Liver Enzyme ?

[PinkGirl]

I found out yesterday that my liver enzymes are elevated.
I'll be having an abdominal ultra sound sometime soon and then
re-do the blood work. Can this be nothing serious????

[AlaskaAngel]

Hi Pink Girl,

They bounce around during treatment, and can continue for a while after treatment is done before gradually simmering down. (I know you have been out of treatment for some time but want to say that for those who don't know your history and are comparing their own with yours in thinking about your question.)

Middle-aged women in general often have elevated liver enzymes so it is common in general completely separate from breast cancer, and with breast cancer happening mostly for middle-aged and older women, it can coincide. It is more common with significant alcohol use. Some drugs can cause elevated liver enzymes too.

How elevated they are, and whether they stay that way over time, is important to track. If they are not just mildly elevated and they pretty much stay that way then there is more concern about them. It is important to understand that there are other causes for them, especially at middle age.

Although my copy is not recent, The Liver Disorders Sourcebook by Howard J. Worman, M.D. was helpful to me.

Hope that helps.

AlaskaAngel

[CarolynME]

Hi Pnk Girl,

I am really sorry you have to deal with this, and I will be praying for your ultrasound to be clear. It sounds like AlaskaAngel was able to provide you with very helpful information. I will be thinking of you -

Love,

Carolyn

[caya]

Pink

Could the Arimidex be causing your liver enzymes to be elevated? Just a thought, from Dr. Caya...

Hope it all is a big fat NOTHING!!

all the best
caya

[tricia keegan]

Pink,

A good friend of mine had the same thing (23 year survivor) and had a liver biopsy, but thankfully it just showed a benign hematoma so it can be nothing serious.
We worry anyway of course, thinking good thoughts for you and hoping it's nothing serious. xx

[Chelee]

Pink,
I have had elevated liver enzymes several times. Only one time I thought it was due to TCH since I had just finished my last cycle. But I've had mine elevated 2 and 3 yrs out from chemo and each time it turned out to be nothing. (So yes...it can be nothing serious.) :)

Chelee

[Patb]

Do you take any medication for high cholesterol?
Sometime that causes the numbers to rise.
patb

[PinkGirl]

Thanks everyone. My liver enzymes have not been elevated since I finished chemo. I don't drink alcohol and I don't take any cholesterol meds. I did have a very bad cold/flu sort of thing going on when I had the blood drawn.
I'll keep you posted.

[Barbara2]

I'm wondering if your cold is what made a rise in your liver enzymes. I remember many years ago, and before breast cancer, I was to have a procedure of some kind done under anesthesia. When speaking with the anesthesiologist, he asked about my liver enzymes because they were high. I remarked that I had had a bad cold, and he shrugged off the high numbers and said that the cold would be the reason for the elevated numbers.

Hoping that is your situation, too. Did your onc order these tests after seeing your bloodwork? How high were the enzymes? Did you let him know you had a bad cold when the blood was drawn?

[Gerri]

Hey Pink,

Please know that I am thinking about you and hoping this turns out to be a false alarm. Be sure to keep us posted.

Take care,

[PinkGirl]

Thanks Barbara and GerriGirl
Everything sort of happened out of order. I had a physical
examination from my onc. She knew that I had a bad cold.
Then I went home (5 hours away) and I rec'd a phone call
the next day that my blood work showed 'elevated' liver
enzymes. I don't know how high they are. I talked to my
onc on the phone and she didn't say anything about my cold ...
said she wanted to do the ultra sound.... said we were being
cautious ... not to worry etc. etc.

[Gerri]

5 hour drive Pinkie? Wow! Since your onc didn't realize you had a bad cold maybe you could repeat the test (assuming you can do so locally) before you have the ultra sound. Just a thought...

[PinkGirl]

I will eventually have the blood test again. Unfortunately, I have a killer cold that doesn't want to go away so I'll have to wait awhile.

Yes Gerri, a 5 hour drive one-way ... but that puts me in civilization ... the land of shopping malls, casinos and spray cheese. Hubby and I always make it a 3 day mini-vacation ... shop/gamble/fine dining at Pizza Hut, Burger King etc ....

[fauxgypsy]

I'll be thinking of you. Hope that nasty cold gets better too.

Leslie

[Sheila]

Pinkie
So did you overindulge on the spray cheese before the tests? My liver enzymes have been off from meds, illness etc...I would get them tested again after the cold...and by the way, how about something to get you over that...you may have started with a virus but gone into a secondary infection...

Thinkin of you...I know everthing will be fine Pink!

