General Medical issues thread

[Quickstatus]

Unexpected results from blood test. Cholesterol in four months gone up from 4.7 to 6.6. Damn. Have not changed diet. Raised AST and ALT above reference point. (Liver function tests.) LD higher for me but within reference. CRP just above reference whereas always not detected previously. CK raised and just below reference point. Raised creatinine and lowest for me egfr - 68. Lucky I have a follow up specialist visit next week. Auto immune liver issue? Maybe something to do with the coagulation issue? These tests were well within normal range four months ago and seem to have suddenly spiked. I don't look yellow. No gall bladder pain. And I havent done an alcohol binge either in fact reduced it due to cold. Also didn't eat much either for last few weeks again due to heavy cold.

Generally alcohol increases GGT rather than AST/ALT. Interestingly coffee reduces AST/ALT.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK - Did you have the liver issues before you started immuno suppressants or as a consequence of them? I'm only on plaquenil now.

The first time I remember liver issues was when I first started immuno suppresants back in 1985-1986. I was having regular blood tests and they stopped the immuno suppresants as liver function was high.

It was also around that time that ankylosing spondylitis and sacroiliitis first started to flare and by 1988-1989 I had severe lower back pain.

Not fair but I guess there are worse things to suffer.

 

[marki]

Liver Function tests dysfunction and especially alcohol are well known to affect GTT values.
Often forgotten that one. ( simplistic view only) Also medication affects LFT's ( all sorts of medx ) Also good food can cause fatty liver disease.
Liver cells like to recover but lots of recovering can cause underlying fibrosis and then cirrhosis........hardening of the liver.( simplistic)

Had no idea ALT/ AST association with coffee ? Is that's its anti oxidant effects ?

 

[whatmeworry]

Distant Cousin in Canada recently passed away after battling lupus for a while. Only in her 50's.

 

[love_the_life]

Distant Cousin in Canada recently passed away after battling lupus for a while. Only in her 50's.

Sorry to hear that. I know a number of people with auto-immune diseases who are living long and when symptoms are well addressed, quite healthy lives, having had the diseases for many years in some cases. I guess it all comes down to the individual nature of the disease - people are affected differently by it.

On a different note, our friend with stage 4 bowel cancer is soldiering on but it is just a matter of time and he has become quite angry with those around him and lashing out at them which is hard for them to cope with.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Distant Cousin in Canada recently passed away after battling lupus for a while. Only in her 50's.

Sorry to hear that - I guess severity depends on which organs are involved. Hopefully they will get more of a handle on what triggers auto immune diseases.

 

[Flying mermaid]

On a different note, our friend with stage 4 bowel cancer is soldiering on but it is just a matter of time and he has become quite angry with those around him and lashing out at them which is hard for them to cope with.

Hard for everyone .

 

[Pushka]

You are on statins aren't you? So the increase has happened while on them? Hope it is all just a blip and goes back to normal soon.

i have managed to get my cholesterol from 7.5 to 6.4 with diet and hoping to get it down lower.

No. Four months ago it was 4.6. Now it's 6.6.

GGT is fine. It's ALT and AST that are now high with one being above the ref range and the other at the upper limit having been less than half that four months ago. Inflammation up too. First time above reference.

 

[Flying mermaid]

No. Four months ago it was 4.6. Now it's 6.6.

GGT is fine. It's ALT and AST that are now high with one being above the ref range and the other at the upper limit having been less than half that four months ago. Inflammation up too. First time above reference.

Ms FM's CRP has been elevated when she has had a virus, so hopefully that is part of it and not something more unpleasant.

 

[Major]

May I have a translation please ?

GGT
ALT
AST
LFT
CRP

 

[TheRealTMA]

You are on statins aren't you? So the increase has happened while on them? Hope it is all just a blip and goes back to normal soon.

i have managed to get my cholesterol from 7.5 to 6.4 with diet and hoping to get it down lower.

Statins are good for you in many other ways.

 

[Hvr]

May I have a translation please ?

GGT
ALT
AST
LFT
CRP

Here we go. :mrgreen:[TABLE="class: tb86"] [TR] [TD="class: border1"][TABLE="class: tb86"] [TR] [TD="class: border1"]GGT
[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]George Town[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]Exuma International[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]Bahamas
[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD="class: border1"]
[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]
[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]
[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: tb86"] [TR] [TD="class: border1"]AST[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]Astoria (OR) [/TD] [TD="class: border1"]Astoria
[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]USA
[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [TABLE="class: tb86"] [TR] [TD="class: border1"]CRP
[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]Corpus Christi (TX) [/TD] [TD="class: border1"]International[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]
USA


[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: tb86"] [TR] [TD="class: border1"]ALT[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]Alenquer[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]Alenquer[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]Brazil[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: tb86"] [TR] [TD="class: border1"]LFT[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]Lafayette (LA) [/TD] [TD="class: border1"]Lafayette Regional Airport[/TD] [TD="class: border1"]USA[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]

 

[RooFlyer]

Generally alcohol increases GGT rather than AST/ALT. Interestingly coffee reduces AST/ALT.

Yes. It's the 'stool pigeon' enzyme, isn't it.

 

[cove]

For the past 22 years I have been on cholesterol lowering drugs so my body has adjusted to a cholesterol ratio of just over 3.0.
I have come to the conclusion that laughter is a big help in your well being and having a purpose in life is important too. Still I have Anginine spray close by for the just in case senario and have never had to use it.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

May I have a translation please ?
GGT /ALT /AST /LFT /CRP

Liver Function Tests (LFT)

The gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) test may be used to determine the cause of elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Both ALP and GGT are elevated in disease of the bile ducts and in some liver diseases, but only ALP will be elevated in bone disease. Therefore, if the GGT level is normal in a person with a high ALP, the cause of the elevated ALP is most likely bone disease.

AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) are reasonably sensitive indicators of liver damage or injury from different types of diseases or conditions, and collectively they are termed liver tests or liver blood tests. However, it must be emphasized that higher-than-normal levels of these liver enzymes should not be automatically equated with liver disease.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein made by the liver and secreted into the blood. It is often the first evidence of inflammation or an infection in the body. Its concentration increases in the blood within a few hours after the start of infection or other inflammatory injury. The level of CRP can increase many hundred-fold in response to inflammation and then drop relatively quickly as soon as the inflammation passes, making it a valuable test to monitor effectiveness of treatment.

More info : Tests - Lab Tests Online AU

 

[drron]

Now I am hardly ever the smallest guy in the room but my cholesterol varies between 2.7 and 3.6.Then again the same for the rest of my family.Finally some good genes.

 

[Moindardt]

Sounds like that should dr.mrs.ron instead.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Sounds like that should dr.mrs.ron instead.

The only good genes I have are designer JEANS !! I have a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure - not a good trifecta to have !!!!

 

[cove]

Wow I am with you mrs.dr.ron but no designer jeans for me. Staying alive with heart disease running in the family requires attention to detail. I can see you follow the blood readings closely based on your post. I tend to pay attention to the red readings every 3 months or so.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Now I am hardly ever the smallest guy in the room but my cholesterol varies between 2.7 and 3.6.Then again the same for the rest of my family.Finally some good genes.

This is where life is not fair...I have a BMI of 23.5, exercise, cook all my own food from scratch, lots of fruit and vegetables and cholesterol is 6.4. . However on the bright side, all the women on my mother's side lived to over 90 with pretty good health until the last few years, so I hope some of that flows my way.