Abnormal Liver Function Test - could this be why I have no energy?

[bigbaubleeyes]

Hi all,

Just rung docs to find this out and have a follow up appointment on Monday.

I have been suffering from a bout of mild/moderate depression I am very low on energy and fell asleep whilst looking after DS (nrly 3)

Has anyone had any experience of this?

Yes, I have, but there are loads of reasons (most of them minor) why you could have an abnormal LFT. First of all, it depends which LFT it is - there are several - and secondly, how abnormal, and thirdly, whether you'd recently had a fair amount to drink/had a virus etc all of which could lead to a raised LFT.

Yes, liver problems can certainly cause tiredness - I had chronic hepatitis, and periods of very low energy. But so can depression in its own right, very much so!

Good luck, hope the doc can get to the bottom of things fast for you and put your mind at rest.

bump

it can also be totally normal but if you are carrying a lot of weight in the abdominal area, fat around the liver can acct for it.

depression and lethargy can go hand in hand.

ask for a retest, stay off alcohol as much as possible or have a week or 2 before the test.

cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol or liver disease like hepatitis can also give high rdings.

Thanks elibean and foxy i am off the alcohol and ive stopped smoking - I will wait to see what doc has to say on monday.

bigbaubleeyes - I wonder have you had your thyroid tested? The lethargy, low energy and mild depression could all be symptoms of this. Plus, before I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid, a blood test had flagged up dodgy liver function results.

After a few months on thyroxine to compensate for my underactive thyroid, my liver results were right back to normal and have been since.

It might be worth asking your doc about. Hope you get help soon - that feeling of general knackeredness is no fun, especially with young kids to race around after.

Also get your blood sugar level checked as well to make sure you are not diabetic.

I certainly will be girls my Mum and aunt have had liver problems nad there is diabetes in family - this is third bout of mild depression this year the other two I cou;d attribute to being very miserable at work after moving house and job - but no this latest one I have what i consider a good life.. well I find out tomorrow.

Thanks

I AM BACK!

The stupid stupid receptionist misread my results nothing wrong with my liver it was my vitamin B12 levels - which has tested low before.

Dr checked my blood pressure and weight I need to lose some weight but everything else fine.

I will continue my self help thing for my depression - feel pretty good today actually

thanks again

Any viatmin b12 advice?

If you can't get anything from your doctor, a vit B complex may help. I've found it quite difficult to get any sensible information about vitamins from the vitamin shops but I have been advised that a normal dose vit B complex may help. I have colitis and have been treated for breast cancer.

It's probably worth asking your doctor which is the best thing to take!

Thanks Bladebla I shall enquire at boots.

I am surpirsed that he hasn't followed up teh B12 results if they have been low before - I guess it depends on how low.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a type of anemia though...which can certainly make you tired. check this out.

Try taking B12 tablets/suplements. Sometimes these don't work though as there is a condition called pernicious anemia (detail within that link) which is an inability to absorb oral B12. This needs to be treated by 3monthly B12 injections.

If you don't see an improvement on oral B12 - certainly go back.

Yeah Donot the doctor said acouple of years back it wasnt low enough for injections, this time it was 158, the accepted level being 200 + from i have seen on web. I read about the 'intrinsic factor' re absorption thing. Everyhting else checked out ok. I had c sctio with birth and I read that it can berelated to surgery but I dont know if this is a factor.

I have had a v good today as this has been the first day in a coule of weeks I have felt completly myself - caught up on housework and feel balanced again. having had these bouts three times in the last year I am onitoring myself carefully.

Thanks for the link I will read properly in the morning.