Liver and blood tests
Discussion
I have had some blood tests come back as I have been having some dizzy spells and they show a high number for my liver. The doctor didn't really explain it too much but a healthy liver is below 40 somethings and mines is over 100 somethings. She requested I see a liver specialist which I am currently trying to book but I am still unsure what these numbers actually mean. I am 48 and around 17 stone and 6,2", so yes I know I am overweight but I do feel relatively healthy. I drink very little alcohol.
Can someone tell me if these numbers are a big problem as I couldn't really sleep last night thinking about it.
Can someone tell me if these numbers are a big problem as I couldn't really sleep last night thinking about it.
Edited by alan36 on Thursday 8th October 08:39
Have been through this ringer myself a couple of times.
Sounds like the ALT level, basically an indicator of liver health. The higher the number the more ALT in your blood indicator your liver is struggling. ALT should be below 40 ug/l - 40 micrograms per litre of blood.
Likelihood is you have NAFLD - Non alcoholic fatty liver disease, which will be lifestyle related.
They’ll probably refer you to have an ultrasound and a fibroscan.
The ultrasound will probably show that your liver looks like wagyu beef, ie riddled with fat, and the fibroscan will check for any scarring.
Basically you’ll get two pieces of advice, quit any and all booze for a few months and lose weight.
Livers regenerate, with a level of 100 I wouldn’t be concerned but you should aim to drop some weight and lay off the sauce for a while until you get your levels below 40.
Sounds like the ALT level, basically an indicator of liver health. The higher the number the more ALT in your blood indicator your liver is struggling. ALT should be below 40 ug/l - 40 micrograms per litre of blood.
Likelihood is you have NAFLD - Non alcoholic fatty liver disease, which will be lifestyle related.
They’ll probably refer you to have an ultrasound and a fibroscan.
The ultrasound will probably show that your liver looks like wagyu beef, ie riddled with fat, and the fibroscan will check for any scarring.
Basically you’ll get two pieces of advice, quit any and all booze for a few months and lose weight.
Livers regenerate, with a level of 100 I wouldn’t be concerned but you should aim to drop some weight and lay off the sauce for a while until you get your levels below 40.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 9th October 08:04
I wouldn't worry too much about the number - my ALT was 238 on the last day before discharge from liver surgery recently! It's a sign of liver distress (and chopping a quarter of it out will defo cause distress)
As above, try to think about lifestyle changes - weight and diet will be the major ones, I suspect.
As above, try to think about lifestyle changes - weight and diet will be the major ones, I suspect.
No idea what mine peaked at - I was in hospital for a week after surgery, so imagine it was pretty high!
Haven't had the joys of a biopsy while awake, but I can similarly concur that waking up from 3.5 hours surgery to find you have a 12" scar from your right side, under your ribs and up your chest is, erm, 'interesting'! Especially when it's just glued back together.....
Haven't had the joys of a biopsy while awake, but I can similarly concur that waking up from 3.5 hours surgery to find you have a 12" scar from your right side, under your ribs and up your chest is, erm, 'interesting'! Especially when it's just glued back together.....
Sam.M said:
Have been through this ringer myself a couple of times.
Sounds like the ALT level, basically an indicator of liver health. The higher the number the more ALT in your blood indicator your liver is struggling. ALT should be below 40 ug/l - 40 micrograms per litre of blood.
Likelihood is you have NAFLD - Non alcoholic fatty liver disease, which will be lifestyle related.
They’ll probably refer you to have an ultrasound and a fibroscan.
The ultrasound will probably show that your liver looks like wagyu beef, ie riddled with fat, and the fibroscan will check for any scarring.
Basically you’ll get two pieces of advice, quit any and all booze for a few months and lose weight.
Livers regenerate, with a level of 100 I wouldn’t be concerned but you should aim to drop some weight and lay off the sauce for a while until you get your levels below 40.
I am not a doctor, but I am surprised the OP’s doctor did not give this advice.Sounds like the ALT level, basically an indicator of liver health. The higher the number the more ALT in your blood indicator your liver is struggling. ALT should be below 40 ug/l - 40 micrograms per litre of blood.
Likelihood is you have NAFLD - Non alcoholic fatty liver disease, which will be lifestyle related.
They’ll probably refer you to have an ultrasound and a fibroscan.
The ultrasound will probably show that your liver looks like wagyu beef, ie riddled with fat, and the fibroscan will check for any scarring.
Basically you’ll get two pieces of advice, quit any and all booze for a few months and lose weight.
Livers regenerate, with a level of 100 I wouldn’t be concerned but you should aim to drop some weight and lay off the sauce for a while until you get your levels below 40.
Edited by Sam.M on Friday 9th October 08:04
A friend of mine in France was told to stop many times, before being given the red card last year. He stopped immediately, but his life expectancy at that time was just a few months, so he got his affairs in order and expected to die last October.
One year on he is much improved having lost any kilos. But it does show the Liver’s capacity to regenerate itself. He is not well, but then he is 85.
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