Bad liver function test result - any ideas why??

[emeraldgirl1]

DH has just heard that a liver function test has showed he has the liver of a heavy/very heavy drinker, despite him only drinking around 10 units a week. He is 32 and otherwise seems healthy.

I am stressing here! We are now waiting for the referral to specialist, but I am not good at waiting... Am so worried and have no idea what it could be caused by. And if it is reversible or at least if it can be improved.

I have very little support from family and my best friends aren't good at lending supportive ears, and I'm trying to seem calm for DH. How do I stay calm, apart from staying OFF the dreaded Google...?

diet can cause this
is he overweight? eat lots of meat?

best action for now is to stop drinking

First let me say : I am not a medical professional, and have no knowledge.

Now..... Did he used to drink much more/to excess? Regularly? Did he used to binge drink? Does he now?

Is there any history in his family of liver related illness/disease? Maybe he has hereditary tendencies toward liver problems?

Has he had any illnesses or taken any medication that could impair liver function?

Maybe someone here with medical knowledge could advise if stopping drinking, or cutting back significantly could improve his liver function.

Sorry you are going through this. It must be terrifying.

Hi emeraldgirl

I had this in the summer - liver function test showed high AST, I felt very tired and under the weather. I only drank 2-3 glasses of wine a week!

When I saw the specialist, he did more extensive blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound. Things like gallstones can impair liver function. Also does he take any medication or herbal remedies at all? These can impact on the liver function.
tests.

He recommended I give up alcohol which I have mainly done, and my liver enzymes seem to be slowly returning to normal. I have never been a heavy or binge drinker either!

I would suggest your dp gives up alcohol for now as this can only help, also follow healthy diet and avoid medication where possible. Perhaps some people just have low tolerance for alcohol?? Not fair is it!!

Thanks so much everyone - I've spoken to a doctor friend and she has confirmed a lot of what you're all suggesting - that the occasional binge drink can show up (he did have an extremely rare heavy night a week or so before the test but I assumed it couldn't possibly still be affecting liver a week later - more fool me) and she has also suggested that we ask the specialist about fatty liver - this can be an issue apparently.

He'll have to stay off the saturated fat I think!

Thank you!!

do you know which results in the blood were high.

for the time being stay off anything fatty and ask him to follow a gallstones diet .
www.gallbladderattack.com/gallbladderdiet.shtm

My dp was diagnosed as having non acholic steto hepititus (if its spelt right!) He had very high blood test results. Had biopsy, scans and they said it was caused by a very inflamed fatty liver. He stayed off drink for a long while. Went on a low fat diet and things calmed down so much after that. We now eat normally, drink a little here and there and his test results have been only minorly over normal for fair few years. They are perfectly happy with him. We were told he would always have it but its under control and just has an odd check now and then.