Liver problems !

[Gzub]

Hey everyone !

I found this forum very interesting since i have problems with my liver. I
am new here so please forgive me if i name something not properly, my
English is not very good, but i will try to be as clear as possible.

Two years ago i came back from a mission which took place in one of the
middle east countries. Instantly i did all laboratory tests to be sure that
with my health is everything ok. And it wasnt. Laboratory tests showed that
i have ALT, AST, Bilirubin - enzymes higher than a normal. The highest one
was ALT ( 2 times than normal ), AST was insignificant higher, same as
bilirubin.
After that i went for hospitalization, I have made HCV and HBS tests with a
negative result. Also i have had a liver biopsy. The result of a biopsy was
: Hepatitis portalis minimalis et steatosis microguttata dispersa ( in Latin
language ). I was said that its minimal hepatits with a some fat on cells. I
have been taking a Essentiale Forte and Vitamin E and i obeyed diet. During
two years AST, ALT and bilirubing enzymes reached a normal level. Only GGTP
was slightly higher about 100. Since now. Last tests showed that i have ALT
level about 117 ( almost 3 times than normal ). I have changed the
specialist. He told me to check once again result of biopsy i have made year
ago. And the second result of the same biopsy was unexpected. It did not
find anything strange in my liver. But i still have ALT and GGTP higher than
a normal. Till now the specialist havent found the causes of my sickness.
Besides that i dont feel any pain or discomfort in a liver area, i dont have
any other problems wth my health.

So my question is : Have u ever met with a similiar coincidence ? What shall
i do now, where and how to find the cause of my liver problems ?

Thanks for all suggestions !

Michal

[Hollismom]

I used to work in a laboratory in a hospital, and I can assure you that the GGT blood test is EXTREMELY sensitive.  It can react to almost anything you do.  Alcohol is a good example, even a couple of swallows of beer can elevate this test.  My GI doesn't even test the GGT since it is so sensitive.  He relies on the other indicators, bilirubin, ALT,AST, etc.

[pat57]

If you are overwieght, that can effect the tests. If this is the problem you will find as the weight goes down the tests go down.
Specifically a low fat diet is the one to try. The condition I have in mind is Fatty Liver. Theres no reason for a doc to miss that- tho.
So its a long shot.

[shebee]

Dear Michal,

Your English is excellent!  (Better than ours...LOL!)

Anyway, I would be retested for Hep A, B & C.

I would also start researching on the web, and find a doctor who is knowledgeable with "middle-eastern" diseases.

Milk thistle, an herbal supplement, keeps my hubby's ast/alt levels down.  

Welcome to the board,
Shebee

[TDMarvin]

I also lived in the middle east for 6 yrs. While I was there I got Hep A.  Have you been tested for this? If not I would ask your doctor to test it for you. Better safe than sorry.  Good luck.