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Hello- I Would Really Appreciate Some Advice. In January, I

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Posted on Fri, 26 Mar 2021
Question: Hello-

I would really appreciate some advice. In January, I was being evaluated by my gastroenterologist for IBS (nothing new, issues I've had for decades), and she ran some comprehensive bloodwork. Everything was normal except my Liver ALT came in high at 43. (I have no history of elevated liver enzymes, and I know for sure in December of 2019 my ALT was 15). My GI doctor then ordered additional bloodwork to be done a few weeks later (checking for hepatitis, etc., and repeating the liver enzymes) as well as an abdominal ultrasound. The ultrasound was normal except for the discovery of a hepatic cyst which, from what I can tell, is a benign type that should cause concern or elevate the enzymes?

The second round of bloodwork was negative for everything EXCEPT, the Liver Alt was now higher than before at 65!!

I can't talk to my doctor until next week and I am freaking out.

What could be causing this??

I'm attaching all the recent test results.
I'm a 48 year old woman, healthy weight, but with a very limited diet due to digestive issues (all health food, no sugar, but very little variety, only about 5 foods).
Other diagnoses: IBS, Migraines, POTS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia
I have never drunk ANY alcohol and never smoked or used drugs

10 days before the first blood test, I had had a migraine for which I had to take a few days of round-the-clock Tylenol, so I thought that might have been the cause of the elevated enzymes, but this time I had not had any Tylenol since then and my numbers were higher.

I take Vitamin D3 50,000 once every other week.

About a month before the first bloodwork I had started back on Enzymedica Digest Gold Digestive Enzymes. I then stopped them for 2 weeks before having my bloodwork done (since I was also having stool tests). After that, I went back on the Enzymes so had been using them regularly when the second round of bloodwork was done (I have now stopped the enzymes again due to candida issues). I couldn't find much online about digestive enzymes causing elevated liver enzymes, but I'm attaching the ingredients list just in case.

As I said, I will be talking to my GI doctor next week, but I would really love some input and guidance from a specialist. I'm really scared this could be something serious, liver cancer, etc...

Thank you.
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Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (0 minute later)
Hello-

I would really appreciate some advice. In January, I was being evaluated by my gastroenterologist for IBS (nothing new, issues I've had for decades), and she ran some comprehensive bloodwork. Everything was normal except my Liver ALT came in high at 43. (I have no history of elevated liver enzymes, and I know for sure in December of 2019 my ALT was 15). My GI doctor then ordered additional bloodwork to be done a few weeks later (checking for hepatitis, etc., and repeating the liver enzymes) as well as an abdominal ultrasound. The ultrasound was normal except for the discovery of a hepatic cyst which, from what I can tell, is a benign type that should cause concern or elevate the enzymes?

The second round of bloodwork was negative for everything EXCEPT, the Liver Alt was now higher than before at 65!!

I can't talk to my doctor until next week and I am freaking out.

What could be causing this??

I'm attaching all the recent test results.
I'm a 48 year old woman, healthy weight, but with a very limited diet due to digestive issues (all health food, no sugar, but very little variety, only about 5 foods).
Other diagnoses: IBS, Migraines, POTS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia
I have never drunk ANY alcohol and never smoked or used drugs

10 days before the first blood test, I had had a migraine for which I had to take a few days of round-the-clock Tylenol, so I thought that might have been the cause of the elevated enzymes, but this time I had not had any Tylenol since then and my numbers were higher.

I take Vitamin D3 50,000 once every other week.

About a month before the first bloodwork I had started back on Enzymedica Digest Gold Digestive Enzymes. I then stopped them for 2 weeks before having my bloodwork done (since I was also having stool tests). After that, I went back on the Enzymes so had been using them regularly when the second round of bloodwork was done (I have now stopped the enzymes again due to candida issues). I couldn't find much online about digestive enzymes causing elevated liver enzymes, but I'm attaching the ingredients list just in case.

As I said, I will be talking to my GI doctor next week, but I would really love some input and guidance from a specialist. I'm really scared this could be something serious, liver cancer, etc...

Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (21 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Mild derangement has no significance

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details and I appreciate your concerns,
Your liver function test is completely normal...Minimum 3 times elevation of the upper normal limit of minimum of two liver enzymes has any significance.
I don't know why your Gastro investigated you further...From liver point of view your reports are absolutely normal.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Mild derangement has no significance

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen your details and I appreciate your concerns,
Your liver function test is completely normal...Minimum 3 times elevation of the upper normal limit of minimum of two liver enzymes has any significance.
I don't know why your Gastro investigated you further...From liver point of view your reports are absolutely normal.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (22 hours later)
Dr. XXXXXXX -
Thank you so much for your reassuring reply! I really appreciate it. So, just to clarify (and calm me down completely LOL)--

1. The hepatic cyst on the ultrasound is a benign type and of no concern?

2. I shouldn't be concerned that on the second set of bloodwork the ALT was trending up and the AST was somewhat higher (though still in the normal range)? This is still a normal degree of fluctuation?

My gastro will probably recheck in six months.

Thanks again. XXXXXXX
default
Follow up: Dr. Ramesh Kumar (0 minute later)
Dr. XXXXXXX -
Thank you so much for your reassuring reply! I really appreciate it. So, just to clarify (and calm me down completely LOL)--

1. The hepatic cyst on the ultrasound is a benign type and of no concern?

2. I shouldn't be concerned that on the second set of bloodwork the ALT was trending up and the AST was somewhat higher (though still in the normal range)? This is still a normal degree of fluctuation?

My gastro will probably recheck in six months.

Thanks again. XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,

Simple cysts are very common in the liver and kidney and it's not treated neither would it harm you.

As said above the minimum of two enzymes should be elevated that too 3 times the upper normal limit only then it has any clinical significance.
Mild fluctuations are a part of aging.

No further investigations required.

Suggestion-
Repeat a liver function test after 3 months.

Thanks!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ramesh Kumar (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Follow up.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,

Simple cysts are very common in the liver and kidney and it's not treated neither would it harm you.

As said above the minimum of two enzymes should be elevated that too 3 times the upper normal limit only then it has any clinical significance.
Mild fluctuations are a part of aging.

No further investigations required.

Suggestion-
Repeat a liver function test after 3 months.

Thanks!
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ramesh Kumar

Gastroenterologist

Practicing since :1986

Answered : 2913 Questions

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Hello- I Would Really Appreciate Some Advice. In January, I

Hello- I would really appreciate some advice. In January, I was being evaluated by my gastroenterologist for IBS (nothing new, issues I've had for decades), and she ran some comprehensive bloodwork. Everything was normal except my Liver ALT came in high at 43. (I have no history of elevated liver enzymes, and I know for sure in December of 2019 my ALT was 15). My GI doctor then ordered additional bloodwork to be done a few weeks later (checking for hepatitis, etc., and repeating the liver enzymes) as well as an abdominal ultrasound. The ultrasound was normal except for the discovery of a hepatic cyst which, from what I can tell, is a benign type that should cause concern or elevate the enzymes? The second round of bloodwork was negative for everything EXCEPT, the Liver Alt was now higher than before at 65!! I can't talk to my doctor until next week and I am freaking out. What could be causing this?? I'm attaching all the recent test results. I'm a 48 year old woman, healthy weight, but with a very limited diet due to digestive issues (all health food, no sugar, but very little variety, only about 5 foods). Other diagnoses: IBS, Migraines, POTS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia I have never drunk ANY alcohol and never smoked or used drugs 10 days before the first blood test, I had had a migraine for which I had to take a few days of round-the-clock Tylenol, so I thought that might have been the cause of the elevated enzymes, but this time I had not had any Tylenol since then and my numbers were higher. I take Vitamin D3 50,000 once every other week. About a month before the first bloodwork I had started back on Enzymedica Digest Gold Digestive Enzymes. I then stopped them for 2 weeks before having my bloodwork done (since I was also having stool tests). After that, I went back on the Enzymes so had been using them regularly when the second round of bloodwork was done (I have now stopped the enzymes again due to candida issues). I couldn't find much online about digestive enzymes causing elevated liver enzymes, but I'm attaching the ingredients list just in case. As I said, I will be talking to my GI doctor next week, but I would really love some input and guidance from a specialist. I'm really scared this could be something serious, liver cancer, etc... Thank you.