Serum alkaline phosphatase. I'm so worried.

[Terrifiedshakes]

Hi,

I've just had the repeat blood test for serum alkaline phosphatase, as mine came back slightly elevated.

Some of you will recognise my name, others won't but to make it clear, I've got terrible health anxiety. To the point its embarrassing.

I'm waiting for the results from this blood test now and im mentally climbing the walls. The nurse also said they would check my vitamin D levels.

I've been for the last month-ish having muscle twitches, pins and needles, muscle cramps, spasms in my feet and legs. Terrible burning joints. I was taking a Morrisons own vitamin D, supplment until on Sunday I decided to buy the more expensive supplement I think are called Ultra (I can't remember). It wasn't the money, I just remember watching something on the TV once that was a documentary with Dr Ranj explaining that lower price supplements are just the same as the most expensive ones.

That first night i took the newer most expensive supplements my symptoms improved. Then each day they became better and better until I now would say, apart from slight joint burning, have gone. No more twitches, no more spasm, no more pins and needles.

I just need to chat really. I'm very worried about my elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels. I'm googling myself into a grave and reading story after story about what this has meant for different people.

Do try and be kind to me. I know I need help but this is my protection. I don't think I can NOT have health anxiety as it protects me from a shock if I'm poorly as I'm always ready for the work. I think...

My Serum alkaline phosphatase level was 123.

I've read that different labs have different ranges and some labs don't class serum alkaline phosphatase as high until its over 130 but I don't know why they have different ranges.

I'm full of a cold with a temperature too, so I'm resting in bed feeling like crap after the nurse couldn't get my bloods out this morning because her syringe didn't work properly. She said at first I could have collapsed veins, well, she nearly had a collapsed girl on her floor after telling me that. An absolutely hideous thought!

Please talk to me someone, I can't keep googling liver disease, bone disease but its such a strong compulsion. I'm also on and off the NHS app to see if my results are through, but in reality, there probably still sat in a fridge at the GP surgery.

I'm not a delicate little flower. But I do worry about my health and think the worst. I also today have a very bad cold with every cold symptom under the sun and a DH running round like a blue arsed fly. But I'd do it for him...

Sending you hugs. I know it’s easy for me to say don’t worry and impossible for you to do, but if it’s any comfort at all I’m a GP and I wouldn’t be scared if that was my blood result. I’ve lost count of how many of these I’ve seen and it’s virtually always ok. But it’s hard when you’re struggling with anxiety and harder still when you feel poorly. So get a nice soothing hot drink and try to distract yourself with a bit of telly or an audio book.

Thank you Violetmouse.

If you are a GP, you do an amazing job. I'd love to have a GP in my pocket 24/7.

If me and my husband part ways (joke) I'm marrying a doctor! (Poor him).

You again OP? Stop this. You know it's making you worse.

Sorry just to check, you aren't pregnant are you?
I had very high levels in pregnancy. 20 times what you've said there. It fell back down very fast after the baby was born

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/services-we-offer/pathology/tests-and-investigations/alkaline-phosphatase/

It's a compulsion. I presume I have OCD as I become obsessed with things.

If you saw me, spoke to me. You wouldn't have a clue. Apart from I'm always out running which probably raises a few eyebrows.

I don't mean to make it all about me too. I'm a good listener to others. I'm RL I never talk about my problems. I help others, remember small details. Never forget the last thing a person has told me. Nobody apart from DH and my parents know I'm health neurotic.

Your anxiety is not protecting you, it sounds like it's ruining your life and affecting those around you too. You need help to get on top of it so that you can be free to enjoy your life.

This is a normal result in many labs.
The reason for the difference is that the normal, or "reference" range is based on the blood tests performed at that lab over many many thousands of tests. The reference range can change if the population changes over time, or if they get new equipment.
Honestly I wouldn't worry about it.
The expensive vitamin D is exactly the same chemical - is it the same dose? Your symptoms were probably resolving anyway.
Apart from this, you really need to get treatment for your health anxiety which, as you know, is the real problem here.

I'm not pregnant. It's also time of the month, which is making today, great. But...I do have really easy periods!

No, the expensive vitamin D was a higher dose. Perhaps I needed that boost?

Cookerhood. Thank you for taking the time to reply with that.

Thank you for the above illustration Rosebud.

DH is ordering takeaway tonight and I'm beginning to look forward to it now.

Hope everyone else is OK too. My problems are a drop in the ocean. I have a lovely life.

Are you on antidepressants? They massively helped my health anxiety (which was also suggested by a health professional to be a type of OCD). They seemed to stop my brain from obsessing and broke the habit/cycle which didn't return when I eventually came off them. I can now recognise those thoughts as anxiety/stress and manage it before it becomes too severe. It's a hard mental place to be in and I feel for you.

This is unhelpful and unkind. OP knows it’s irrational. It’s hard when you’re in the grips of it. OP, it will be ok. Think about everyone else who will have this and just not know from not having the test done. Can you distract yourself? Sending you a hug, it does sound exactly like OCD as you are reassurance seeking xx

I've been on about 3 different kinds. Had CBT twice.

Problem is, its only when I have a symptom of something that I'm like this. When I'm symptom free I skip mostly merrily through life. I like a tidy house, tidy room at work etc. But I'm actually quite impulsive!

Then I get a symptom of something, or my children do and I act like a maniac.

The anxiety is honestly not protecting you. I felt like this when my son was a baby but about him not me. I thought if I was hyper vigilant then nothing bad could happen. But that’s not how it works.

What helped me was a perinatal psychiatric nurse (I recognise you probably don’t have access to that), medication and applying the test of ‘what would a reasonable person do’. I also limited my googling time (advice from the nurse), like literally set a limit of 30 mins a day I think it was.

The most common cause for raised ALP is Vit D deficiency and you had symptoms of Vit D deficiency. You levels are only borderline elevated. The next most common cause is gallstones. No need to worry.

Feel really depressed today waiting for results.

DH has said I need to see the bigger picture.

I am up, dressed, been food shopping, played with DC but I'm so worried I've got something wrong with my liver or bones.

What is it going to take for you to stop worrying?

Hi OP.

My AP number is always BELOW 30. I always have a quick Google, eat some more protein for a bit and forget about it.

And besides which, if I do develop a horrible illness, at least I get to stay in bed for a while which I never do in my normal life!

I can't imagine how poorly it must make you feel, googling it all the time.

Hope you get a solution. Have you tried proper therapy?

I've felt a little better as I was looking into my other liver results again and they are all very good.

Heard nothing yet on the app from my blood test but it is Sunday.

It's come down!!!!!!!!

To 116!!!

So why are my joints burning!

All the other results came back normal.

What would a vit d test be called? I can't see anything for that