Very high ALT level 174/184 Liver

[saggybaps]

Could anyone offer any advise?
I had a load of general blood tests done a couple of weeks ago, I was told one wasn’t quite right and they’d like to do it again. They took my blood at 10am this morning (Christmas Eve) at 5.30pm I had a call from the surgery regarding my liver test results and asking if I was feeling ok...

It turns out my ALT result was 174 or 184. Which is seemingly pretty high. I was sat with the kids watching Paddington and feel like I’ve had a bomb dropped on me. I am literally freaking out. I feel sick and faint and have had to take a couple of diazepam to calm down.

I’ve more blood tests booked for the 29th and the doctor has requested a liver ultrasound at the hospital.

Can anyone please offer any advise on what this could be? Have you had a similar result?

I am absolutely shitting myself and 100% this has ruined Christmas.

Just to add. I don’t really drink, but did have 2/3 of a bottle of wine 2 weeks ago and felt terrible for 3 days.

[Grenola]

Sorry no advice, but I also had an elevated level but much lower than yours which was 42. I was advised to have the repeated. Told that it could be fatty liver.

I did some research and found that it elevates due to an increase in anzymes which can be linked to gallstones.

[saggybaps]

Thank-you @Grenola for your reply. Couldn’t have come at a worse time. Hoping it’s gallstones! Feeling really sick today + diarrhoea. ☹️

[Grenola]

Your symptoms are prob exasperated by worry and anxiety.
When are you seeing the doc?

[hennipenni]

I’ve also just been through this with my levels being 70 on two separate occasions a month apart.
Just had an abdominal scan including my liver etc and nothing was detected.
I also developed nausea, diarrhoea and stomach pains whilst waiting for my scan which miraculously cleared up when I got the all clear!

[myfatiguehastiredness]

Hi. This is me and has been for some time 3 years! When the locum phoned me with results she pretty much insisted that I was an alcoholic despite my protestations that I drink very little. Went for untrasound and a blob was found on my liver. Because I'd been through breast cancer, they did an ultrasound with contrast. I had a few minutes of oh shitness while they all stood muttering to each other but it is just a random liver blob. Levels continue to fluctuate from high to very high. Had CT scan under contrast and again, just a blob - everything working fine. It is possibly linked to the hormone suppression tabs I take due to cancer or I have always had a liver blob. I do have fatigue very easily now and have to pace myself. I also have to watch what I drink - beer isn't good and makes me feel quite poorly. I drank more yesterthan normal - two glasses of white, tiny bottle of proseco spread across the day so will probs be good today otherwise fatigue will hit. Eat lots of foliate veg, drink loads of water. There is a condition called fatty liver and lots of people have that. Just got to be healthier in food choices and just moderate stuff. Oncologist agreed with me that if blob was something nasty, I would be dead or very ill by now so guess the high levels are just something I have to live with. Anxiety and fatigue deffo play a role.

[saggybaps]

Thank-you Thank-you Thank-you for you replies.

I am absolutely knackered and I’m sure you’re right @Grenola @hennipenni, the diarrhoea is caused by anxiety + the nausea. Further blood tests on the 29th and meet with GP to discuss on 31st, which was already booked in.
I only went in for a hormone test to see if I was starting menopause!!

I keep reading that people’s reading are 70-100, mine is 174... but I guess if something was seriously wrong I would have other more severe symptoms by now?
I am fat 13st 8 and only 5ft 3. I’m literally praying it’s fatty liver or gallstones. I’m on a mission to shift the blubber now too. I’m a veggie, but a crap one, eating carbs cheese and more carbs.

@myfatiguehastiredness
What were your ALT levels like? I think your right, I’ve abused my body so now it’s time for a life-style change.

[Wildernesstips]

@saggybaps I have ALT of 176 and am also booked for an ultrasound next week and a repeat of bloods early Jan. I cut my wine intake right down and have my fingers crossed it will have a positive effect.

I would love to know how you get on.