[chrisy]

Ha ha Sheila that must be it!

Liver enzymes can fluctuate due to a bunch of different things. Including tylenol - which makes me wonder of you've been taking stuff for your cold which might have that.

My husband had "elevated liver enzymes" - it was so little compared to what mine are from the TDM1 that I almost wanted to spit on the results. He had them retested and they were fine.

Probably nothing, but if you've been having ANY meds, that can affect things.

[Sandra in GA]

This past May I had a little scare. My emzymes were slightly elevated - 5 points above the top normal. I didn't think anything about it, but my onc did. he scared the beejeebies out of me. After asking if I was taking Tylenol and my telling him "no", he said he wanted to see me in a month and do scans. Then he changed that and said, "Let's make it two months. That way if something is there, it will give it time to grow."

That shook me up. I very rarely have a glass of wine and could not think of what could be causing this. As soon as I got home, I started researching what is processed in the liver. All vitamins are. I learned that vitamin A, E, and D could especially cause increases in liver enzymes. I was taking a multivitamin along with 5,000 units of vit D for my bones. I stopped all vits and when I went back all the scans were clear plus my enzymes had dropped in half.

Pink girl, could it be your vitamins?

[Gerri]

Pink,

You had me at shopping. Go forth and spend - nothing feels better than something new to wear...for me anyway...

[PinkGirl]

No, no, no ..... no vitamins, no tylenol, no spray cheese.

Now I'm starting to get worried. I can't think of anything I did
to cause this.

[Jackie07]

Pink,

Here's a link to the Merck Manual on the subject.

http://www.merckandcoinc.net/mmpe/sec03/ch023/ch023b.html

As you can see, there are many possible benigh reasons for the elevation(fatty food, high protein...) I remember the feeling when I was getting checked out for the irritation in my liver area. It turned out to be 'hepatic hemangioma'. But before we got the result, I was 'so' sure that I'd had liver met.

The wait is always stressful. Just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and hope that everything turns out good.

[chrisy]

Pink,
Try not to worry - you are getting it checked out. Think of it this way: Most people do not regularly get these types of blood tests and they have nothing wrong with them. The only difference may be that you got the tests and know a number is elevated; they didn't get the tests and ignorance was bliss...and then everything got back to normal eventually all without their knowledge.

I still think it was spray cheese, you're probably sleepwalking to get it.

[PinkGirl]

Thanks Jackie ... I'll check out that link.

Chris Y ... I knew spray cheese would come back to haunt me.

[Mary Jo]

Hi Pink....Just saw your post. I, too, am praying it is nothing and am very confident it isn't anything at all. Like Chrisy said, most people never get this stuff checked out and never know.

I'm rootin' on just a fluke thing....cold etc.

Love to you Pink.....

Mary Jo

[Laurel]

Pink Girl,

I know you said you did not take Tylenol, but check your cold med. Many contain acetaminophen which is tylenol. That will pop up your liver enzymes every time! Take some Milk Thistle to help heal it.

[PinkGirl]

Thank you Mary Jo. I'm sure hoping it's nothing.

Laurel ... no cold meds .. nadda ... just a blob of honey for my
sore throat.

[Mary Anne in TX]

And there is no telling where those rascal bees have been!!!
Thinking powerful, good thoughts for ya, Pink! ma

[DonnaD]

Pink Girl,
Oh you can always make me laugh. I had forgotten about the cheese spray. Is it still in your china closet with all your lovely dishes?

Seriously, by the responses you are a very special person to many of us here on the sight. Many positive thoughts and prayers are coming your way.

Let us know how the next test results. Hope your cold is getting better. I am finally over a cold I had for more than 3 weeks. Even that concerned me, why can't I get over this? Do I need a blood test? See what we live with all the time.

Love ya,
Donna

[PinkGirl]

Thanks DonnaD and Ma ... if I can't blame the cheese, it must
be the bee's fault.

[Lien]

I bet it's the cold. I would be very surprised if it isn't.

Jacqueline

[chrisy]

maybe the bee ate string cheese or took tylenol.

[PinkGirl]

Thinking outside the box is good ... the bee took tylenol ... it
could happen ....

[Mary Anne in TX]

You know, they're doing research on the little bee these days 'cause he has some problems. They're finding out what makes them sick. I tell ya, that ol bee's been up to mischief and jumbled up Pink's score.

[sassy]

Those pesky bees. Kick 'em in the knees they are so proud of!

I'm betting on the cold Pink.

Thinkin of ya!

[Debbie L.]

