HAS ANYONE EXPERIENCED ELEVATED LFTS??
Hi everyone,
Thought I'd throw it out there to see if anyone has experienced what I have ben going through over the past couple of months. I haven't been able to find much info on Gastric bypass patients and elevated LFTs more than a year post op. The year following my WLS my LFTs were low and then all of a sudden 9 mo. out they began to rise and have continued to do so with each set of labs. This past Nov. my PCP suggested that I go off all allergy meds and even vitamins to get a true reading for 2 weeks(all except my iron), i didn't have a drink or take Tylenol either. My blood work in Dec showed the LFTs increased even more. There is no rhyme or reason, I am an occasional drinker maybe a couple of drinks once every other month. I never had a tattoo or hepatitis. My BP is low, I exercise, meet my protein and water intake requirements, I am in the best shape of my life. I am not jaundiced, I do not have pain or discomfort on my right side(left side spams and feels tight sometimes since surgery )Talk about turning your life upside down, my PCP basically scared the **** out of me rushing me for abdominal ultra and then an MRI. I have been in a rut for a few months now and trying to get back on track. I met with a GI specialist two weeks ago and they are sending me for more bloodwork, everything under the sun. I am pretty much an in your face kinda person and i would rather know up front than have someone sugar coat it for me. The specialist was also kinda vague saying let's not worry you are in great health other than this(oh yeah I left out the part about them also finding two hemangiomas on my liver that they said not to worry about unless they get bigger than 5 cm and that they have nothing to do with the LFTs). I had started grazing and eating chocolate peanut bitter cups(no I don't dump). Well I'm done with the grazing and the candy and I am back to training again. i go for my next set of labs next week. Is anyone going through this too? This is mental TORTURE!!!! This is the kinda thing that drives me nuts, not knowing and waiting!!!!! WTF! Nurse Pam any thoughts??
Gina
Thought I'd throw it out there to see if anyone has experienced what I have ben going through over the past couple of months. I haven't been able to find much info on Gastric bypass patients and elevated LFTs more than a year post op. The year following my WLS my LFTs were low and then all of a sudden 9 mo. out they began to rise and have continued to do so with each set of labs. This past Nov. my PCP suggested that I go off all allergy meds and even vitamins to get a true reading for 2 weeks(all except my iron), i didn't have a drink or take Tylenol either. My blood work in Dec showed the LFTs increased even more. There is no rhyme or reason, I am an occasional drinker maybe a couple of drinks once every other month. I never had a tattoo or hepatitis. My BP is low, I exercise, meet my protein and water intake requirements, I am in the best shape of my life. I am not jaundiced, I do not have pain or discomfort on my right side(left side spams and feels tight sometimes since surgery )Talk about turning your life upside down, my PCP basically scared the **** out of me rushing me for abdominal ultra and then an MRI. I have been in a rut for a few months now and trying to get back on track. I met with a GI specialist two weeks ago and they are sending me for more bloodwork, everything under the sun. I am pretty much an in your face kinda person and i would rather know up front than have someone sugar coat it for me. The specialist was also kinda vague saying let's not worry you are in great health other than this(oh yeah I left out the part about them also finding two hemangiomas on my liver that they said not to worry about unless they get bigger than 5 cm and that they have nothing to do with the LFTs). I had started grazing and eating chocolate peanut bitter cups(no I don't dump). Well I'm done with the grazing and the candy and I am back to training again. i go for my next set of labs next week. Is anyone going through this too? This is mental TORTURE!!!! This is the kinda thing that drives me nuts, not knowing and waiting!!!!! WTF! Nurse Pam any thoughts??
Gina
Gina,
I went through this same kind of thing last year. My liver enzymes were elevated - so they sent me for an abdominal ultrasound. The doctor did not like the looks of that test - so I had a cat scan. They told me that they were pretty sure that I had some form of liver cancer. I then had an MRI and saw a gastro doctor and then a surgical oncologist. They told me that I just had a hemangioma. I did some research and found that it seems quite a few people who have WLS end up with elevated liver enzymes. I then began taking milk thistle capsules (you can get at any pharmacy/health food store) twice a day for one month. My liver enzymes were back to normal in one month. I now take it once a day. If you want to discuss further, PM me with your phone number and I will give you a call.
