for the life of me, I need your help and guidence. I am very scared

[nerviouskid]

from what my doctor told me from my recent visit, AST between 0-40 is normal, but anything above is not.  ALT should be in the range of 0-55.

Now I got my results, but AST is at 37.  Isn't this risky?  What's really concerning me is that my ALT is 77 and am told that this is a very unusual case since "ONLY" ALT being high would be caused by heavy drinking, over-the-counter medications, herbal supplies etc.; but intake none of that at all!  from my first blood test, alt went a a few notches higher this time.  more reasons to worry.

Please explain what is going on with my LIVER and if others have had similar reaction.  I've been reading some posts here and most of you seem very knowledgable, and would greatly appreciate a well thought-out reply from you guys and if you can help me make a good judgement in my case.please help...i've been so worried about this. :(

[nerviouskid]

some of you may say that how can 37 AST worry you, but isn't this on higher side of being on the border?  what if it goes up?  Shouldn't it be somewhere in the range of 0-10?  PLEASEEEE HELP!

and my ALT is like making me feel paranoid to unbelievable degree that I can't even focus on things in life properly.

[goldenrule]

are you on treatment?? have you tested for hep??

[nerviouskid]

no..i'm not on any treatment, let alone for Hep.A, B or C.  

My doctor tells me that if you were to have any form of Hep., then your numbers would be in triple digits ('100+').  I have no idea how right she is.  She rules out Hep. but I'm still worried about it because I am not sure if Hep. testing picks up something that these blood results don't, and what her logic tells me is actually true or not.

Please please help.  I'm so worried!

[TravelMom]

First of all you need to get tested for Hepatitis...you can have normal enzymes and still have the virus... My enzymes have always remained normal and I am HCV positive... Make sure you find a Dr. that you feel confident with and IF you do have the virus see a Hepatologist.

Try and relax and have all the proper testing done before you jump to conclusions.

You may also have a raised AST and normal ALT if you are a bit overweight...(fatty liver)

Good Luck and keep us posted.

Jodi

[nerviouskid]

Thanks for you reply, but I'm more confused now.  I am definitely not overweight, so I guess fatty liver is ruled out.  But according to my doctor, she said ALT and AST 'both' have to be in 3 digits to be diagonosed with any form of Hep.  I'm not even sure how accurate that info. is and that's why I'm looking for all your guidence in this matter.  She ordered my ultrasound of the liver and it looks normal.  Yet, I find it absolutely strage why my ALT off balance.  Could I have any form of Hep and still not know it????  Would these blood test and Ultrasound not detect something which Hep. test would detect?  I would assume that my liver panel test which shows my ALT / AST amongst other info. would tell a correct picture.  Is that true?

Seriously...i'm in a major panic attack with this and I feel to suffer trauma like this will ruin me.

Also, can anyone tell me how long it takes for one to fully develop Hep. or any liver disease after infected?  I'm so going insane.

[APKhaos]

Ok, so its time to calm down a little and stop imagining the worst. There's plenty of time to panic if your tests show that something serious is wrong. As others have said, elevated ALT/AST can be caused by a number of things, hepatitis being just one of them. We are not doctors, but there are plenty of us that have had advanced HCV with ALT/AST numbers <100.

First thing to do is to look at risk factors. IV drug use is the prime vector for HCV. If you really are a kid [defined here as < 30] then its unlikely that transfusion or other vectors are in play. First thing to do is to get a simple blood test for Hep A, B & C. You need to know if you are infected and, if you are, by which type.

Lets imagine the worst case here. Your blood work comes back with confirmed HCV infection. Most of us here had HCV for 20 - 30 years without knowing it. It progresses very slowly, and is not symptomatic for many many years. Even assuming the worst, time is on your side. So, go get tested. You may want to think about seeing a doctor that is a little more open minded and hep-savvy, too.

Getting back to the worst case, there are some new drugs moving into Phase 3 trials this year that have very impressive results. Chances are that the treatment will be shorter and more likely to result in complete clearance by the time you need to consider it.

So chill, and get tested.

[honey11]

I agree that you are getting over excited and it could very well be nothing.  Have you been on any medications lately that could raise your alt?  And your alt is only slightly elevated so its something to monitor but not all that high.  If you have reason to believe at some time in your life that you could have been at a risk to catch hep,,,,you may want to get that test run just for peace of mind...

[meki]

"Thanks for you reply, but I'm more confused now.  I am definitely not overweight, so I guess fatty liver is ruled out.  But according to my doctor, she said ALT and AST 'both' have to be in 3 digits to be diagonosed with any form of Hep."


