Gotta go back to the liver clinic monday

thank you honey!! i'll let you know monday what the doc says...

Steph, I hope the clinic gives you some answers. I had some elevated numbers prior to surgery but Dr Murr told me it was not a problem as he routinely removes gallbladder during gastric bypass. We had surgery about the same time and I have not had any elevation post op...hmm I say that today but Monday I see him after several cancellations due to my PS scheduling so I am sure he will be requesting liver functions along with other routine bloodwork. Can you believe its 20 months...we are almost 2 yrs out! Of course I am keeping you in my prayers. Please keep us posted. ~Ginny

thanks ginny! i hope your bloodwork comes out good too!! i was just thinking the other day about how close to 2 years it's been. my hubby can't believe it's been that long. time has flown by so quickly! i'm so happy though...i wouldn't change these past 20 months for anything..not only am i healthier but the surgery is what got my hubby and i back together. keep me posted on how your appt. goes monday.

I've had elevated levels and was just about to go to the gastro probably for a biopsy and my last labs (last ditch test) had 2 of the 3 enzymes back in normal range. The AST and alpha phosphotase are now normal! Yea! But the ALT is 70 which is almost double normal but it's down from what it was so my doc will monitor. Mine have been elevated since early this year. Have you tried milk thistle? It supposedly helps liver function (cleansing of the liver) I've been taking it a couple of months. Whether it is working or not, who knows but my values are much better so I'll keep taking it for sure. Good luck! We'll be thinking of you. Kathy

thanks kathy! i'm glad your levels are down!! i'm sure the ALT will be back to normal in no time also. i have tried the milk thistle and it didn't seem to be working for me. the doc at the clinic said that i can continue to take it but it's not proven that it really works for the liver but it won't hurt it either. ok then! so after that visit i quit using it just to see if the numbers are any different now. and i changed my multivitamin to see if that helps any too. we'll see though. i hope he runs more labs while i'm there...i'm sure he will. thanks again for posting!!

I was taking two 175 mg tablets a day and labs were still up then read that more worked. Upped that to two 600 mg tablets of the milk thistle. Again, I have no clue if it helped or not! LOL! Mystery tablets, eh? I know some long term post-ops who swear if they stop the MT, the liver enzymes jump right back up. I just don't know. Figured it cannot hurt (or so I think). LOL! Good luck!!!! Kathy

thanks kathy...maybe i'll get some more this weekend and trying the larger dosage!!

Hi Stephanie, Oh, I so relate. Mine have been high since the end of March... which was 7 months post-op. They were fine in Feb., then I had a month long low-grade fever and they've been high ever since. I was tested for Hep. A, B, & C in Sept. All negative. Last week Thursday I had more blood drawn for a bunch of auto-immune tests. Still waiting for the results. If they're all negative I'll be having the liver biopsy next. How was that? I'll be tracking what's happening to you as it's now happening to me. By the way... are you having issues of low-blood sugar episodes? I've been having those for the last few months about 2-3 hours after eating - if I didn't get enough protein. Processed carbs in particular do me in. I'm wondering if that has anything to do with the liver enyzmes. The gastro even asked if I experienced dumping syndrome... didn't ask why he asked though. Dawn

Hey there Dawn! Your situation does sound like mine. i've been tested for Hep. several times...all times neg. the liver biopsy wasn't too bad. just a little sore after for awhile. they had a hard time getting mine because my liver sits higher than most and they had to do a ct scan instead of just using the ultrasound to get the view of where to go. my liver is partially under my ribcage. the pathologist who did the biopsy results said that there was damage to the liver but then when i took the slides to this clinic the doc looked at them while i was there and said there was no damage. he was going to have his pathologist look at it. i do have low blood sugar episodes too but not as much lately as i have changed my diet and cut the carbs out again. i'm barely doing fruits and veggies anymore even. i know that's not good but it's working.

I have the same problem. They thought it was mono, but its not...although my sister in law and niece both have mono, and my sister in law's turned out negative the first time. My also turned out negative. So, my other enzymes are okay, but my alkaline phosphatase is high. They were all high last month, over 500, because I was majorly constipated, and that can cause enzymes to be thrown off, and make it go up. I have no idea. I am going tomorrow for a CT scan with contrast to see if I have a partial blockage so that will show up. The partial blockage can make enzymes go up from your intestines. We shall see. I have seen lots of people here who have the same problems, so wonder if the enzymes are thrown off by our bypassed intestines? Do you still have your gallbladder? I had mine out 15 years ago, but that can make it go up too. If you find out something, let me know!!! Curious!! Blessings, hopefully its nothing like we all think here....!!! Deb