Mainly For Sqad Or Anyone Who Understands

[Barsel]

high levels of GGT in the blood.
I know the levels should be between 6-42 but last Christmas mine were 2062 and I was admitted to hospital.
Since then I've had 2 MRCP scans and they are happy there are no stones in the bile duct.
Last week I thought I was looking a bit jaundice so asked my GP if I could have a blood test which she agreed to. I had it done on Monday.
This morning I got a phone call from the surgery asking me to come for another blood test and the GP saw me also, so I was able to ask why the blood tests were being repeated, and was told my GGT was 800+ and if the results from today come back as higher, I may have to go to the hospital.
My question is, why do my GGT levels go up so high?
I don't drink alcohol ever, and there are no stones, so what can cause it?
I did ask my GP and she just said probably some kind of liver damage, but what, how, why?
Just wish someone could explain it better. TIA.

[Sqad]

Barsel........I have just explained, you probably have NAFLD........fatty liver.....cirrhosis, whatever term one likes to use.
That is the most likeliest cause.

[Sqad]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
OverviewSymptomsTreatments
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a group of conditions caused by high levels of fat in the liver.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease usually has no symptoms. Some people may have tummy pain and feel weak and very tired.




There are no medicines for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Things like losing weight, eating healthily and regular exercise can help.
Things that increase your risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease include being overweight, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

That has been copied and pasted from the Internet......and I hate myself.

[Barsel]

Ah don't hate yourself Sqad :-)
Well a while ago I started cutting down on carbs and have lost about a stone and only need to lose another stone to be the perfect weight for my height, so I'm ruling that out.
I had a test for diabetes and cholesterol when I had the blood test on Monday and the GP made no mention of them.
My blood pressure is under good control at the moment due to Perindopril, so I have to rule those out too.
Yes, I know I have NAFLD but why do the levels fluctuate so much and go so high?

[Sqad]

/////Yes, I know I have NAFLD but why do the levels fluctuate so much and go so high?/////

That my love is the nature of the disorder.

[Barsel]

Chris, I find it interesting in the article you put a link on to that medication can cause liver damage, so that's something I could ask the doctor about.
I am on my second lot of antibiotics at the moment due to a chest and throat infection, I wonder if it could be that?
Will check the leaflet that came with the tablets.

[Barsel]

Sqad, one last question, is fatty liver disease caused by eating too much fat, and can losing weight get rid of the fat around the liver. Sorry that's 2 questions.

[barry1010]

Barsel, I had NAFLD a few years ago but the numbers were not as high as yours. I was never hospitalised for it. I am type 2 diabetic and at that time was morbidly obese. I lost a lot of weight by dieting and my liver is fine now, normal readings.

So yes , losing weight helped me but I was a lot more overweight than you.

[Barsel]

barry, before I tried to lose weight, I was classed as obese as I'm only 5ft tall, but I'm now happy with my weight but still aim to lose another stone if I can, as long as it doesn't make me look drawn in.
It seems strange that I've lost weight and the GGT has gone up.

[ToraToraTora]

sqad, please tell me a story!

[LadyCG]

*Grabs popcorn and large dirt cola...*

[barry1010]

Even young children can develop NAFLD, Barsel. Just accept it as 'one of those things' and follow proper medical advice.

[LadyCG]

Dirt cola? Have they stopped serving the diet one??

[Barsel]

Barry if there is something I can do to reverse it, then I would do that rather than them sending me to hospital every time it goes high, but I don't know if it can be reversed.

[LadyCG]

Have you got a Hepatology Service near you, Barsel?

Alternatively maybe a Consultant in Metabolic Medicine such as a Chemical Pathologist? I know a lot of the patients with hypercholesterolaemia have fatty liver too. Have you had a cholesterol check lately?

[barry1010]

As far as I know NAFLD can be reversed in most cases
https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/digestive-gut-health/non-alcoholic-fatty-liver-disease
I know my liver is absolutely fine now but as I said my condition wasn't as severe as yours.

[Sqad]

OK TTT just for yoy you-;)

1954 a London Teaching Hospital host to a Seminar on Neurology for budding Consultant Neurologists for our NHS.
It was suggested that as 2nd year medical students by our tutor that we should attend , sit at the back and experience life as a medical student.

20 of us took our seats at the back of the Lecture Theatre as a case was wheeled in and the participants were invited to examine her eyes.
The presenter asked if anyone else in the audience would like to examine her and my mate Dick Swann stood up and proceeded down to the front, ignoring cries from his mates, to come back , sit down and shut up.

Ignoring our pleas, he confidently examined the patient and without a word and in silence returned to his mates on the back row.

Sir Russell Brain looked at Dick and said
"Well Mr Swann?"

Dick replied " Wison's Disease, with typical Kaiser Fleishner rings in the eyes.

Good old Dick and thank you for suffering another of my memories when Medicine and Surgery was an art.

[barry1010]

Just out of curiosity, Barsel - can you feel your liver? I could feel mine when it was enlarged by pressing down under my rib cage.

[Mamyalynne]

Barsel is still under the care of the specialist and had a cholesterol check on Monday.

[Sqad]

Barsel.....don't forget that you have been taking antibiotics and steroids which although in themselves could 3xplain you high liver enzyme test,they could well be a contributory factor.

[Barsel]

barry , no I can't feel my liver, but the doctor has said he can.
I will have a read of the link you put on later.(don't tell Sqad)
Having checked the medication I take, about 3 or 4 say don't take if you have kidney or liver disease, so I will bring that up with the GP tomorrow.
Thanks for all your replies, I'm off to cook my tea now then I have a click and collect at 8pm.
Will look in later to see if TTT has read Sqads story. :-) x