Find yourself another doctor.

My ALTs and ASTs were hardly EVER elevated. And I was pos for HCV.

Request a Hep Panel.

Meki

[nerviouskid]

Thanks for the replies.  Is it true that ultrasound detects Hep. damage in the liver?  She just told me to get my ultrasound done right from the go after my elevation on ALT.  If Ultrasound comes back normal, is there a chance I can be at peace?

I panic way too much, it is true, but I also know that I wont be able to sustain myself if I found myself having any form of Hep., which is why the concern.  I am so afraid to take medication. Never have in my life except for a very very rare times antibotics with some strage infection some years ago.

I also should mention that I had one dose of HepB shot (first in series), and never got the rest yet. Is this likely to raise elevation?  Gosh...I'm so worried.

[TravelMom]

No, an ultrasound will not tell you whether you have hep or not...it MAY only show damange...You need to get a full hep panel from a doctor who is experienced with liver diseases.  This is the only way you will know for certain whether you do or don't have hep...nobody here can tell you if you do have it or not... Go get a full HEP Panel from the Dr. and then you will have some answers..

Good Luck!
TM

[nerviouskid]

Thanks for that much needed reply on ultrasound.  When will all this worrying end for me??

I'm shattered! :-(

[TravelMom]

I think most of us went through all of the same feelings you are feeling now...Try and relax... Get yourself to a good liver Dr. in your area and have all the proper blood tests done to determine what in fact is going on.. Knowledge is the key...

Good Luck,

[GrandOak]

Elevated LFT's can occur for a variety of reasons.  As long as they are in the target ranges, there is no real need to be worried, they are not like a tank that approaching the high end or the low end means you are more at risk of having a problem.  Actually, you will find that they will flucuate quite a bit, which is why they set the normal ranges for their flucuation to be measured in, as you liver performs it's function of filtering your blood.

If they do go high, then you can begin running tests to determine why.  If you automatically start assuming the worse, then you could quite possible do more damage to yourself from a psychological viewpoint thant you may be suffering from a physcial perspective.

If there is a problem, first find out what it is and what can be done about it.  Quite often the mindset of the individual can have more of an effect than the actual treatments.  Some people have actually worried themselves into the grave when no medical evidence for their demise could be found.  It's also why many studies have arms receiving placebos in order to determine if the medication really has any effect or not.

[DoubleDose]

Bottom Line:  Have your doctor order a current HCV antibody test, and maybe also an HBV test.  You need to find out whether either of these viruses are the culprit.  

DoubleDose

[pigeonca]

Your doctor is so miserably uninformed that if I were you, I'd get another doctor right away.  You definitely need to be tested for hepatitis virus and/or anything else that might elevate your ALT, and you need a primary care physician who has kept at least slightly abreast of recent information.   Your doc knows less than most of us on this forum, and we are merely patients.  Good luck.

[meki]

Nervous - I'm with Pigeon...

TOTALLY.

[debnevada]

Kid, you were around a month or so ago, i remember.

I think it absolutely SUCKS that you ended up with a doctor who made you even more nervous.  Please find another doc so you can get some peace about this.

[stevenNYer]

Yes, get tested or you will be guessing and anxious to no end.  And don't forget about the HepB panel.  Good luck.

[applez]

Hi, first you need to calm down about your liver enzymes. I have had Hep C for almost 30 years and mine are always normal. They never change much. Having VERY slightly elevated ALT/AST does NOT mean you have Hep C. It could be from a range of other things. If you are concerned that you may have acquired Hep C b/c of past or present lifestyle choices then go get a Hep C test. This can be done through walk in clinics if you don't trust your Dr.

[nerviouskid]

OMG...

I got my ultrasound results today.  The report said it is a normal study.  But from reading everyone's post here, I went to the doctor again and told her about my situation and she was you don't have anything to worry about?  Is she joking me?????  

She's like "your ALT is just elevated, why are you worried" :-(

[TravelMom]

Did you have all the proper blood tests done yet?  Again, nobody here can tell you anything until you have a diagnosis...  Get to a GOOD Dr...and have a Liver Panel and Hep Panel done...then u will have some answers... It is good that the US study is normal...but this does not mean you don't have HEP or some other liver disease...Again, get tested if you didn't already do so...then come back with your questions.

TM

[nerviouskid]

did you look at my other post????  Can you respond to that one too?  

Your and everyone's feedback is very helpful and needed right now :(