New and scared

[three_little_birds]

First, I recieve my health care through the VA
I had normal lab work on Sept 4 and had an elevated ALT 890, AST 50. I saw my primary care on Sept. 8.  She said that my 'LFTs' were elevated.  Her exam consisted of listening to my heart and lungs, looking at my eyes, feeling the lymph nodes of my upper body and checked the pulses in my feet.  When she was finished she said that she wanted to get a Hep B panel, a liver ultra sound and refer me to a gastroenterologist.

Two days later, I saw the GI.  He asked me a few questions: have I ever had a girlfriend from Asia, do I have any tattoos and have I ever shot IV drugs.  No to girlfriend and drugs, but I do have quite a few tattoos.  He proceeded to tell me that 10% of people that get tattoos have Hep C.  I understand that, but all of my tats were done at a friends shop that is highly reputable and it is more antiseptic than any doctors office I have even too.  He then looked at my ALT and AST and his response was that they are very high.  On 9/4 ALT 89, AST 50.  On 9/16 ALT 63, AST 53.  He told me that my AST values on the 4th were 1000 and on the 16th the AST was 900 and the only reason I would have these values is because they were the result of a virus.  Make note that he did not relay the correct values to me.  He said that Hep B is very uncommon, so it is Hep C.  He added that since I have moere than three colors of tattoos my risk of Hep C increased.  I asked him to make sure that these liver values were caused by Hep C and he said yes.  He did a quick physical exam that consisted of listening to my heart and lungs and did 1 liver thump at the upper left quadrant.  I asked him what happens next and he said that I need to get blood work to determine what Hep C genotype I have in order to get the right treatment.  He talked to me like we were talking about the weather, no concern for the harsh news I was recieving.  I told him that this was really hard news to hear on my birthday and he didn't respond.  He became silent and I asked him if I am supposed to get lab work now and he said yes, the Hep C panel.  

When I left I was devastated.  The flood of thoughts running through my head.  I called my primary care doctor the next day for some clarification.  My team nurse told me that my Hep C panel came back negative and my Hep B panel has surface antibodies due to me being vaccinated for Hep B while in the Army and 4 years ago when I went to India.

I'm completely asymptomatic.  Since '97, randomly I would have slightly elevated ALT and AST.  I am getting a liver ultrasound in 10 days.  I'm scared to death.  I had a few drinks on the 2nd and worked out really hard (pulling a groin muscle and being sore in my chest for five days after) on the 31st, which may have increase the levels on the 4th.  I also worked out hard on the 13th, reinjuring the groin muscle and causing severe cramping of my calves as well as taking tylenol over the weekend.  

Any ideas?  I know it could be NASH.  I never drank hard so I doubt alcohol hep or FLD.  With what I described about, could the spikes just be related to the things I need a few days prior?  The GI was a jerk and will not be going back.  I'm not asking for a diagnosis, just some input.  Like I said, the GI being insistant that I had Hep C without any definitive lab work has scared the sh*t out of me.  Any comforting words are very welcome.

Thanks.

[three_little_birds]

HI Nan,

Thank you so much for your reply.  I have just been trying to relax.  Even though whatever is going on with my liver isn't viral, I keep reliving the fear that I experienced at my GI appointment.  Thanks for your support.  It may sound silly, but it means the world to me.

[nan535]

Found a possible explanation for periodic higher liver function tests, given your muscle injuries.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2291230/

Your liver ultrasound will give you some needed answers. You need to know the status of your liver so don't fear it.  You need to know where you stand in order to take needed steps to help yourself.

Your GI was definitely a jerk.  Glad you don't have Hep C.  Trust me you definitely didn't need that. My husband has HepC about 35 years from a blood transfusion. The result was end stage liver disease and a transplant. So count your blessings!

Get your ultrasound test done and find out where you stand.  knowledge is power.

Good luck
Nan