Re: Liver problems update

[Guest guest]

Hi All ... you may remember my post of last week about the highly elevated SGPT

and SGOT. The doc then tested for Hep A, B & C, 's Disease and something

else. (Can't remember what.) All of those tests are normal. My doc has spoken

with a gastroenterologist and the consensus is that we wait two weeks and then

re-draw the original SGOT and SGPT. So, all I know is that I don't have

Hepatitis and actually, I was hoping for Hep A. At least that could be cured.

As it stands, all I know is that something is terribly out of whack and I just

have to wait and see. If the tests in two weeks are still elevated then I will

see the gastro guy for liver tests. Does anyone know what kind of tests that

may entail? Ultrasound? MRI? Needle biopsy? (My doc was out of the office

today and the nurse didn't know or wasn't telling.) I just hate it when they

won't talk to you!!!

Help!! :-)

Ann (TX)

[Guest guest]

As far a liver tests go they could do ultrasounds, or cat scans. As far as

the liver biopsy goes I would NOT have one unless they have a REALLY good

reason. In the absence of positive hepatitis tests this reason would have to

be results of a scan of some sort.

Your liver enzymes are up - so what does that mean exactly? Well it could be

lots of things but in order to test or look for something they need something

else to lead them. Actually it could even be your pancreas or even your

gallbladder for that matter which is why they may just scan your abdomen.

As far as the biopsy goes I wouldn't recommend it based solely on elevated

enzymes. The reason being that it would be highly unlikely that they would

gain anything from it. What I mean is that unless they found something on a

scan they would just be checking for liver damage. The liver is a VERY

hardworking organ. It takes years of abuse and still keeps going. People

with hepatitis c ususally don't develop cirrhosis til 25 years into the

disease! Based on my husbands liver biopsy I would guess that you would even

have to be a heavy drinker for about 25 years before cirrhosis develops (and

I mean heavy). This is what I mean about the liver taking a lot of abuse.

If you stop abusing it it repairs itself - if you stop before cirrhosis

develops. Cirrhosis is NOT repairable.

As far as cancers are concerned - primary liver cancer is very rare. You

would probably have other symptoms before you checked for elevated LFT's.

You would also probably have elevated bilirubin and some other liver tests.

As far as other liver problems are concerned I hope they checked for

Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH). There is a trick here and most doctors and

even GI docs DON'T know all there is to know about it. First of all you need

to have iron tests done. That would be serum iron, total iron binding

capacity (divide these to get the percent of saturation) and serum ferritin

(storage iron). There is a range here and the lab will put these on the

reports (get your copies). A saturation over 45% and a ferritin of over 150

(I think) is an indication of HH. A gene test can confirm this and you can

do it yourself and send it to Michigan State Univ. A doctor may want a liver

bx to confirm HH but depending on your levels and age this may not be

necessary and should maybe be avoided due to risk.

Heres the other thing about HH that hasn't been studied enough yet. Bacteria

love iron. I have one report that lists the bacteria that thrive on iron and

erlichiosis is one of them. Don't know what this means exactly and neither

do they but I figure if you have a bacteria and lots of food for it it may be

a way for it to survive - perhaps in your liver where excess iron is stored

(which is what sends your liver enzymes up).

By the way - no one with Lyme should take iron in any form!!!!

HH is hereditary and is prevalent amoung those with northern european desent

- particularly irish/scottish/celtic, some northern italy and austrailian (so

far). It can cause diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, arthritis, early

menopause etc..Treatment is phlebotomy.

Hope this wasn't too much - I couldn't remember if you were on abx or not or

what other health problems you have. Please keep in touch.

Kathleen

[Guest guest]

This is not offered as " medical information and or treatment "

simply just information that may or may not affect others.

Sometime ago I started reading about Milk Thistle as a

supplement being taken by people with elevated Liver

enzymes and or Hep. Since most of the medication we

take must be cleared through liver and kidneys, and I've

had discomfort and pain on right side even after gall

bladder removed, I assumed that my body needed some

help. Everything I'd read from others who were on the

Milk Thistle was encouraging so recently I gave it a try

and take when I take the most medications, as it gives

directions to take 2 up to 3 times a day and that works

with my medicaitons.

I have belonged to various pain groups where the

discussion of Milk Thistle has come up from time to

time and have known of one person other than me

that I knew first hand with Hep that improved on

it, but that does not mean it is safe for everyone and

you must get your physician to okay before taking it.

I'd buy some and leave it unopened and keep your

receipt and take bottle to the doctor before ever

taking any if you choose to try it.

What I noticed right off the bat is that I stopped having

the minor or worse pain on my right side, not knowing the

cause, but having a " catch " in my side since I was a teen,

I was glad to have this go away. I continue to take the

Simply Milk Thistle made by Enzymatic Therapy

60 softgels No. 08056 that I get at healthfood store

for $16.95 a bottle. I don't know that it will work for

everyone, but after reading so many people on pain list

with different ailments taking it, I just thought it was worth

a try for me and it appears to be doing something. I have

not had elevated enzymes, but my last labs done a little

over a week ago showed everything to be excellent.

