POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: koi1 on February 13, 2007, 08:18:17 pm
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I am concerned about my liver enzyme levels. They were normalizing and now they are going up again. The only thing I can think of is stress and meds.
rob
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Hepatitus is a major one.
I'd imagine they tested you for that already though.
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Yep, negative for B and C.
Thanks for responding.
rob
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Well, I've heard a number of people claim liver issues from just starting HAART so probably it will adjust.
They didn't ck for A???
I just had the second vaccine for it. You def. don't want it.
I would imagine things will start leveling out. Didn't you mention also you'd quit drinking? That'd be enough to throw my system off ;)
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Alcoholism
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Alcohol, obviously, also can.
Did they test you for hep A as well?
What are the levels? Are they slightly elevated or highly elevated? And what does your doctor say?
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Definitely what everyone has said...drinking often and a lot, hep A (since you already don't have B and C). I'm surprised they didn't check for A along with B and C. From what I understand your meds will definitely do that but I didn't realize so quickly unless it's an adjustment period. Long term exposure to tylenol (acetomeniphin) could do it as well as diabetes.
Since you're experiencing higher levels than normal I'm willing to bet it's the meds.
I would talk to your Dr. whenever you have concerns like these if at all possible.
I'm not sure about stress but I'm sure it doesn't help. I am a researcher for a large biopharm company and I know far too well the effects of drugs on liver function. In fact, I am about to know intimately. I would keep the jury out until you have another test to see if they keep climbing. If they're no severely elevated, it's most likely a blip!
Lately if I have a patch of dry skin I'm on the phone to mr Dr. He just loves me ;)
Hang in there Rob and keep us updated!
JP
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Well,
The alcohol is not an issue now. After an MRI and and an Ultrasound that found now scarring from any source, plus I have not had a drink in three months. The dapsone could be an issue because it is in the same family of drugs that caused my liver function to go abnormal in the first place. I hope I will have some answers on Thursday, or at least possibilities.
Thanks JP. My mom does have later onset diabetes, but my bloods sugar has always been in the normal range.
rob
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Alcohol
Tylenol
Nivarol (spelled that wrong)
Steroids
Preservatives in non-organic foods can be hepatoxic
Some herbs
Tetracyclines
Rifampin
Antioxidants (vitamin C, etc) can counteract liver damage. Dapsone is described as an "oxidant" so if they're latin about it, ya, that could cause problems. LOTS of prescription and OTC meds are bad for the liver. You should inventory everything you're taking and check it out on the 'net.
-d
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Hey D-
I have told my docs all the OTC stuff. Currently only loperamide. They have a complete record of the lomotil, truvada and sustiva. I stopped all supplements to avoid any "noise" in the liver analysis. The more I think of it, the more I think it is the meds. Perhaps I am still getting used to this strong combo.
rob
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Food
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Alcohol, meds--including OTC meds, some supplements--"natural" health products can damage the liver as well, hepatitis or some other liver disorder, strenuous exercise can briefly raise it, a gallbladder disorder such as gallstones blocking the bile ducts--you may also see ALP increased in addition to liver enzymes in that case, and there can be preanalytical variables that affect the results--if they left the tourniquet on too long, the blood was hemolyzed, etc you can have falsely elevated liver enzymes, so it can be a variety of things.
Another thing to remember is to not look at just one set of lab results.
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Diabetes, HIV can damage the liver, Recreational Drugs, Alcohol, Natural Supplements, Hepatic Cancer, Hep.. you name it.. there are countless things that can effect liver enzymes.