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Liver Counts
Had some blood work done. I am a moderate drinker and have been for about 10 years. The 'main' liver count was 52 and my doctor said normal should be 44. Is this just a little high or dangerously high? What count would someone with cirrosis have?
Thank you.
Thank you.
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my docter told my i was 3 times over on my liver count is that bad he told me to go t totall for 3 months because i have high blood presure normaly 150/84
the statistics I read not too long ago stated that medical professionals (including docs, nurses, anyone with access, I guess) were 7 times more likely to become drug addicted than non-medical folk. Stands to reason. I can't imagine being a doctor one late night at the hospital and just getting off my shift, tired, pissed off, head throbbing, back sore, feet hurting, the old lady's going to ***** me out the minute I hit the door -- and having easy access to all that Dilaudid or even just a Xanax or two. It wouldn't take long before I'd be one of those statistics. We're all human. It's just that some of us have the key to the medicine cabinet and some of us don't. Can you imagine being a pharmacist? wooooo! Better stop right now.
Also there are more Doctors who drink than you think there are. Mine just died of Cirosis. No Bullshit either.
Maybe this'll help Matthew -
From 17 years of age until about 24 I drank what I consider heavily. It got up to splitting a fifth of whiskey each night with a friend of mine (with beer of course) or 4-5 bottles of cheap ass wine a day. This stopped when I acquired Mononucleosis at age 19. Of course when you have mono your liver is in jeopardy so I quit cold turkey for 2 months. Went off to college and drank at the minimum of 40 oz. of beer a day. Sometimes a pint of whiskey, vodka, Mad Dog 20/20 you name it. Never really "drunk" but definitely maintenance drinking. This continued until about a year after I got married. My drinking buddy was informed that his enzymes were high and should really cut back on his drinking. My life calmed down quite a bit after getting married, graduating college etc. and so did my drinking - in fact it dropped off so gradually that I still considered myself a heavy drinker when I was down to a beer or 2 a day. Of course this is moderate drinking to anyone except someone either devoutly anti-alcohol or someone who is in recovery. When I was told that my liver enzymes were at "54" and that I was "normal" (HA!) I asked them if they had made a mistake. In fact, I didn't abstain before the test at all. I am now 29 and have been drinking one to two beers daily for about 4 years. Like I said, much more before then. Anyway - if everything else is the same with both of us - i.e. no hepatitis, history of liver malfunction in your family etc. and your life is pretty comparable to mine - I would say you are okay. Of course, get it checked again in a few months for piece of mind. When I had a liver scare after some upper rib cage area pain and was awaiting my liver enzyme count from the "on call" doctor I ran into what you seem to be describing. I was honest with the doctor that I was (at the time) a rather heavy drinker (24 yrs.old) Well this doctor was ANTI-DRINKING BIG TIME. He called my parents house when he couldn't contact me (my parents were the emergency 2nd number on my chart) and he proceeded to ask my Mom if I was home. She said "No, can I take a message?" and he said and I quote "Oh, he's probably down at the bar getting drunk. Anyway, tell him that his liver enzymes are only slightly elevated and not the cause of his problem." CAN YOU BELIEVE THE NERVE? Well of course you can. Get at LEAST a second opinion from a doctor who doesn't have a bias one way or another. I am so SICK of doctors and their holier than thou bullshit that I could just...well...Anyway, sorry for the life story, but sometimes it helps to know that someone else HAS been there, worried themselves to death - and ended up O.K. anyway. So check back up on it. It's usually a very gradual thing with drinking enzyme wise. At least you have the smarts to be checking into it. I'll shut up now. Later.
