Blood Tests And Liver Scan

[Pigeon]

First of all, I’m sorry for posting about this again. It’s mainly just to get things off my chest, but any wise words more than welcome.

to summarise what’s happening - I had liver function tests at my GP health check to check if statins were causing problems and the GGT one came back 10x higher than the normal range so my GP stopped statins and asked me to come for repeat test - which is this Monday. They said I should avoid drinking alcohol before the test (although I had drunk wine the evening before the last one)

While speaking to GP, I told her about this and about my health anxiety and about some intermittent stomach issues (right hand side) I was having . I was concerned I may have gall bladder or serious liver issues so though she was pretty confident the statins had caused the blood results, she sent me for a scan.

The scan was over a week ago and found my liver was normal (apart from a simple cyst, which I don’t think is anything to worry about) . They told me at the time of the scan there was nothing to worry about but I had gallstones.

The scan report says they found gallstones/sludge and thick gallbladder walls. Everything else was normal as far as I can tell. (There was just one thing I didn’t understand but daren’t Google)

I asked to discuss the results with my GP and they have made an appointment but not until 19 December, by which time my blood results will be back.

I suppose all this should reassure me but I’m still terrified that my blood tests will show raised levels. My mind is racing all the time …… was it the wine that caused the raised d GGT results or the statins, or the gallbladder issues …..or all three. I can’t stop thinking about it and though I’m pretty relaxed about possibly needing to have my gallbladder removed, I just have this constant feeling of dread.

im so tired of worrying.

[Flapj]

It's almost certainly the gallstones and bile duct irritation. Temporary and likely harmless. You may need to have your gallbladder out but that's an easy and very safe surgery. Had mine out 20 years ago.

[Pigeon]

Flapj thanks so much for your response. It’s very reassuring . I had got fixated on my liver and even though the scan showed it looked normal, I couldn’t help still worrying something was wrong.

Just after I had the original blood test, I had some acute onset centre/right sided stomach pain, which, after the initial severe pain subsided a little, but left me with milder pain and discomfort, nausea and chills. This lasted about two weeks, during which time I felt quite unwell, so I’m assuming I’d had some kind of infection. But I’d not had the scan at that time and thought it must be gastritis or something. Id always assumed gallbladder attacks were unbearable pain that came and went very quickly so didn’t really think it was that at the time.

Anyhow, I really do appreciate your reply.

Take care x

[Pigeon]

Repeat blood test for liver function is today and I’m very anxious.

I haven’t had statins for a month and not touched any alcohol for this time either, so hopefully GGT levels will be more normal - but what if they’re not? Can it really be that the gallbladder issues are causing this like Flapj says?

my mind keeps going to liver problems even though the Ultrasound said it looked normal.

I need help

[Flapj]

I hope you are feeling better and your tests came back negative.

I wouldn't worry about liver problems. The liver is the most resilient organ. Ultrasound would catch anything serious. Having been down the gallbladder path before, an inflammation, blockage, flare, or even infection can make all of those liver markers go (temporarily) wild.

Here's an example - kind of sad story but in retrospect maybe a little funny.

Many years ago I had mono. It wasn't a terrible case but it gave me a temporary hepatitis. I recovered just fine and a week after I recovered I attended a job interview for a job that required a medical exam. I thought I did very well on the interview but I was not hired. About 4 weeks later I get a letter in the mail with my liver enzyme test results from the exam. My liver enzymes were in the 6000s! The normal high end is around 150. They probably thought I was an alcoholic dying of cirrhosis.

I felt fine but my liver was still recovering from the mono. Soon after, all of those numbers returned to normal.

Missed out on the job, but got a different and much better job about a month later.

[Pigeon]

Hi Flapj, thanks for your message and for sharing your own experience with me. Glad it all turned out well in the end!

I’ve now had the chance to speak briefly to my GP and feel very reassured. He is certain the raised LFT levels are due to the statins I was taking. Since posting, I’ve had the results of the repeat blood tests and although they are still abnormal, they have reduced. I’m told that it will take several months to get them back to normal.

As you said, the ultrasound would have picked up anything serious and it didn’t. All that remains now is a more in-depth conversation about the gallstones and whether I need to be referred to discuss surgery.

I think there’s a waiting list so may be a few months before anything happens but at least I know what’s happening.

Thanks again ��