Question:
Has anyone had blood work come back with elevated liver function?

Good morning? Last week I went to by family doctor for my yearly physical. Everything went perfect, all my blood work came back great with the exception of liver function enzymes, so I have to repeat my blood work because it showed I had elevated liver function. Has this happened to anyone else? Is this something that I should be extremely worried about? I am a little rattled by this today. Thanks Molly    — Molly F. (posted on May 12, 2004)

May 12, 2004
Hi Molly! Don't let it rattle you. I had the same thing just a few weeks ago. My PCP did my blood work and called to tell me that my liver enzymes were high. I was really worried..then, I called my surgeon's office a few days later, and wasn't at all concerned about my liver....said only one enzyme was a little elevated. He was more concerned about my B-12 being too high! My PCP wants to test my liver levels again in a month, but my surgeon wasn't concerned. Don't let it worry you! I am sure you will be fine! Keep your chin up!! Andria OPEN RNY - 03/24/03 296/162/150
   — Andria T.

May 12, 2004
My AST and ALT came back barely out of the normal range on the high side on my 6 month labs. Before my 9 month labs, I greatly increased my water intake and was more dilligent about getting in my protein and supplements. My 9 month labs were better - still a little high (very little - just a point or 2 up) but my surgeon hasn't seem concerned. My PCP faxes him a copy and he signs off on them and mails me a copy with any recommendations he might have (last time was to increase Iron and add B-complex). I didn't look at your profile to see how far post-op you are (assuming you are a postie) and you didn't specify how high they were. I don't know what the long-term problems could be but at least your family doc is checking it and keeping an eye on it which is more than some do. I'm sure if it becomes something to really worry about, he'll let you know. Good Luck
   — Carolyn M.

May 12, 2004
Molly Where there is fatty liver, the enzymes will often be elevated. This is a very common condition in the obese that improves with weight loss. ( you didnt mention if and when you had WLS) Liver enzymes can also be elevated due to recent illness etc. Don't let this frazzle you. Most times its completly benign.
   — Barbara F.

May 12, 2004
I haven't had elevated liver enzymes, but many people on the Grad & Protein lists have, and milk thistle seems to work wonders.
   — Leslie F.

May 12, 2004
I have had this happen on several occasions. Every time it has been related to the medication I was taking. Especially cholesterol lowering medication. Check with your Dr. to see whether this could be happening. High readings can and most of the time is just a warning that something is irritating your liver. Most of the time can be corrected with the removal of the medication which is irritating your liver. Make sure you work closely with your Dr. Hugs;
   — Barbara S.

May 12, 2004
Ditto what the other posters said. My liver enzymes were elevated for almost a year, starting at around the six-month post-op mark. They're almost back into the normal range now. Milk thistle may help (I wasn't so good at taking it consistently), but when I checked the AMOS Library, I found similar explanations.
   — Suzy C.

May 12, 2004
You wouldn't happen to be tired all the time would you?? Another cause of elevated liver enzymes would be due to mono!! It causes the liver function to go way out of whack. Most doctors don't check for mono after your post-op since they assume it's probably a B-12 defiency.
   — Patty H.

May 12, 2004
At my one year post-op lab work on 4/04, my liver enzymes came back slightly elevated. Thew surgeon wasn't concerned, the family doctor wanted me to stop all vitamins, minerals and repeat. The tests were repeated in three weeks--and just came back even higher. Now they will be repeated in another 3 weeks. This is driving me crazy. I guess I will contact the surgeon to see what she says.
   — Margaret S.