From 17 years of age until about 24 I drank what I consider heavily. It got up to splitting a fifth of whiskey each night with a friend of mine (with beer of course) or 4-5 bottles of cheap ass wine a day. This stopped when I acquired Mononucleosis at age 19. Of course when you have mono your liver is in jeopardy so I quit cold turkey for 2 months. Went off to college and drank at the minimum of 40 oz. of beer a day. Sometimes a pint of whiskey, vodka, Mad Dog 20/20 you name it. Never really "drunk" but definitely maintenance drinking. This continued until about a year after I got married. My drinking buddy was informed that his enzymes were high and should really cut back on his drinking. My life calmed down quite a bit after getting married, graduating college etc. and so did my drinking - in fact it dropped off so gradually that I still considered myself a heavy drinker when I was down to a beer or 2 a day. Of course this is moderate drinking to anyone except someone either devoutly anti-alcohol or someone who is in recovery. When I was told that my liver enzymes were at "54" and that I was "normal" (HA!) I asked them if they had made a mistake. In fact, I didn't abstain before the test at all. I am now 29 and have been drinking one to two beers daily for about 4 years. Like I said, much more before then. Anyway - if everything else is the same with both of us - i.e. no hepatitis, history of liver malfunction in your family etc. and your life is pretty comparable to mine - I would say you are okay. Of course, get it checked again in a few months for piece of mind. When I had a liver scare after some upper rib cage area pain and was awaiting my liver enzyme count from the "on call" doctor I ran into what you seem to be describing. I was honest with the doctor that I was (at the time) a rather heavy drinker (24 yrs.old) Well this doctor was ANTI-DRINKING BIG TIME. He called my parents house when he couldn't contact me (my parents were the emergency 2nd number on my chart) and he proceeded to ask my Mom if I was home. She said "No, can I take a message?" and he said and I quote "Oh, he's probably down at the bar getting drunk. Anyway, tell him that his liver enzymes are only slightly elevated and not the cause of his problem." CAN YOU BELIEVE THE NERVE? Well of course you can. Get at LEAST a second opinion from a doctor who doesn't have a bias one way or another. I am so SICK of doctors and their holier than thou bullshit that I could just...well...Anyway, sorry for the life story, but sometimes it helps to know that someone else HAS been there, worried themselves to death - and ended up O.K. anyway. So check back up on it. It's usually a very gradual thing with drinking enzyme wise. At least you have the smarts to be checking into it. I'll shut up now. Later.
Doctor, thank you for your reply. I want to make clear that I have NO other effects from 'cirrosis' (no jaundice, pains, etc...). This is the first time I have had elevated levels. My in-laws have quit going to this doctor since he has a 'one track' mind when it comes to this stuff. Could you please clarify that under 'normal' circumstances this number isn't something I should freak out over? I don't really need a lecture on the evils of drinking (I have 2 to 3 'most' nights). I know that AA would consider me a lush but medically speaking, I am confused as to whether I need to truly be concerned.
Thank you again for the help.
Thank you again for the help.
Check this out, day 24 of detox off methadone (coldturkey). Today the doc put me on Depakote 500mg 2 x day Vistaril 50 mg 3 x day, & Risperal 1 mg 1 x day. Boy was my head humming before I took them, mind was racing. about 1/2 hour after i took them I felt just FINE!! I almost feel like a Normal human being if there is such a thing. Any one else on this same stuff? any bad side effects?I would like to know, thanks guys.
When I was up to a fifth a day - my enzymes were in the 130's.
Since my drinking has dwindled my enzymes were 54 last month. I didn't want to give the impression that my enzymes were 54 when I was heaviest into it. Thanks.
Since my drinking has dwindled my enzymes were 54 last month. I didn't want to give the impression that my enzymes were 54 when I was heaviest into it. Thanks.
Mike,
No need to apologize my friend. Your life story is helping tremendously!!! I have a doctor that is not 'realistic' (in my opinion). I can not stand a 'HOLIER THAN THOU ATTITUDE'!!! We aren't all perfect and truth be told .... I still enjoy drinking. Yes, I sometimes go 'overboard' but most nights just enjoy a quiet couple of drinks. My family has a long history of doing the same. I am a little more cautious of my health since my 34 year old wife suffered from cervical cancer last year which is why I posted my initial question. I am not going to go through life worrying about every little ache and pain I experience. Life is way too short for that.
