Elevated Liver Enyzmes

Who has 'em? What is your doc doing about 'em? I've had them rechecked and checked and checked again. They fluctuate. CT scan (while they were elevated) was fine. Ultrasound was fine too. Regular doc wants me to see gastroenterologist for it. I'd hate to have to go through a biopsy when I know this is something that happens to post-ops. Kathy

Hey Kathy, I had them about 6 months ago but my doctor said come back in 2 months and do the tests again and when I did they were back down. I must have eaten or taken something in a period before that which caused the evelation. Perhaps you should request a retest first? CathyA

Hey, Cath! They have been checked and rechecked over the past months. Still elevated. Looks like I'm headed to the gastro... Thanks, Kathy

i have them. my pcp sent me to a gastroenterologist. he ran more tests and did a liver biopsy. that came back with non specific injury to the liver and fatty liver. he said just come back in 3 months a do more labs to see if your numbers go down....nope they went up! soooo...i have to go to a liver clinic at st. louis university on the 14th to have the experts try and figure it out. i can let you know when i find out something there if you'd like... i will tell you though the gastro said doing the biopsy is the easiest quickest way to find out if something is wrong because you don't want to waste too much time messing around with the liver. the biopsy wasn't bad at all. i was more scared of doing it than it was worth...really not bad at all. and they couldn't do mine with the ultrasound like they normally do they had to use a CT scan to do mine cuz my liver is too high up under my ribcage.

Thanks, Stephanie! I'll call and make my appointment. Better to know that it's nothing serious. Keep me posted on what you find out! Kathy

Liver enzymes DO fluctuate. A liver biopsy is the only way to assess the status of your liver. Normal is in the teens and 20's because the usual lab range includes averaging in people with liver disease. Avoid smoking and second hand smoke, all alcohol and check the medications you are taking. Many prescription meds, herbs and some supplements can be hard on an already vulnerable liver. The liver of an obese, or formerly obese person is fragile due to a condition called NA**** is more than fatty liver. It can be cirrhosis and serious liver disease. I went through liver failure as a result of my revision and learned a lot about this---the hard way. A month in the hospital, TPN, and five (yup, five!) liver biopsies later and I'm here to say that it is something to take seriously. Also be sure to be tested for hep A, B, and most of all, C. tee

I"ll have to check on my lab work but I think it was fine immediately after surgery but has been raised since early this year since my parathyroid/thyroid surgery. I've had it checked and rechecked. Had my scans too. Oh, I know it is serious. No smoke, no alcohol, no meds... just regular vitamins here. I've taken tylenol 3 times in a year for a headache. Thanks for the head's up!! Appreciate it. Kathy

I am aboout to have my thyroid out (2 weeks) Any advice/experiences you would care to offer? tee

The reason for my neck surgery was to remove one of my parathyroid glands. I had an adenoma (tumor). Had it long before WLS and it was causing havoc with my calcium levels and bone density as if adding WLS doesn't mess those up as well. I had a nodule on my thyroid which was benign (had a needle biopsy before hand) but my surgeon opted to removed half my thyroid since scar tissue would make it harder to remove later. Surgery went easily. Was hospitalized overnight. Reason is that your trachea can swell so they are very cautious. Also your calcium levels (and this is true of you too) can take a big dive and that can cause major symptoms like cramps in feet and hands, cramps around your mouth. The doctor will be having them draw blood from you periodically overnight to check on your calcium levels. My remaining half a thyroid kicked in and I do not have to take any meds. Also my remaining 3 parathyroid glands which were basically sleeping becuase the one with the tumor was working overtime constantly also recovered very well and my lab values were back to normal very fast. I was very lucky all the way around. With a thyroidectomy, you'll be put on meds right away. It is best, I believe, taken as soon as you get up in the morning. Do not eat for 1/2 an hour after it at the earliest. Do not take your vitamins near your thyroid meds either. Leave a few hours especially iron. Also when you are on thyroid meds, I think you have to avoid soy products since it can mess with your thyroid hormone levels. One gal at my gym just had her thyroid removed a month or two ago. She feels so much better now being on the meds. Her constant fatigue is gone. Good luck, Kathy

I had one thyroid gland out almost a year before surgery. I had a growing cyst that they were not sure was cancer. So they took it out and biopshy was binine so the left the other side of my thyroid in tact. Had an awful looking scar on my neck which today you can not even see. Overnight in hospital (not even 24 hours). No pain just discomfort. I have to take a very small dose of synthroid as a result. It was pretty easy. I know many who have had the surgery and say the same that it was a pretty simple surgery. As a matter of fact like many surgeries once you know what the scar looks like you notice many have had there thyroid out. Good luck w/ your surgery. I also have elevated liver enzymes and all they keep saying is lets see what happens in 3 months. I think it might be from taking cholesterol meds. I am trying milk thistle to see if that will make a difference. Have you heard of this changing anything? I hope I do not have to go threw the whole biopsy thing however my numbers have always been almost double of what the norm level is? Will just have to see what happens I guess. Pam I