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Posted 6/25/2009 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
smhair    I am very confussed.  I got my blood work back today and my AST and ALT levers are very, very high.  My doctor has ordered a CT scan, but she not really telling me anything.  I don't drink and for work I had hipitius shoots.  What should I make of all this?  I'm scared.  I have 2 children that depend on me.

 

Posted 6/25/2009 4:36 AM (GMT 0)

Hi, Nocle53.  Have you been exposed to hepatitis C?  There is no preventative vaccine for this.  If you haven't been sick lately, you could have contracted it 15-20 years ago.  Did you ever have a transfusion?  Ever use IV drugs and share needles?  Aside from that possibility, there is something called autoimmune hepatitis.  The CT scan will tell more.  Your doctor may also refer you to a GI doc or hepatologist who may do a biopsy of your liver.  Try not to panic and get a firm diagnosis.  Then you will learn what treatments are available.

For additional information, go to the folder at the top of the page entitled Hepatitis Resources.  There is a lot of information in there in the educational threads.

Good luck to you and let us know the results of your scan.


Posted 6/25/2009 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
cry  I have never had I blood transfussion, never used IV drugs or shared needles, and am not sick.  I just went in for my yearly physical.  Every two years they draw blood and 2 years ago it was just fine.  For my work I have had a series of Heb B shoots.  And I don't drink, except for maybe, on a bad week, a total of 4 beers and thats ont every week.  Thank you for your advice and I'll try not to worry.
Posted 6/25/2009 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
There's always the possiblity that it was a lab error as well.  Did the doctor want to redo the labs?  I would ask for that if it were me.  They sometimes do confuse patients.

Posted 6/26/2009 11:36 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Nocle53,

Don't get too freaked out yet.  Do you have any other symptoms, like nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the whites of your eyes, dark urine...), fatigue?  Have you been taking any medication even antibiotics?  Any herbal remedies?  Many things can cause your ALT/AST to be elevated.  How high are your numbers?

I have autoimmune hepatitis.  It isn't caused by a virus, it's an autoimmune disorder.  There are many disorders that affect the liver.  Even gall bladder issues will cause your LFT's (liver function tests) to be elevated.  Mono (EBV-Epstein Barr Virus) can cause it as well as CMV (cytomegalovirus) which usually causes flu-like symptoms...and sometimes, no symptoms at all.

Your doc should be running the viral serologies to rule out a viral type of hepatitis.  Once those are done they should check for other viruses as the ones stated above (there are so many tests they can run to rule things out).  And of course, repeat your regular labs.  Doing a CT scan is great too.

Please let us know more and ask more questions if needed...question your doctor too.  You are your own advocate.

Take care,

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