referral only. I can't just call up a cardiologist and make an appointment. I have seen one previously and had a full range of stress and non-stress tests including the one with the radioactive tracer, ekg's and a heart ultrasound. Heart function was completely normal and the only recommendation was to take Crestor.

Fish oil will hit those triglycerides like a rocket. Knowing what I know now, everyone should take fish oil.It is unbelievable how much it can help.

I am on a low dose statin, Lipitor. No issues.