I do not get paid, no does anyone in my family work for

or get paid anything for mentioning this otc supplement.

As ever, do not take anything without your doctor's

permission, it could interact with a medication you are

taking and cause harm to you.

Wishing us all health and freedom from pain,

both physical and emotional -

wrote:

> Hi All ... you may remember my post of last week about the highly

> elevated SGPT and SGOT. The doc then tested for Hep A, B & C,

> 's Disease and something else. (Can't remember what.) All of

> those tests are normal. My doc has spoken with a gastroenterologist

> and the consensus is that we wait two weeks and then re-draw the

> original SGOT and SGPT. So, all I know is that I don't have Hepatitis

> and actually, I was hoping for Hep A. At least that could be cured.

> As it stands, all I know is that something is terribly out of whack

> and I just have to wait and see. If the tests in two weeks are still

> elevated then I will see the gastro guy for liver tests. Does anyone

> know what kind of tests that may entail? Ultrasound? MRI? Needle

> biopsy? (My doc was out of the office today and the nurse didn't know

> or wasn't telling.) I just hate it when they won't talk to

> you!!! Help!! :-) Ann (TX)

[Guest guest]

,

I too have heard lots of good things about Milk Thistle, especially for people

taking Flagyl. If I convince my LLMD tomorrow to let me try Flagyl, I will also

talk to him about MT, thanks

Vicki

Re: [Lyme-aid] Re: Liver problems update

This is not offered as " medical information and or treatment "

simply just information that may or may not affect others.

Sometime ago I started reading about Milk Thistle as a

supplement being taken by people with elevated Liver

enzymes and or Hep. Since most of the medication we

take must be cleared through liver and kidneys, and I've

had discomfort and pain on right side even after gall

bladder removed, I assumed that my body needed some

help. Everything I'd read from others who were on the

Milk Thistle was encouraging so recently I gave it a try

and take when I take the most medications, as it gives

directions to take 2 up to 3 times a day and that works

with my medicaitons.

I have belonged to various pain groups where the

discussion of Milk Thistle has come up from time to

time and have known of one person other than me

that I knew first hand with Hep that improved on

it, but that does not mean it is safe for everyone and

you must get your physician to okay before taking it.

I'd buy some and leave it unopened and keep your

receipt and take bottle to the doctor before ever

taking any if you choose to try it.

What I noticed right off the bat is that I stopped having

the minor or worse pain on my right side, not knowing the

cause, but having a " catch " in my side since I was a teen,

I was glad to have this go away. I continue to take the

Simply Milk Thistle made by Enzymatic Therapy

60 softgels No. 08056 that I get at healthfood store

for $16.95 a bottle. I don't know that it will work for

everyone, but after reading so many people on pain list

with different ailments taking it, I just thought it was worth

a try for me and it appears to be doing something. I have

not had elevated enzymes, but my last labs done a little

over a week ago showed everything to be excellent.

I do not get paid, no does anyone in my family work for

or get paid anything for mentioning this otc supplement.

As ever, do not take anything without your doctor's

permission, it could interact with a medication you are

taking and cause harm to you.

Wishing us all health and freedom from pain,

both physical and emotional -

wrote:

Hi All ... you may remember my post of last week about the highly

elevated SGPT and SGOT. The doc then tested for Hep A, B & C, 's Disease

and something else. (Can't remember what.) All of those tests are normal. My

doc has spoken with a gastroenterologist and the consensus is that we wait two

weeks and then re-draw the original SGOT and SGPT. So, all I know is that I

don't have Hepatitis and actually, I was hoping for Hep A. At least that could

be cured. As it stands, all I know is that something is terribly out of whack

and I just have to wait and see. If the tests in two weeks are still elevated

then I will see the gastro guy for liver tests. Does anyone know what kind of

tests that may entail? Ultrasound? MRI? Needle biopsy? (My doc was out of

the office today and the nurse didn't know or wasn't telling.) I just hate it

when they won't talk to you!!! Help!! :-) Ann (TX)

[Guest guest]

Ann,

I don't know too much about what tests they'll do, but my mother had elevated

liver enzymes,and I do remember they did a MRI. They told her, if they saw

something they would do a needle biopsy, but nothing was found. Good luck

Vicki

[Lyme-aid] Re: Liver problems update

Hi All ... you may remember my post of last week about the highly elevated

SGPT and SGOT. The doc then tested for Hep A, B & C, 's Disease and

something else. (Can't remember what.) All of those tests are normal. My doc

has spoken with a gastroenterologist and the consensus is that we wait two weeks

and then re-draw the original SGOT and SGPT. So, all I know is that I don't

have Hepatitis and actually, I was hoping for Hep A. At least that could be

cured. As it stands, all I know is that something is terribly out of whack and

I just have to wait and see. If the tests in two weeks are still elevated then

I will see the gastro guy for liver tests. Does anyone know what kind of tests

that may entail? Ultrasound? MRI? Needle biopsy? (My doc was out of the

office today and the nurse didn't know or wasn't telling.) I just hate it

when they won't talk to you!!!

