GP 'needs to discuss liver function results'

[Mamabear14]

For a few months I've been having pain around my rig to ovary/belly button area. I am due a pelvic scan next month. I have also been having sharp upper abdominal pain when standing.
I had my thyroid/full blood count/coeliac/liver blood tests done Monday and this is what I've been told on ringing for the results.
Apparently all others are satisfactory but he needs to discuss that one with me, does anyone know why? I thought liver was for drinkers and I've had a handful of drinks in about 2 years! I've never really been a drinker before that either.
I did have my gallbladder out in 2010 so I don't know if that could be anything? Just slightly worried and googling brings up hepititas or alcoholism!

[Mamabear14]

*right not rig to

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Try not to worry. Get your appointment with the doctor to discuss it - and stay OFF Google, please! You'll just wind yourself up into knots and the information is useless without context or actual facts of your results.

Get your appointment sorted then put it out of your head until then, if you can.

[EBearhug]

Alcohol isn't the only thing which can affect the liver! None of us will know what your results say, so you need to make that appointment. Hopefully it will be something minor and easily sorted. Good luck!

[TittyGolightly]

I don't drink but went through a phase of losing a lot of hair. I suspected low iron, but one of my liver function tests was off the scale. Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is really common in the west - de to all the sugar in our diets. LOts of non-overweight people have it. I ditched carbs and sugar and brought it down to nornal in a matter of weeks.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

EBearhug makes a very good point. I had liver function tests when I had to have dizzy tablets for vertigo over quite a long period of time. That was just to check that they weren't impacting on my liver. Perhaps it's something like that?

[waterlego6064]

Yes, try not to worry. Are you on any medication at all? There are a number of medicines which can affect liver function, including some antibiotics, acne medicines, statins and some anti-inflammatories.

[MoMandaS]

DH had similar pain on and off for a long time. Had liver function test as part of routine check for some medication he has and the results showed elevated ALS (i think that's what it was, some enzyme or other) levels. Repeated the test a few weeks later and they were even higher! But the next one showed really low levels. If you have a virus or other seemingly minor illness, it can affect the liver and that's what happened with him - he'd had tonsillitis. Taking lots of painkillers can also affect results. We think the pain he experiences intermittently might be a result of the liver's processing issue, which itself is a result of something else, if you see what I mean. So not necessarily anything to worry about.

[Mamabear14]

I will stay off google til I can speak to him, typically it's his day off so I have to wait.
Only on the contraceptive pill. I am about a stone overweight, that I'm having trouble shifting which is what prompted the thyroid test I think. I will definitely look into cutting back carbs and sugar if it will help too!
Thank you all, the doctors receptionist was made me rather paranoid when she refused to discuss any of it or even what it was. She just said 'something's come back on it' which is helpful!

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Mamabear, that's really awful. I would make sure that the doctor knows that this is how their reception staff are letting patients know that there's a need for a follow-up appointment.

She could have said, "Doctor would like to see you about your results. When could you come in?". And if pressed by you, "I'm really sorry, Mamabear but only the doctor is allowed to discuss the results with you. Try not to worry. Let's make the appointment...".

My doctor's receptionists are generally very kindly; there are one or two not so much but on the whole, very helpful.

[TittyGolightly]

It was my ALT reading that was off the chart.

[Mamabear14]

I will certainly mention to the GP that the receptionist wasn't great. Not very reassuring definitely!

[nannybeach]

Oh, the horrors of the GP receptionist, ours always starts with its nothing to worry about, (still do) you can have fatty liver, from eating huge amounts of fatty food, not necessarily booze related. good luck anyway.

[Pleasemrstweedie]

ALT can be high in un- or under-treated hypothyroidism. Just how ‘normal’ was your thyroid result?

[Mamabear14]

She didn't say, she literally said 'satisfactory' for all things apart from that one.

[TittyGolightly]

you can have fatty liver, from eating huge amounts of fatty food,

It's not fatty food. It's a combination of sugar and fat. Low carb is recommended for fatty liver disease. ;)

[TwitterQueen1]

You can't blame the receptionist. it is not her (or his) job to tell you about the results - only what they are. He / She won't know what they mean anyway and it would be wrong of him/her to offer any kind of reassurance or opinion on what the results may or not mean.

Good luck with the results and the appt. And try not to panic.

[nannybeach]

Look up Britiish Liver Society, my DH has this never been told to go low carb, some liver fat inevituable with age. Morgan Surlock, and Michael Mosely have done extreme high fat diets, and got seriously bad liver function in as little as a week, just to prove a point, not saying this is the case,let us know how you get on.

[BeautyGoesToBenidorm]

Low carb is recommended for fatty liver disease. ;)

Not by hepatologists, it's not. Most forms of liver disease, right up to cirrhosis, respond best to a low fat diet including lean protein and complex carbs, to provide energy as the liver struggles to function. A compromised liver doesn't need the extra work of trying to break down surplus fats, particularly when it's already trying to rid itself of fat that has already accumulated.

[BeautyGoesToBenidorm]

From the British Liver Trust's dietary information sheet, for treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease:

Non alcohol related liver disease is a term for a wide range of conditions in which there is a build-up of fat in the liver cells of people who do not drink alcohol excessively. Initially the fat deposits may not be associated with any symptoms, however, in some people this may progress to inflammation – non alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which may in turn lead to scarring and cirrhosis.

You are more likely to develop a fatty liver if you:

are overweight or obese, particularly if you put on weight around your middle (apple shaped)
have high blood cholesterol
have diabetes
have been diagnosed with insulin resistance (where your body does not respond to insulin as it should).


If you have a fatty liver you may be advised to make changes to your diet and life-style including:

cutting out or down on alcohol (remember, alcoholic drinks are often high in calories
taking regular exercise, such as walking or swimming
eating plenty of fruit and vegetables
eating slow-release starchy foods, such as bread and potatoes
avoiding refined sugars and saturated fats – as in chocolate, cakes and biscuits.

if necessary, slowly reducing your weight to a healthy level for your build and age, and keeping it there.

If you are diabetic, then it is important to work with your doctor to keep your blood sugar levels under good control. If your blood cholesterol is high or you are insulin resistant, you may be prescribed medication as well given dietary advice.

[Mamabear14]

I had a chat with him today, still none the wiser really. He did ask if I had put any weight on recently and I haven't. I'm still carrying the 1.5stone of baby weight and I'm really struggling to get it off. I was an ok weight before so I am apparently 1st 8lb overweight by BMI. He said it needs to be repeated in 2 weeks and then if it's still elevated we will go from there. It's apprentky not crazy high, but high.
The rest of my results were 'boringly normal' so that's something at least!
Thank you for all your help, I'll read through about diets for fatty liver just in case. I eat pretty healthily but I do like the occasional bit of cake and there's always room for improvement.

[BeautyGoesToBenidorm]

You're probably just fine, Mamabear - liver enzymes can elevate for hundreds of different reasons, it doesn't necessarily mean your liver itself is the issue.

Make sure you keep us updated

[Mamabear14]

Had the results from my repeat bloods today. The GP who checked them said I need to have a chat with my own GP regarding my results as my liver function and protein levels have come back abnormal. He is on holiday til the end of next week though so they don't seem too concerned. Does that indicate the fatty liver thing or something else?