GULP!

Brandy called me last week and said that my blood levels came back high and they need to do an ultrasound on my liver.  I am kinda freaking out here. I've only got one liver. Gulp. Does anyone know what this could mean? Or did anyone else have to get an ultrasound on their liver? They set it up @ my local hospital. I can't eat or drink anything after midnight tomorrow. I have to show up @ 8. I am not nervous about the appointment because its just an ultrasound.. I am just nervous about the results. Becky

When you say your blood levels came up do you mean your liver enzymes?  If you still have your gallbladder, chances are your liver function tests are elevated because you have sludge or stones in your gallbladder.  If this is the case, it could work out to your benefit if you are cash pay because the surgeon MAY be able to finagle a way where a portion of you surgery is paid for if you need to have a gallbladder removed.  If you are looking at doing a sleeve, they will be able to do that at the same time.   Otherwise, there can be a lot of reasons your LFT's are elevated.  The most common cause in the obese population is due to either stones or sludge in the gallbladder, or just a fatty liver due to high cholesterol.  Either way I would not be too concerned at this point.  I hope this helps and good luck! 

Oh yea, and also certain medications can make your liver function tests mildly elevated (certain anti-inflammatories, cholesterol meds, etc...) I had elevated LFT's a year ago and had slight sludge in my gallbladder on ultrasound. Two weeks ago I did a second study called a HIDA scan which looks at the functionality of your gallbladder (how well it contracts and empties) and repeated my labs which all turned out normal so it could all just be a fluke thing anyway.  Good luck!

I had my gallblader removed in 1999 and I am on no medications.  I had my cholesterol checked out last year and it was fine. Gulp. What now... Thanks for the advice though.. I am trying not to worry about it.. but you know how medical stuff is. SCARY. Becky

My doctor told me that GP patients will always have a somewhat elevated liver enzyme level.

AB

I don't remember having an ultrasound on my liver, but I'm sure it's a precaution they need to do.  Don't get too worked up about it.  It probably would have been nice if they would have said which blood results came back high though.  I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Becky, It is not uncommon for obese people to have increased liver enzymes. Same thing happened to me and I also had the ultra sound. Diagnosis=Fatty liver. Relax and take a deep breath. It's all okay.

Becky - due to obesity, my liver enzymes were also elevated...once you are done with the pre-op diet, they will be back to normal. Don't worry. -Anna

Taking Tylenol can also raise your blood levels, so be aware of that too. I used to take Tylenol everyday for headaches and my tests came back high....After quiting that, it dropped right down.

I'll be praying and thinking about you as you undergo the ultrasound...  Keep us posted on what you find out. Dot