Pink, I'm sorry to hear that you're having this worry. While you wait for the ultrasound, can you at least get the actual values of the test? Which enzymes, how far over normal, etc? If they're a few points above, that's interesting but not all that worrisome. If they're quadruple normal, concern is increased.

I know many people (not just cancer survivors) who happen to find elevated liver enzymes when labs are done for other reasons. Almost always, a repeat check later shows the enzymes are back to normal. No symptoms, no problems, no explanation ever found. Of course I'm hoping that's what will happen here.

Do you have the U/S scheduled yet?

Love and good thoughts,
Debbie Laxague

[Barbara2]

I agree with Jacqueline that there is a good chance that it is the cold. Especially knowing that your cold was quite severe when the bloodwork was drawn.

[PinkGirl]

Thanks everyone. I don't know the actual numbers. The blood
was drawn here where I live and the results were sent to the city
where my oncologist is. I think my family doctor here also gets a
copy. I'll try calling her tomorrow and see if she can explain the
numbers to me. I haven't got the date for the ultra sound yet.
We just had a holiday weekend and everything was closed on
Monday. If I don't hear anything tomorrow I'll start calling people and
bothering them ...

[Sheila]

Do I need to send you some smarties to take to get to the bottom of this....I take them all the time and pretend they actually help me!

[PinkGirl]

Tehetehe ... Smarties ... would that be American Smarties
or Canadian????

[PinkGirl]

I got the numbers

AST 51 normal is 14-36

ALT 63 normal is 52

The soonest I can get the U/S is Oct. 29th.

Are these the kind of numbers you spit on Chris Y????

[chrisy]

I might spit on them for me. They are not that elevated, particularly since you had other things going. Why not get them retested an a week or so, which is probably much easier than doing an ultrasound. Your primary care doctor can order that test, or around here you can sometimes get them at the drugstore for $65.

[chrisy]

And no, Pink I'm not suggesting you get them retested because I'm worried, but because you are!

[Mary Jo]

and I'm still hanging on the theory that the bee ate the tylenol.

[Melissa]

Hello Pink Girl,

Don't worry just yet. I posted, oh let me see, about two years ago with the same question. A few others also posted. Anyway come to find out, Arimidix can cause high liver enzymes in 2% of patients. My oncologist switched me to Femara and mine went down. I had other complications on Femera so I switched back and low and behold the liver enzymes are elevated again. Best Wishes - Mel

[PinkGirl]

Thanks Melissa. I'll ask my oncologist about this ... that would be an easy solution.

Thanks MaryJo ... those bad bees!

[Mary Anne in TX]

Those bees beez bad, but they make sweet honey!
You tell that body of yours to stop messing with the bees!
Luv U, ma

[Rich66]

Wait. Are we talking multiple varieties of spray cheese?

[Joan M]

Pink,

Perhaps the elevated liver enzymes are related only to your bad cold. I think they react more than we know, and then we just happen to get tested.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all the driving was for nothing except your mini-vacation.

Joan

[PinkGirl]

Thanks Joan ... I hope you're right.

Yes Rich, we are talking multiple varieties. I can't mention the names of the people who managed to get the spray cheese across the border (fear for their safety). I received three different flavours. Thanks again Sheila and DonnaD.

[sassy]

Would this be the bees cheese?

[Del]

Hi Pink,
My enzymes were around 70 (I don't know which one) about a month ago, and I had just had the flu 2 weeks before, so I'm betting on the cold/flu. Now my latest measurement has them at 200 (Yikes!!), but I'm now on T-DM1, but still not sure why they're so elevated...Hope you find answers soon! But try not to worry in the meantime, I don't think your numbers are that high.

[Sheila]

Pink Girl
If you find out the spray cheese did it, then we need to figure out which flavor, and put it on the new do not send list.....until then ( and I am confident that it will be nothing), take 2 smarties and call me in the morning.

just wanted to let you know I am thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers!

[PinkGirl]

Thanks SheilaGirl ... now you've got me thinking about spray cheese
and spray string (which I didn't eat) being banned substances in Canada ...maybe there's something to that.

Speaking of smarties ... I was eating some Canadian Rockets which are
American Smarties ... I'll have to buy some Canadian Smarties which are American M & M's ... so confusing keeping my candies straight ... but I'll do it ...

Thanks for thinking of me Sheila ... nice picture of you in the paper!

[Barbara2]

I think Chrisy's suggestion was a good one:
Your primary care doctor can order that test, or around here you can sometimes get them at the drugstore for $65. You may not need the ultra sound if these numbers are back to normal.

