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Concerned about boyfriend.

My boyfriend went to the doctor on Monday for a stomach virus and his doctor noticed his eyes (the white part) were yellow. I've noticed this in the past before too. It's not real bright yellow, more like they are tinted yellow. I've also brought to his attention a while ago that his urine is more of an amber color (maybe like tea). I know thats not normal. His doctor wants him to come in today for some blood work to see if the bilirubin is high. What causes this and how bad can this lead to? I don't know much about liver problems, so I want to know as much as I can. My boyfriend is 23, 5'9" and about 250. If the bilirubin is high, what will lower it and can this lead to liver failure?

Thank you,

Nicole
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Avatar universal
He had a stomach virus on Monday. Only diarrhea lasted maybe a half a day. He also had really bad stomach cramps that night too, but he never threw up. His doctor said on Tuesday that it was a stomach virus. He doesn't drink alcohol at all. His doctor ordered some blood work today, so the results wont be in for a while. We have been going out a little more then 2 years, and I have noticed these symptoms during that time. I'm just worried because his family history is really bad. His mom has had 2 kidney transplants, his dad has diabetes and other health issues. I try to get him to eat healthy but he wont. I really love him and care so much about him and I just want him to take better care for himself.

Thank you for your imput.

I also have to add, maybe about a year ago he was thought to have GOUT ( when you eat to much red meat). I dont know if that has anything to do with this.
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Avatar universal
Impossible to tell what, if anything, is going on until blood work and potentially further diagnostic testing (imaging studies like ultrasound, MRI) is done.  That said, it is true that some of the symptoms you are describing sound like symptoms of jaundice or impaired liver functioning.  The bilirubin is, to my understanding, something that, if found in the blood stream, suggests that the liver is not functioning properly.  Other liver tests (which presumably your doctor is ordering, as they are generally routine in a liver panel, e.g., checking for liver enzymes that suggest liver inflammation (AST, ALT)), will also help the doctor tell if something is going on.

Causes for elevated biluribun and jaundice are many.  Too much alcohol I think can do this, a "fatty liver" might as well.  "Hepatisis" - which means liver inflammation in general, can do this as well, and many things can cause hepatasis. For instance, there are viral infections like Hep A,B, or C and others. 'there could also be problems with the biliary tract.  All of these terms are searchable on the web so you can learn more.

You asked how bad this could lead to and whether it could lead to liver failure.  Liver failure, generally, is caused by years of liver damage that eventually cause the liver to scar and too much scarring can impair the liver beyond return, hence liver failure. But that is generally a very long term process. While scars, once formed, are irreversible, the inflammatory process that eventually leads to it is remediable (depending on the cause) even by things like diet and exercise.  So, eating right and avoiding too much alcohol can help the liver, but, again, it depends upon what is causing any liver problem in the first place.

You also mentioned stomach virus - do you mean he is vomitting? diarrhea? for how long? How do you know it is a virus? there are plenty of things that can affect both intestinal track and liver.

In sum, he should be following up with his physician to find out what is causing any liver issues (if any are found), and that will help inform what he could do to help improve his liver. I'm not a doctor, but I hope this helps (and I hope I didn't misstate anything).



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