Help!! :-)

Ann (TX)

[Guest guest]

Thanks, . Milk Thistle seems to help the liver of most users, but

like you, I like to check with my LLMD first. Lovey

On Wed, 10 Nov 1999 16:21:29 -0600 <swsftwtx@...>

writes:

> This is not offered as " medical information and or treatment "

> simply just information that may or may not affect others.

> Sometime ago I started reading about Milk Thistle as a

> supplement being taken by people with elevated Liver

> enzymes and or Hep. Since most of the medication we

> take must be cleared through liver and kidneys, and I've

> had discomfort and pain on right side even after gall

> bladder removed, I assumed that my body needed some

> help. Everything I'd read from others who were on the

> Milk Thistle was encouraging so recently I gave it a try

> and take when I take the most medications, as it gives

> directions to take 2 up to 3 times a day and that works

> with my medicaitons.

>

> I have belonged to various pain groups where the

> discussion of Milk Thistle has come up from time to

> time and have known of one person other than me

> that I knew first hand with Hep that improved on

> it, but that does not mean it is safe for everyone and

> you must get your physician to okay before taking it.

> I'd buy some and leave it unopened and keep your

> receipt and take bottle to the doctor before ever

> taking any if you choose to try it.

>

> What I noticed right off the bat is that I stopped having

> the minor or worse pain on my right side, not knowing the

> cause, but having a " catch " in my side since I was a teen,

> I was glad to have this go away. I continue to take the

> Simply Milk Thistle made by Enzymatic Therapy

> 60 softgels No. 08056 that I get at healthfood store

> for $16.95 a bottle. I don't know that it will work for

> everyone, but after reading so many people on pain list

> with different ailments taking it, I just thought it was worth

> a try for me and it appears to be doing something. I have

> not had elevated enzymes, but my last labs done a little

> over a week ago showed everything to be excellent.

>

> I do not get paid, no does anyone in my family work for

> or get paid anything for mentioning this otc supplement.

> As ever, do not take anything without your doctor's

> permission, it could interact with a medication you are

> taking and cause harm to you.

>

> Wishing us all health and freedom from pain,

> both physical and emotional -

>

> wrote:

>

> > Hi All ... you may remember my post of last week about the

> highly

> > elevated SGPT and SGOT. The doc then tested for Hep A, B & C,

> > 's Disease and something else. (Can't remember what.) All

> of

> > those tests are normal. My doc has spoken with a

> gastroenterologist

> > and the consensus is that we wait two weeks and then re-draw the

> > original SGOT and SGPT. So, all I know is that I don't have

> Hepatitis

> > and actually, I was hoping for Hep A. At least that could be

> cured.

> > As it stands, all I know is that something is terribly out of

> whack

> > and I just have to wait and see. If the tests in two weeks are

> still

> > elevated then I will see the gastro guy for liver tests. Does

> anyone

> > know what kind of tests that may entail? Ultrasound? MRI?

> Needle

> > biopsy? (My doc was out of the office today and the nurse didn't

> know

> > or wasn't telling.) I just hate it when they won't talk to

> > you!!! Help!! :-) Ann (TX)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for all the info Kathleen ... REALLY appreciate it!! Will let you

know what happens with the next set of bloodwork in two weeks.

Ann (TX)

[Guest guest]

I was dx with auto-immune hepatitis in 1998. I had elevated liver test plus a

high SMA, which is smooth muscle antibody. I then had an ultrasound which

showed and enlarged liver. My hepatologist then ordered colonoscopy, endoscopy

, cat scan with die, upper and lower GI series, and finally a needle biopsy.

This is not fun, but was needed for his final dx. If you are required to have

one, insist on drugs prior. They can use versed type, mine was done without,

but the next one won't. My hepatitis I believe was brought on by the Lyme. I

have been in remission for four months now, and hope it stays that way. It is

pretty scary, but can be kept under control with meds. Feel free to email me

with any questions.

Sleep, riches, and health, to be truly enjoyed, must be interrupted.

- Richter

[ ] Re: Liver problems update

Hi All ... you may remember my post of last week about the highly elevated

SGPT and SGOT. The doc then tested for Hep A, B & C, 's Disease and

something else. (Can't remember what.) All of those tests are normal. My doc

has spoken with a gastroenterologist and the consensus is that we wait two weeks

and then re-draw the original SGOT and SGPT. So, all I know is that I don't

have Hepatitis and actually, I was hoping for Hep A. At least that could be

cured. As it stands, all I know is that something is terribly out of whack and

I just have to wait and see. If the tests in two weeks are still elevated then

I will see the gastro guy for liver tests. Does anyone know what kind of tests

that may entail? Ultrasound? MRI? Needle biopsy? (My doc was out of the

office today and the nurse didn't know or wasn't telling.) I just hate it

when they won't talk to you!!!

Help!! :-)

Ann (TX)