My AST at my last onc visit (September) was 45 (range 14-36); it had been 43 one other time, but it caused me to start fretting over the numbers. The other liver enzymes were up a bit too from the previous time, but still in normal range.

I had to see the family doctor for what turned out to be a gall bladder issue; she ran the liver enzymes, and the AST was back in the normal range. It made the miserable gall bladder trip all worthwhile!

[Mary Jo]

and on that note, I just had my gall bladder removed on Oct. 20th. While doc was in their, of course, got a great look at my liver and said it looked EXCELLENT. Yippee!

Mary Jo

[PinkGirl]

Thanks Barb and Mary Jo
My onc. wants me to have the ultra sound so I will. I still have some
remnants from my bad cold/flu thingie and next week I might be getting
my flu shot so I'm going to hold off on re-doing the blood work. I will
do that eventually.

When my husband had his gall bladder problems his liver was very
unhappy. Knowing you Mary Jo, you probably had yours out and then
got dressed and walked 3 miles home :) :)

Thanks for thinking of me.

[Mary Jo]

@Pink.....Hahahahahahahahaha...I am still chuckling because of your comment ........ Well, I didn't walk 3 miles home BUT I had surgery on Wed., and on Friday I did 4 loads of laundry, swiffered all the hard wood floors, vacuumed the braided rugs.....upstairs tv room and our bedroom.......vacuumed furniture and the stairway. Then later in the afternoon my hubby and I walked a mile. Today, Sunday I walked 2 miles......MAN, just typing this I realize that when my husband calls me STUBBORN (in not always so nice a tone) he may be onto something, huh?

Love to you Pink.....Stay healthy, ok? I mean it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mary Jo

[Catherine]

Pinkie,

I have not been on line much to follow the post about your liver, bees and spray cheese. I just want to say hi and hope you get these questions resolved and you can just focus on your gambling. Do take care, I hope that all the health concerns disappear soon.

Hugs, Catherine

[PinkGirl]

Thanks very much Catherine. I had the ultra sound on Friday morning and now I have to wait to hear from my onc. Thanks for thinking of me.

[Bill]

Thinking of you here, Lady Pink. Hope all is well.

[Mary Jo]

Is thinking of you Pink...

Mary Jo

[Barbara2]

I am thinking of you, too. The waiting game is sooo hard.

[mimiflower07]

sending my well wishes to u pinky, i know how hard it is to wait. And a hug from near by. keep us posted
suzanne

[PinkGirl]

Thanks everyone. I am telling myself that the ultra sound technician
didn't gasp or shriek .. she didn't call anyone else in to help ... I'm taking this as she didn't see anything unusual .... that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

It will be a week on Friday so I might start phoning and bugging people tomorrow.

[Barbara2]

I would. My report was available 24 hours later. I called them, though, as they had told me the report would be ready within a day and a half, and I didn't want to wait for them to call me. They don't know miserable we are while waiting for their call; but they are busy and do it when they get around to it.

[PinkGirl]

SHEEEEET .. I have to have an MRI. The Ultra Sound showed a new
blob ... I have many hemangiomas ... I need the MRI to find out if this
is another one or a met .... POOP ...

[Barbara2]

Oh, man, now another time to wait and worry. I'm still betting that it is not cancer related, and hope that the MRI can be done in a more timely fashion than the ultrasound was. Did they tell you specifically where the blob was? Do you have a day scheduled?

[PinkGirl]

Thanks Barb. I didn't ask 'where' the blob is. No, I don't have a date for the MRI yet. It won't be more 'timely' than the ultra sound was. I had the ultra sound on a Friday and got the results the following Friday ... that's good.

[Bill]

Hey, you hang in there, Pink, and keep us posted on your MRI results. Maybe you should saddle up your sled dogs and take a spin around the block to keep your mind off things. You know how this thing goes. Test, wait, another test, false alarm, test....."oh, I'm sorry, we should have called you...." "We will call you on Friday, at 4:00, honest..."

[caya]

Hey Pink

Sorry to hear you need the MRI, but I bet it's nothing...
keep the faith.

all the best
caya

[PinkGirl]

Thanks Bill and Caya. I'm hoping it's nothing but I guess it could
be something. Taking the sled dogs out is a good idea Bill ... you're
always thinking ... :)

[Bill]

Well, you know....once you get out there, all saddled up, I'm sure you'll you shoot past a really sweet stream and be able to stop for a cast or two and bring in a couple salmon. My boy, Les Stroud, says you have a pretty good casting arm......

[chrisy]

Well Pink, they must've known you needed a little more excitement. Life can get pretty boring without having to have many many useless tests you know.

