Questions - New User

MiksMom, welcome to the forum. Trish did a very good job in finding enzyme info for you. As you can see, your husband's levels are extremely high. I have hep C and liver cancer, but none of my liver enzymes has been higher than 90. Enzymes do not always tell the whole story. Your husband needs a hepatologist and a liver biopsy. However, nothing can really help him until he stops drinking. He may not be able to do this by himself. He may need to go to a detox unit. Would he be willing to do this? He would not be eligible for a transplant until he has been free from alcohol (and attending AA meetings) for 6 months. Any other treatment would be useless if he does not stop drinking first. Sorry to be so blunt, but your husband's situation sounds very serious and not something to be sugar coated.

Connie

Post Edited (hep93) : 11/3/2006 8:56:56 PM (GMT-7)

Thank you all very much. Right now he's choosing to be in denial. Every attempt to get sober and stay sober over the past 6 years have failed. I noticed since 2003 his liver tests were running high. Back then his AST was 137 and the ALT was 72...every attempt I made he would counter with, "I have a good liver". Until recently when he's had trouble w/ his potassium, iron, and other issues that has almost put him in a non functioning state. His blood pressure was rising to stroke level although he was taking a heavy dosage of bp meds. Then the doctor gave him the ace inhibitor to take in addition to the beta blocker...his blood pressure came down, but so all the other issues hit him. Now they have his potassium back up, but nothing else has much changed although his liver levels were rising. His family doctor is very good as she is my doctor too. I know she leaves no stone unturned...I didn't understand why she didn't order scopes to see where the blood loss was. Then she also gave him Librium to detox at home on his own. As he has truly been through all types of treatment and nothing has worked for more than 2 weeks - and usually not even that long. She gave him the meds w/ his return to work slip. I think it was a sink or swim type of message from her. I guess the reason she didn't scope (and I am assuming) for blood loss as he is anemic. She did the stool sample, but it was ok. But I think her reason for not scoping was, because even if they did scope and stop the blood loss it would do no good as long as he continued to drink.

All I have had until your post were numbers higher than the normal ranges. His past doctors never raised any red flags on these ranges ever. Like I said his levels have been increasing since at least 2003.

I've needed someone to tell me how high this was in comparison to liver disease, cirrohosis...even a friend with liver disease didn't give me a straight answer. I needed someone to tell me if I was looking at end stage liver disease or exactly what this is.

The medication he desperately wanted to detox at home was given to him...he was 2 days into it and turned back to the bottle. He is a sneak drinker, so I never know until I see its effects or smell it on his breath.

I hate that your going through this miksmom,I have been very closely in the same situation,a few times to be truthful,,,,,I dont know your whole situation but just one small thing to think about,,your 6 yr old can not control anything going on around him,,so he is dependent on you to be the protecter,,but I understand your vows too,,love,honor and cherish,,I guess you maybe could ask yourself,,does he keep his vows to you?? I hope you make the right decision for yourself and your family,,take care and know that no matter what you decide to do,,there are ppl out here who care. my thoughts will be with you.