Elevated liver enzymes

[phillypinko]

My liver enzymes have been normal my entire life. Starting in April they have been up then normal then slightly high again. I drink but im not a drinker(a couple beers on Friday nights.) My doctor left me a message to tell me they were slightly elevated after a normal reading 6 weeks ago. Haven't had a chance to talk to him and he will not be in the office again until Monday. I am negative for all hepatitis. Any ideas what could be going on?

[Ann]

What meds are you on - and not just hiv meds? Do you take supplements? What's your diet like? What, if anything, changed in your life this spring?

You haven't given us much to go on other than you're negative for all heps and you don't drink much alcohol.



edited to add... oops, sorry, just noticed this is in LTS. But, my questions are valid and the answers would help people offer sensible suggestions, so I'll leave my post here and slap myself on the wrist.

[Calison]

My liver enzymes have been normal my entire life. Starting in April they have been up then normal then slightly high again. I drink but im not a drinker(a couple beers on Friday nights.) My doctor left me a message to tell me they were slightly elevated after a normal reading 6 weeks ago. Haven't had a chance to talk to him and he will not be in the office again until Monday. I am negative for all hepatitis. Any ideas what could be going on?

Food additives, Fatty Foods,  Pharmacy drugs, HIV drugs and Alcohol  are just a few of the things that can contribute to liver issues.
Some liver support Natural Remedies have helped me for many years off and on as needed.
Milk Thistle extract, Dandelion root extract, Artichoke leaves, And Astragalus extract are all good and have help support my liver in times of stress. Health food stores carry these products and I have purchased some on line as well... Best to consult your doctor before using any of these... however I eat artichokes alot and dandelions are good in a salad. I have also heard Burdock root is good for the liver and It is good roasted in any case. Good Luck, Calison. 

[phillypinko]

What meds are you on - and not just hiv meds? Do you take supplements? What's your diet like? What, if anything, changed in your life this spring?

You haven't given us much to go on other than you're negative for all heps and you don't drink much alcohol.



edited to add... oops, sorry, just noticed this is in LTS. But, my questions are valid and the answers would help people offer sensible suggestions, so I'll leave my post here and slap myself on the wrist.

The only supplement I take is vit c. I drink a can of redbull every day. My shrink put me on a couple psych meds that can cause liver enzymes to elevate but I've been off them since they spiked up to AST 270 ALT 550. A week later they were AST 150 ALT 350. two weeks later they we normal then four weeks after that they were AST 60 ALT 90. My liver enzymes have been stone cold normal my entire life. My doctor has no idea whats causing this. I've been tested for EVERYTHING. He said an ultra sound showed no signs of fatty liver so he thinks there is some kind of inflammatory process going on. He said because they are mildly elevated and I have no symptoms to just check them every month or so.

[wolfter]

You still haven't indicated which meds you are on.  It's possible for some prescriptions meds to cause elevated liver enzymes.

Wolfie

[Miss Philicia]

What does you doctor say?

[phillypinko]

You still haven't indicated which meds you are on.  It's possible for some prescriptions meds to cause elevated liver enzymes.

Wolfie

Reyataz, viread, isentress, norvir booster....10 mg zyprexa, 600mg trileptal, 4 mg Ativan. I've been on these meds for years with no problems.

[NY2011]

Was the ultrasound done to detect NAFLD, or "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease"?

My liver enzymes were fluctuating like crazy, and were 5X the normal level. It turned out that my previous drug regimen was causing the elevated levels, but prior to the switch, my doctor expressed a fair amount of confidence that it was NAFLD.

 

[Jeff G]

NY2011 , as a person who has recently been diagnosed you are not allowed to post in the LTS forum , this particular forum is for those of us who lived with HIV before ART therapy became available 1995 - 96 , Thanks for your cooperation .   

[jpsam]

Hey there.  I'm not necessarily responding to the above post; I just joined this group, and am not entirely sure how to join in.  So, just want to say hi.  Have been identified as poz since 1985.   No real supports, apart from medical, during that time.  Friends and family know, but I know noone close to me who is poz, believe it or not.  For me, it's been kind of isolating.  Hard to date still, dealing with disclosure etc.   I guess I'm just joining this group in recognition of the fact that I have to start talking about my reality more, especially with people who get it.   I'm sure I'll post more, but just wanted to say hi, and I hope you all are well. 

[phillypinko]

Was the ultrasound done to detect NAFLD, or "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease"?

My liver enzymes were fluctuating like crazy, and were 5X the normal level. It turned out that my previous drug regimen was causing the elevated levels, but prior to the switch, my doctor expressed a fair amount of confidence that it was NAFLD.

I had an ultrasound. My doctor said there is no sign of fatty liver. If they are high when I get more bloodwork done next month im going to ask for a referral to a GI doctor. I am reading things on the internet that conflict with information he is giving me. For instance I had a gall bladder attack when all of this started. He insists only bilirubin is effected by gallbladder problems. I've read countless stories from people with gallbladder problems who had all of their liver enzymes go berserk.

[phillypinko]

After being elevated for 4 months my liver enzymes have returned to normal. My doctor blames the drug Lamictal.