Doctors need to give us 'realistic' facts (not ones they wish we would believe). I am not saying that happened here but I asked a simple question (I thought was straight forward) and I want a simple answer.
Mike, thank you so much for telling me your experiences. It means so much to have that as a bench mark. I know everyone is different but you (not the doc so far) have provided me with a 'realistic' measurment.
'PEACE'
-Matt
No need to apologize my friend. Your life story is helping tremendously!!! I have a doctor that is not 'realistic' (in my opinion). I can not stand a 'HOLIER THAN THOU ATTITUDE'!!! We aren't all perfect and truth be told .... I still enjoy drinking. Yes, I sometimes go 'overboard' but most nights just enjoy a quiet couple of drinks. My family has a long history of doing the same. I am a little more cautious of my health since my 34 year old wife suffered from cervical cancer last year which is why I posted my initial question. I am not going to go through life worrying about every little ache and pain I experience. Life is way too short for that.
Doctors need to give us 'realistic' facts (not ones they wish we would believe). I am not saying that happened here but I asked a simple question (I thought was straight forward) and I want a simple answer.
Mike, thank you so much for telling me your experiences. It means so much to have that as a bench mark. I know everyone is different but you (not the doc so far) have provided me with a 'realistic' measurment.
'PEACE'
-Matt
Well...mmmmmm. I still don't see how a being 8 off of anything could be "dangerous." All I have to go by is what I know about me and my tests. Hopefully, I'm not confusing one number for another...and I don't think I am. I was told to stop drinking in the 120's. Maybe he's trying to nip the problem before it gets worse...meaning, you're climbing up the ladder now...if you continue, like many drinkers do (tolerance goes up, drinking goes up) you're liver enzyme count will do the same. I guess it's rational advice - especially from a doctor. But if it's the same number I'm thinking of, he shouldn't put the FEAR into you so grandly yet. Definitely don't take my word alone as a valid answer to your question. I may be very right, but I'd hate to be very wrong! Take care and hopefully someone else can help you on here too. - Mike P.
Wow. Thanks Mike P. I think its time to get a new Doc. Mine 'freaked' out on me I think because he doesn't condone ANY alcohol what so ever. He told me that I had to quit drinking completely for 2 months and then get the blood re-tested. He told me that 54 was dangerously high and I had a problem.
What a jerk.
What a jerk.
Sorry Matthew, But I cant start a new topic, forum wont let me.
Lynn, this is the only way I know how to get your question the answers you need.
I have been clean now for 17 days, and to tell you the truth, I want to use every day. But I try to remember that each time I relapsed it was harder to detox than the last time. So it is easier to stay off the pills than it was to get off of them. I am sure you will get all of the help you need if you just ask some of these good people here to help!
Good luck,your friend ,Ken
Lynn, this is the only way I know how to get your question the answers you need.
I have been clean now for 17 days, and to tell you the truth, I want to use every day. But I try to remember that each time I relapsed it was harder to detox than the last time. So it is easier to stay off the pills than it was to get off of them. I am sure you will get all of the help you need if you just ask some of these good people here to help!
Good luck,your friend ,Ken
That's just a "little" high. I wouldn't worry about that one at all. I was up in the 130's for awhile in my early 20's when I was a heavy drinker and was taking Vicodin after my surgeries. I just recently had them done again and was at 54. My doctor told me I was definitely in the "normal" range and had nothing to worry about. The doctor who tested me way back said that she had seen patients in the thousands. Your liver is like a bank, it will only put out so many enzymes. Once they're gone, they're gone. If you use up thousands and thousands, your liver won't have as many to metabolize your blood in your later years. You're only 8 "over". You're fine.
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