Tammy
I went through this same kind of thing last year. My liver enzymes were elevated - so they sent me for an abdominal ultrasound. The doctor did not like the looks of that test - so I had a cat scan. They told me that they were pretty sure that I had some form of liver cancer. I then had an MRI and saw a gastro doctor and then a surgical oncologist. They told me that I just had a hemangioma. I did some research and found that it seems quite a few people who have WLS end up with elevated liver enzymes. I then began taking milk thistle capsules (you can get at any pharmacy/health food store) twice a day for one month. My liver enzymes were back to normal in one month. I now take it once a day. If you want to discuss further, PM me with your phone number and I will give you a call.
Tammy
I had high LFT's before surgery (in my case it was found to be due to "fatty liver". This was found through ultrasound as well, and confirmed during surgery). The tax on my liver prompted my decision to have wls. My latest LFT's are normal. However, I've done A LOT of research on this topic, and I've learned it is NOT abnormal for the liver to become 'irritated' by dramatic weight-loss, too. When asked, my doctors have said this too, and also assured me the level would most likely stabalize over time... and would be over all healthier due to a more healthy body weight and all that comes with that.
Hope they're right. Maybe you can mention fatty liver disease to your doctor... as it is still a relatively new discovery in the medical field, and there's not a lot of research out there. But it has been confirmed that obesity is a definite cause of fat cells infiltrating organs (liver included). And if my docs are right, hopefully your LFT's are just a temporary effect of the dramatic weight loss! Best wishes :)
Hope they're right. Maybe you can mention fatty liver disease to your doctor... as it is still a relatively new discovery in the medical field, and there's not a lot of research out there. But it has been confirmed that obesity is a definite cause of fat cells infiltrating organs (liver included). And if my docs are right, hopefully your LFT's are just a temporary effect of the dramatic weight loss! Best wishes :)
"If you want something bad enough, you'll find it.
If you don't, you'll find excuses."
Oh and please discuss taking any herbal remedies with your doctor.
Such substances are unmonitored by the FDA... and our new digestive systems just might respond differently from someone elses... even others who've had wls.
Such substances are unmonitored by the FDA... and our new digestive systems just might respond differently from someone elses... even others who've had wls.
"If you want something bad enough, you'll find it.
If you don't, you'll find excuses."
(deactivated member)
on 6/17/13 3:32 am - corsicana, TX
on 6/17/13 3:32 am - corsicana, TX
Hormone Therapy
Research has shown that steroid and estrogen therapy
as well as pregnancy can exacerbate the growth of preexisting liver hemangiomas. While the exact mechanism by which hormones influence the growth of hemangioma is not known, pregnancy and estrogen-based medications can cause liver hemangiomas to grow.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/171899-what-causes-a-liver -hemangioma/#ixzz2WUmDuvNbI also have gone trough this,today I found out I have 2 begian hemangiome still getting bioaspy but dr. says all is good.Dont worry about this
I think Tammy is probably the best one for you talk to about this as it seems fairly similar to what she has been going through.
There are many things that have no medical answers....and you are right...it's mental torture and horrible on us emotionally when we find something "odd" and don't know why or how or when or whatever.
Just as an aside...jaundice is generally a later sign of liver problems...so I would hope that you would NOT notice the jaundice before you have any sort of answers.
Good luck, and please please please keep us posted.
Pam
There are many things that have no medical answers....and you are right...it's mental torture and horrible on us emotionally when we find something "odd" and don't know why or how or when or whatever.
Just as an aside...jaundice is generally a later sign of liver problems...so I would hope that you would NOT notice the jaundice before you have any sort of answers.
Good luck, and please please please keep us posted.
Pam
Instead of complaining that the rosebush has thorns, be happy that the thorn bush has roses. 
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