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UC and elevated liver enzymes

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/18/2008 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I have follows this forum for years but haven't logged in. Today I thnk I need help.

I haven't had blood work performed for two years. I had been feeling wonderful and was taken off all medications.

I just moved to a new state with my husband, a major change and disruption in our lives, my mentally ill son also had major surgery due to a serious injury, and I also found out that my husband of 28 years has been seeing other men. I went into a major void.

I went to a new doctor, a general practitioner, just for other tests, and also because after two years of remission, my UC came back with a vengence and needed more asacol.

The last three months have been extremely confusing and stresful. I couldn't eat and the UC hasn't helped. Naturally, I dropped quite a bit of weight.

The blood tests just came back with elevated liver enzyme counts. All were double the highest of the normal side. My doctor said I need to go back next week for another round of tests and an ultrascan of the liver, to be followed later by a liver biopsy.

Are elevated liver enzyme counts associated with an ongoing flair and extreme stress?

I am afraid I may have liver cancer or hepatitis.

Does anyone have any experience with elevated liver enzyme counts?

Thank you.

MaryAnne
Posted 10/18/2008 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi....you must get in to see a GI and save the liver biopsy until you have at least had non-invasive tests such as the ultrasound and an MRCP.

The increase of enzymes can be because of a few things...which ones exactly are increased?
Get a copy of the blood test results for your records.

I hope your doctor also does other tests such as autoimmune markers, cancer markers..etc.

I have had elevated liver enzymes and was eventually diagnosed with UC-related liver disease called Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. The MRCP showed it, but my blood tests show PRimary Biliary Chirrosis....don't know if one can have both, but I refuse to have the invasive test for a non-curable disease that can cause accelleration or infection.

This site could help regarding the blood tests, why they're done, what others should also be done if they're increased., etc.

http://labtestsonline.org/index.html



Do the homework.

Welcome to the forum!
Hang tough, you'll be in for a bumpy ride while going through the process to find out what's going on....

quincy

Posted 10/18/2008 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for all your help and information. I will follow through and stay with all your suggestions.
MaryAnne
Posted 10/18/2008 6:16 PM (GMT 0)
Also, based on the history from your husband, STD testing including Hepatitis C would be indicated. Please ask for this if it hasn't already been done. Best wishes to you and I hope this resolves well for you.
Posted 10/19/2008 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
I also have sclerosing colangitis. supposedly the two illnesses often appear together.

They only biopsied me when they were totally clueless what was wrong with me. It didnt help them figure it out.. the ERCP was the only indicator.

definitely see a specialist in a big hospital. I had a family doctor and our small town specialist look at me for 2yrs and then within hours of seeing a good specialist - ta da! they diagnosed me.

are you itchy at all? Are you jaundice? my doctor never really worried about my condition until I was jaundice and my Liver function tests were 6 times normal. Again, depends on which test.
dont worry
Posted 10/19/2008 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have any advice, just a big <<<<<<<<HUG>>>>>>>>>

Best wishes
Posted 10/19/2008 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm with the gang....see your GI before you do anything else.

I'm not sure why some doctors are so quick to diagnose without doing more homework. My husband couldn't get in to see his doctor so he went to a local clinic for his recent congestion and headaches. He also had a backache. The doctor immediately wanted my husband to go to the hospital and get the spinal tap thingie to get tested for Viral meningitis!! The doctor didn't ask my husband ANY questions. My husband's back hurts because we need a new mattress. His head was hurting because his sinuses were all goobered up. Another doctor showed up and gave him a shot and now he is fine. He is still congested, but the headache is gone.
Posted 10/19/2008 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi again fellow posters,

It's interesting how these illnesses are so connected. But I realize now that although I do not have any symptoms of liver disease, I am a high risk person due to my abuse of wine with dinner and aspirin or motrin at night to help me sleep. I started drinking more wine than I should have about 22 years ago after the unexpected death of my son from kidney disease. I also was the caretaker of my mother for 10 years, she had senile dementia, and the caretaker of my seriously mentally ill other son. I took refuge in the evening in the numbing effect of the wine and also, my marriage was very problematic to say the least. Of course the U.C. and weight loss made me a little tired, so I never suspected anything else could be wrong.

I never confided my marital problems or my sense of loss and confusion to a professional or any doctor, as I now realize would have been wise. I kept everything inside as I was taught and especially never ever shared my emotions or pain as I was taught. I tried my best to be a "good soldier", a good daughter, mother and wife, no one knew anything and the wine helped me deaden those feelings.

So, now I must deal with the reality of not having taken the best care of myself and deal with the resulting liver disease. The ultrascan and biopsy are scheduled for three weeks away. Lots of time to take stock of how best to manage what's ahead and plan for my mentally ill son's future, because I may not be around as long as I had hoped.

I must not fail in this, and must be courageous and strong for my son, and even for my husband, who despite his own sexual and emotional problems, has been better than most under difficult situations.

You all have been very helpful and comforting, and I don't even know you. But thank you again for your thoughts and suggestions. I'll make it through this additional "assignment" in life as best I can and will let you know the medical results after they inform me, probably a little over three weeks. Thank you again.

MaryAnne
Posted 10/20/2008 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
wow you are going through a lot - I hope everything comes back good for you
Posted 10/21/2008 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
Too much alcohol is hard on your liver, I'd cut back if you can at least until you find out which liver enzymes are elevated and why. Or until perhaps they start lowering on their own or due to improvements in areas of stress, diet or alcohol intake. Make sure your doctor does bloodwork regularly to see whether they are going up or down. I ask for copies of my bloodwork so I can watch the up and down trends myself. Also I think red wine especially bothers my UC. Although I prefer the taste of red wine, if I drink at all anymore I drink beer. Eat gently (avoid really spicy or really greasy), but be sure to eat! I don't have much extra weight on me so I make myself have 3 meals a day even when I don't have an appetite due to UC or depression or medication side effects. Hang in there through your tough times, there will be some good times too, really.
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