Liver issues and illeness

[ct tech]

I AM A HEATHCARE WORKER WHO HAS A HISTORY OF ELAVATED ATL AND AST LEVELS.  I HAVE HAD 2-3 ATTACKS A YEAR THAT BUT ME OUT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS WITH EXTREME N/V, DIARHEAA, AND RUQ SWELLING.  THE USAF DOCS CUT MY GB OUT 9 YEARS AGO THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, WELL CLEARLY IT WASNT. ALTHOUGH I HAD ELEVATED LABS THEN, THEY STILL CUT 2 CURE.  I DIDNT GET BETTER, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS PHANTOM PAIN. I WAITED 4 YEARS AND HAD A COMPLETE W/U  BEFORE I LEFT THE SERVICE WITH A VERY PAINFUL LIVER BIOPSY (8GAUGE) CORE BIOPSY NEEDLE. NOTHING LIKE BIENG ON MY OWN TABLE!

MY RESULTS WERE N.A.S.H W/ PETROLUM BI PRODUCTS AND A FATTY LIVER.

WELL ITS BEEN 4 YEARS AND MY SIDE HURTS ON AND OFF AND I JUST GOT OVER AND ATTACK 3 WEEKS AGO.   I JUST WENT TO MY VA DOC AND GOT SOME BLOOD DRAWN, AST 36, ALT 70.

WELL IM NOT A REGULAR DRINKER, BUT WHEN I DO HAVE A FEW DRINKS I GET ILL.  I  TAKE MILK THISTLE.  WELL TO GET TO MY POINT, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME?
I NEED TO LOOSE WEIGHT MY TRIG IS GETTING HIGH 194.  BUT IS THIS HEP C OR ?
THANKS FOR THE HELP  B.

[chcnme]

You ask if this could be Hep C.  Yes it could be.  Has a doctor ever told you that you've got Hep C?  You need to know if you do or don't have Hep C.  If you have ever been told that you have Hep C, or if you have ever been told that you tested positive for Hep C, you need to know that Hep C is a very, very serious condition and (if you have it) you need to be under the care of a liver specialists (gastroenterologist.)  If you have ever tested positive for Hep C at ANY time in your life, tell your doctor so he can refer you to a gastroenterologist.  This is your life, and if you have a history of having tested positive for Hep C EVER, you need to know this should not be ignored.

If you were diagnosed 4 years ago with a fatty liver and are overweight and still drinking (even if it's just a little bit) those two things (alcohol/overweight) are not helping your fatty liver and would contribute to more problems with fatty liver disease.  Any amount of alcohol could cause pain.  Your ALT is slightly elevated, but with any amount of alcohol it probably isn't going to come down.  Milk Thistle is not a "treatment" for fatty liver disease.  

If you have Hep C or think you have Hep C, don't ignore it.  If you have never been tested, get tested.

[PikaPika88]

Quote : "Milk Thistle is not a "treatment" for fatty liver disease."

What is the treatment for fatty liver then?  I didn't drink or smoke in my life.  I got fatty liver at 47 yrs old.  I'm a bit over weight only in the tummy.

[chcnme]

Hi Pika.  Weight control and abstaining from alcohol are two things recommended for many since it's commonly those two conditions seen with a fatty liver.  Other things can contribute, too (genetics, other health problems, etc.)  If you aren't seeing a liver doctor currently, you might want to see one and let them assess you again and recommend the best treatment approach for you.  Best of luck.  

[PikaPika88]

What kind of ....ologist is looking after people's liver?  gastroenterologist?  She refer me back to GP already.  But... my fatty liver was induced by Verapamil.  It was given by a cardiologist.  He only look after the heart.  He don't care others that what he told me before!