Many hemangiomas. I'm betting it's just another wanting to join the party.

enjoy the salmon

[PinkGirl]

Thanks Bill and Chrisy ... remember when I backed my truck
into the garage without opening the door first ... right after I
backed out of the driveway without unplugging the block heater???
That's when I was waiting for the MRI results on my 11 hemangiomas.
I think salmon fishing is a good idea.

[tricia keegan]

Hang in there Pink, at times we all go through these wake up calls but it's usually good news. My friend is a twenty four year survivor and just had scans/waiting to get the all clear for liver mets.
I'm thinking B9, B9, B9 for you!!!!!:)

[sassy]

Hey Pink!

Waiting for test results are the pits! I'm sure all will be well, but so much angst in the mean time!

Maybe you can give the sled dogs some string cheese, go on a fast sled trip, blowing the bees away enroute to catching a few select salmon, while helping to pass the time waiting for your test!

Gotcha in my prayers,

[PinkGirl]

Thanks Tricia and Sassy ... it really is the pits ... but I guess
this is the name of the game from now on ... I'll just hurry up and wait.

[fauxgypsy]

Hey Pink, You just hang in there. Waiting for results always SUCKS. Don't back into anything. Don't borrow trouble. Keep us updated.

[Catherine]

To the Pinkster,

"Sled dogs being chased by bees after they ate the spray cheese. " I think that should be the title of your biography. Just another day in Canada where all the candy has a different name......Eh?

Waiting for your wait to be over and hopefully hear that everything is normal, but looks funny on a digital screen.

[PinkGirl]

Thanks Catherine and Faux. I will not drive in reverse until
this is over with.

[Ceesun]

Pink, Just read the updates on the liver situation--I bet it is just another hemangioma....its good your onc is being very diligent. Hoping for the best, hang in there. "Ceese"

[Debbie L.]

Sending lots of good thoughts your way, while you do the "hurry up and waiting" part. I'll have to try harder to keep you preoccupied at Scrabble, I guess. But since you're beating the socks off me right now, that plan will have to wait 'till we start a new game (smile).

Love,
Debbie Laxague

[Mary Jo]

Pink.....Any news yet?

Love and hugs...

Mary Jo

[Pam P]

PinkGirl - Sorry to hear you are having to play this horrible waiting game again. Hope you can get the MRI and results soon and that it is not a met. Hang in there as best you can on the wait..... salmon fishing sounds exciting - or at least eating the fresh catch sounds yummy. If you do scrabble on fb I'll play a game with you. Pam

[PinkGirl]

Thanks everyone. On Tuesday I'm going to the big city ... MRI on
Wednesday afternoon ... then I will come home and wait. I don't
think I'll make it to the shopping malls or casinos ... I'll be drugged on
ativan ... thanks for thinking of me ... I'm a nervous wreck right now...

[Mary Jo]

Hi Pink.....

Thanks for replying....geez, it seems like this process has been going on forever.

Of course you are nervous.....who wouldn't be, right? I feel confident that all will turn out well though but will look for that official good news from you next week.

Love you "sister!" Praying all is well.

Mary Jo

[Gerri]

Hey Pink,

Somehow I missed your update that you now have to have an MRI. I agree with Chrisy that it just has to be one more hemangioma joining in.

No shopping or casinos but you still have to eat - at least you can fit in fine dining while you are in the big city.

I'll be thinking about you next week. Please keep us updated.

[Chelee]

Poor Pink,
All this hurry up and waiting has to be driving you crazy by now! But I have to agree with Chrisy and Gerri...I really believe it will be another hemangioma. I did some reading on this as I'm sure you have ;) and it's very common to have more then one. (Although I realize until you get the results back and know for sure it's going to be stressful while you wait.

I think you can still make it to the malls and casino's. By the time you take your Ativan before the scan...that add in the time for the MRI...you will be calm, awake and ready to go when your done. :) I'll be keeping good thoughts for you!

Chelee

[tricia keegan]

Good luck Pink, will be thinking of you and looking forward to the all clear I know we'll get from you:)

[schoolteacher]

Pink,

Hope you are feeling better.

Amelia

[MJo]

I hope it's nothing. My enzymes have been up and down since treatment 5 years ago. I went through a lot of worry about my liver. I had an MRI too. It showed gallstones, but nothing wrong with liver. SOme of us have delicate livers.

[fauxgypsy]

Pink. I hope we hear good news from you soon. I might just have to venture in to the far north to check on you.

[Patty F]

Pink, Just want to let you know that I am thinking about you and praying for good results.