ELEVATED LIVER ENZYMES

Has anyone experienced having elevated liver enzymes? I have been getting blood work since April to check out liver...every 3 wks. Not sure why they keep climbing - stopped all meds this weekend and have GI appt to see what's going on. Was taking Prevera, which I understand can cause probs. Feel I have to get this check prior to surgery on 8/19/03 - hope it does not cause delay.

Yep.. that's me. I had elevated LFT's for 2 years now and my PCP sent me to a GI specialist "just to make sure" and short of doing a biopsy, their diagnosis was "fatty liver" - this is quite common in obese patients. I had monthly bloodwork and mine kept climbing as well and I wasn't on any drugs. I was quite worried about it until they did an ultrasound and said probably fatty liver. Fatty liver in and of itself is not necessarily harmful, but it is indicative of a bigger (literally and figuratively) problem elsewhere, like being obese. My LFT's did not cause a delay with my surgeon or insurance company... but they may want to do an ultra sound to follow up. I was advised NOT to take Tylenol for now. If you can avoid Tylenol and alcohol for the meantime it will help. Good luck and don't worry too much until they get a diagnosis. GVJ

I had elevated liver enzymes and it was diagnosed that I had cirrhosis from fatty liver. This was diagnosed after a biopsy. None of this kept me from having WLS - actually, it was one of my major comorbidities. Now, 8 months post op, my liver enzymes are normal. Guess I'll always have the scarring from the cirrhosis, but my liver seems to be doing much better, as well as the resultant diabetes! Linda in FL

Just got off phone with GI and he said that instead of me postponing the surgery that it would be beneifical for the surgeon to follow up and go ahead and do a biopsy while he is in for the surgery instead - no need to go to see GI too.