[chaosisaladder]

I had this two years ago at Christmas. My ALT levels were similar to yours. They never figured out what it was - had an ultrasound which was clear and after two months, my results went back to normal. I was worried sick but also not feeling well with it either - I think my gp said she suspected Hep E after all other tests came back clear. Gross! I don’t think it was that.

It will probably settle down OP, try not to think of the worst. I was told if it was something really bad, it would be well into the 100’s.

[myfatiguehastiredness]

I can't remember what they were but I know if they are high cos I feel grotty. Cut alcohol intake right down. I have been tested for everything including hep - all the heps, HIV, just everything and all clear.

[saggybaps]

The wonderfulness of mumsnet. I am literally emotionally on my knees and can’t share with anyone as I don’t want to worry then over Christmas. Thank you so so much for you replies.

Thank-you @chaosisaladder for the reassurance.
Like you I can’t imagine it would be Hepatitis in any form, and I really can’t drink due to chronic acid-reflux (although would kill for a decent bottle of red right now!).

@Wildernesstips let’s def stay in touch! Good luck with ultrasound next week.

[ChablisandCrisps]

Any update OP? I hope all is ok?

[Mastermind25]

I had this happen to me when I was 20. Turned out it was a reaction to antibiotics. I’d finished them a few weeks before so it was a delayed reaction. After some medication I was ok but my liver was like 400 lol. I was itching and bruising all over I was terrified. Hope your ok

[saggybaps]

@ChablisandCrisps no update I’m afraid. Further blood tests in an hour. Then I think results on 31st... I will update when I get them.

[ChablisandCrisps]

@saggybaps keeping everything crossed it will come back as nothing to worry about

[Grenola]

Good luck @saggybaps x

[Wildernesstips]

@saggybaps good luck for your results tomorrow. My scan & bloods have had to be postponed until mid Jan as we have Covid in the household so self isolating, but I will keep you updated .

[Grenola]

@Wildernesstips hope you all recover OK x

[Jet888]

I had weird elevated levels after both births of kids, detected after horrid nightly stomach upsets. Eventually levels settled after few months with no explanation, after ultrasounds etc. Still get terrible stomach if eat too high fat so could well be gallstone linked too although none appeared on scan?

[saggybaps]

Well that’s a week of my life I won’t get back!
The latest results have halved to 85! The doc suspects my body fighting a virus. Although I show no symptoms than fatigue... (standard mum at Christmas!).

Further blood tests scheduled for a months time, and as the ultrasound is already booked to carry on with it.

The relief is ridiculous, and I feel a bit of a fool panicking so much.

It has taught me to stop being a lazy overweight cow though! I will be getting back to optimum health. Not the depressed, lazy fat blob of 2020.

@Wildernesstips hope your results come back ok too. Hopefully the same. Let us know how you get on.

Thanks for all replies throughout the thread. Really helpful and reassuring. Thank-you.

[chaosisaladder]

Great news!

[Wildernesstips]

@saggybaps I’m so pleased for you. There’s nothing like a health scare to give you a kick up the bum (I’m including myself in this category). I feel a bit cross on your behalf that the Dr didn’t suggest that a virus could have been the cause.

Anyway, Happy (and healthy) New Year!

[tiredvommachine]

I'm pleased your levels are dropping, I know what the worry is like. After I had my DS, I was put onto labitalol (SP?) for blood pressure as I was breast feeding and it was baby safe. I was being monitored due to having kidney disease luckily and got a panicky phone call from the hospital as my ALT was 1200!! Luckily, as soon as I stopped taking the meds, it came back down again but I was a bit frightened at the time. The meds were red carded as a possible affect on liver. Eek!

[saggybaps]

Thought I’d update again, just in case anyone else stumbles across this whilst shitting themselves...

I went for an ultrasound today, it shows I have gallstones! Which looking at the symptoms, explains a lot of things. I have further blood tests next week.

Then I’ll phone the doc to chat through everything and see what’s going on & how to sort it out.

[Grenola]

Glad they spotted them. As they might start to give you pains x

[Ell82]

@saggybaps, how did you get on with your GP? Will you be having your gallbladder removed?