High Bilirubin/Normal AST/ALT

[9743km]

Hello.  Looking for anyone who has any answers or who has gone through the same thing.  I am 36 diagnosed w/Auto Hepatitis in March.  I am on 12.5 mg of prednisone and 200 mg of imuran/day.  Anyone on that high a dose of imuran?  Well, finally my numbers for the liver have all gotten to almost normal.  Maybe 5 pts to high, but my bilirubin is 4.0.  Way, way to high.  Dr. thinking it could be due to toxicity being created from imuran.  They are doing blood tests in the middle of Nov.  He doesn't seem to be "overly" concerned, and that drives me crazy.  My bilirubin was normal, and in the last 3 months has been creeping up.  Anyway, anyone been battling autoimmune for a long time.  Any helpful tips??  Any diet tips?  My Dr. seems to think the meds are working just fine, I don't need to be overly concerned w/diet, etc.  I diagree!  Just no alcohol, no smoking, no fried foods he says!!!

[9743km]

Well I survived the week!  It has been a long grooling day, but I'm alive.  Anyway, everything went great.  My Dr is 99% sure the imuran is toxifying my liver.  I stopped the medication immediately and have another blood test on monday.  As long as my bilirubin has gone down he is going to find another med for me to begin.  So I will be on prednisone and one another.  He told me the other drug works just as well, but it is more expensive, and you don't take it once a day, you take it twice/day.  So it'll be more of a pain, but I'm alive!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Thanksgiving...

[9743km]

Thanks...I'll update you next week!  You take care!

[cat33]

Your right . We have to hope and pray for positive things to come. I  had a bone density test about 2 or 3 years ago, and it was fine then. The endocrinologist suggested another one , but again at Mayo since the machines are  probably calibrated differently.  I'll be thinking positive thoughts for you on Monday and Wednesdy Keep in touch. cat33

[9743km]

Hi there.  Unfortunately, I received news like you.  My bilirubin has not gotton any better.  In fact, it really sky rocketed.  So I have an ultra sound and more blood work on monday.  And then i am meeting w/my Dr on Wednesday.  He should have all the results of blood and ultra sound by then.  He'll go over everything w/me at that time.  I'm Praying its something minor, but I have to be a realist as well.  I felt that at the beginning of this process God would heal me/take care of me, and I'm still believing that He will.  This is the first time in my life I've had to really put my faith to the test, and I won't give up now!!
Sorry to hear about your results.  This is just one long tunnel that seems to not end.  We know there is a light somewhere, it is just getting there...I do know that osteoporosis is a major side effect of prednisone, but what a bummer yours is so agressive.  Intravenous meds, huh?  They say that seems to be the best.  Your insurance has just gotta pay for it.  Let me know what happens.  You take care of yourself and have a great weekend!!!  Next week sounds like we'll both have much news to come!

[cat33]

How did your tests go? Of course you wont have answers for a week or so. I got my copy and the kidney part was elevated, Mayo called and said it was fine but they still wanted the mammo results. I told them I had returned the films a week before I went in for the mammo and they couldn't find them. They wanted me to go in for another one. Why? if they can't find the films . I don't know about this lab over here. Went to the endocrinologist on Wednesday got some bad news . I have osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis and now osteoperosis.She said she had never seen anyone my age with such bone density damage. So now we must proceed with aggressive therepy ,such as intravenous Medications. She was going to find out if my insurance will cover it ,Mayo will approve of it and if they do that type of therepy locally. Otherwise I'll have to travel to mayo and their therepy is once a week. So I'd have to move to Pheonix? Where as the endocrinologist is suggesting an infusion once a year. They do have oral medications but she said they were tough on the stomach and since I had a previous ulser she didn't want to go that way. My bones must be built up before I have surgery because the antirejection such as prednasone break down the bone. I still cant take anything for pain just ice packs. Looking for a spark at the end of this very long tunnel. cat33

[9743km]

I feel good.  Tomorrow are all my tests.  Not as excited about having it done as I usually am.  I just feel like my numbers and some stuff are not going to be the best.  Which makes me wonder what is going to happen or what is happening?  I guess it is the nature of the beast, huh?