One thing after another... elevated liver stressing me out

[Caseyg89]

Hi everyone

I developed HA last year and have been convinced of stomach cancer. I've had multiple endoscopes and a barium swallow. Recently I had blood work done twice in a week. In the first one, everything was in the normal range. 2 days later I had more and my liver enzymes were slightly elevated. They did an ultrasound and all looked normal. I'm in complete panic, stressing that cancer has spread to my liver. I just don't know what to do!!!

[pulisa]

Why did you have more blood tests done just 2 days later though? The ultrasound was normal.

---------- Post added at 08:56 ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 ----------

And do you mean that the enzymes were outside the normal ranges or just slightly up on the ones recorded 2 days earlier?

[Caseyg89]

I had two separate doctors order blood work.

Outside of the normal range. One was 1 point outside of normal and the other about 4 points.

I feel like this is all telling me it is cancer and it's now in my liver. If it's in my liver I know how serious that is and I'm just freaking out.

[Annaboodle]

I had two separate doctors order blood work.

Outside of the normal range. One was 1 point outside of normal and the other about 4 points.

I feel like this is all telling me it is cancer and it's now in my liver. If it's in my liver I know how serious that is and I'm just freaking out.

Those results are nothing to worry about as I'm sure the doctor will have told you. It is "normal" to have results vary within a month. You've had multiple tests and all have been fine. Given that this reassurance isn't working for you, I'm not sure what anyone can say here that will help other than that yes, this sounds like anxiety.

What are you doing for your health anxiety at the moment? I saw your last thread about how you really need help for your HA. Getting to a point where you order bloods twice within a week - really you need to do something here?

[Caseyg89]

Thanks for all of the responses. I just feel like it's too coincidental that now my liver enzymes are elevated when they haven't been ever before and stomach cancer is known to go to the liver. I have a brand new baby and am so terrified of leaving him.

I've been driving a hour once a week to see a psychologist that specializes in health anxiety.

[swajj]

I had two separate doctors order blood work.

Outside of the normal range. One was 1 point outside of normal and the other about 4 points.

I feel like this is all telling me it is cancer and it's now in my liver. If it's in my liver I know how serious that is and I'm just freaking out.

Why did 2 different doctors order blood work in the same week? Did you tell the second one that you had just had blood work done?

[Caseyg89]

Yup. The second doctor wanted some additional info that wasn't done in the first.

[pulisa]

So you have doctors enabling your HA and yet you are seeing a psychologist specialising in HA...Does the psychologist know what you are up to with the different doctors and repeated bloodwork?

[swajj]

Yeah I’m still confused. Why the need for two separate doctors within such a short period of time?

[pulisa]

Yeah I’m still confused. Why the need for two separate doctors within such a short period of time?

Especially since Casey is being specifically treated for HA? Did you tell the doctors this, Casey?

[swajj]

People on here call it “chasing a diagnosis”. Very apt. Presumably you were referred to a psychologist by a doctor. Usually a doctor making that kind of referral has come to the conclusion that you don’t have a medical issue.

[pulisa]

It is such a shame that you are still actively chasing a diagnosis whilst undergoing specialised psychological treatment for your HA.

[Careful1]

You said your liver enzymes were elevated by just a few points? Just so you know those tests tend to fluctuate and so very many benign things can cause it to happen like an infection, a virus, what you eat etc. and you had an ultrasound to follow up which was clear. If you had some form of liver disease that caused some sort of damage to your liver, it would have been seen in the ultrasound. Not even sure why your doctor ordered an ultrasound based off 1 elevated lab result esp since its only by a couple points..