I would just like to start this message by saying I'm sure that this is likely not the place for this message, but I am driving myself ill with the constant worry and "what ifs" and don't really know where else to post..
Just wondering if anyone can provide some information regarding this elevated ALT reading of 102u/L.
Bit of background which may or may not be relevant.
Was diagnosed with lymphoma a few years back and treated with radiotherapy. I am on constant checks with Haematology because they can't say for certain when or if it will return so it's constantly in my mind.
This has left me with pretty extreme health anxiety - when I was first attended the doctor concerned about the lump I had found, I was initially told by the GP that it was nothing as I had no other symptoms and to come back later.... obviously it ended up being something. This has basically made me 2nd guess everything and any sorry of thing that comes up and leads to endless doom scrolling.
Anyway the main reason for the post is below:
I had a blood test done recently, basically to rule out the likelihood it was a return of the lymphoma causing a pain I was experiencing in a joint and it came back with all other levels normal and this ALT elevated at 102.
I have blood tests pretty regularly as part of my on-going check up, most recent being 4 months ago and all levels were normal then, but abnormal now for ALT.
In the previous 4 blood tests taken since June last year all have been normal.
Ever since my lymphoma diagnosis I have tried to be a bit healthier than before, used to drink a fair bit regularly but stopped drinking as often, and only really drink every now and again. Hard to put a number on it as I work away and sometimes can go many weeks / month without drinking anything at all, but then when I'm home maybe have a drink a few Saturdays in succession after which I go away again.
Diet is normally okay, nothing amazing but tend to stick to a lot of veg and chicken, with the odd takeaway maybe once or twice every couple of months.
I would say in the time between last blood test and this nothing has really changed from that point of view, no real change to alcohol consumption, no real change to diet and no real change to health. I go to the gym pretty regularly, probably 5 times a week.
I have a bit of an issue with a pain in my joint but I'm pretty certain that was gym related.
They also done an x-ray which came back as clear.
I could probably stand to lose a little bit of weight, but nothing drastic - maybe 9 or 10 lbs, but it's never been an issue before.
The last drink of alcohol was roughly 7 days before the test, but I have had blood tests on a Monday when I have been drinking the weekend before and it's never been elevated.
The blood test was more for peace of mind and it's left me more worried than ever that there's something else starting again - all the usual reassurances like lack of symptoms etc don't really reassure me as I was told the same previously and it ended up being something serious, so my brain now automatically goes to worst case every time.
The only thing I would perhaps say was different this time was that I had done legs at the gym for the first time in ages (likely 6 months) roughly 4 days before the blood test - not a mega heavy weight session, probably around 60% effort level/max weight, but enough for my legs to be pretty sore around the time the blood test was taken.
I also went to the gym in the morning before the blood test was taken, again not a heavy session and roughly the same sort of effort but this time doing shoulders but I do this pretty regularly - however I don't normally go to the gym immediately before the blood draw due to the timing of the blood appointments being early.
The GP seems non-fussed and basically said to get it re-tested in 4 weeks, and that because the other levels are normal it doesn't cause concern. However, annoyingly, this is just days before we go on holiday.
I know I will just sit and stress about this until the follow up blood test is taken and for the results and it will put a downer on the holiday, especially because it's an all-inclusive we are going to. I have even went as far as paying for a private blood test in the coming days to try and give peace of mind, but this may have the counter effect if this one shows it still going up...
Sorry for the absolute story of a post, but thought it best to provide as much info as possible, and to try and explain why I am concerned.
Hi Niknak101 and welcome to the Macmillan community as I see it’s your first post with us.
I can see you’re very anxious, and I can understand that seeing any abnormal test result can make us concerned, especially after having cancer.
I’m not a member of this group, and have never had liver cancer but the title of your post attracted my attention as I had some extremely abnormal liver results across the board after feeling unwell a few years ago and having blood tests.
My ALT result was 236 and all of my other results were, in the words of the doctor at hospital, “all over the place”. However, my results had a much more simple explanation than a recurrence of my cancer, or anything specifically wrong with my liver.
I actually had gallstones, which I was aware of, and one had blocked my bile duct. There can be many reasons for a raised ALT result, and in my case my liver had some inflammation. Yours may have an equally simple explanation, which is why further blood tests would normally be ordered to see if the ALT result trend is going upwards, or has gone down again, which is quite possible with all your other results being normal.
I can appreciate that you’re worried, and I hope the private blood test doesn’t compound that if it shows a similar level. However, I would say that it may be a little quick to jump to any conclusions just yet. Your gp is not concerned, but will want to see you have a re test, which is normal.
My own results have all completely gone back to normal since I had a procedure for my issue, but it’s important to remember that there can be multiple reasons for a raised ALT which are not serious.
I really hope that you are able to enjoy your holiday and hope you might have had some reassurance from my post.
Sarah xx
Sometimes the logical part of our brain seems not to function properly when fear takes over and I completely get that-my first thought when I became unwell-which for me started with nausea and vomiting as the bile duct became more compromised-was that my cancer was back. I was very scared, and put off getting help until my partner phoned an ambulance after about a week of me feeling shocking. I definitely was very unwell, as unknown to me at the time I had contracted a very serious infection, which was identified at the hospital.
My bilirubin result was 65 (should be less than 21 I believe) and my ALP was 1,292 when a normal result would not usually be more than 130.
Ironically, we have just had to cancel a holiday which was due to happen next month as my partner has been going through exactly the same issues with even higher results than me- their bilirubin was 130! Again, it was the same story of gallstones and a blocked bile duct which led to sepsis, which was serious in itself of course, but all results were so high that cancer was suspected at first. It isn’t cancer, it’s just a pesky gallstone which is proving difficult to remove, despite 4 attempts to date.
So that’s two of us with the same issue in one couple, and shows it’s very, very common to have abnormal results from an issue other than cancer. Both of us have been very unwell, and liver issues do in our experience tend to show themselves quickly, with nausea and jaundice being early signs, but as you are feeling well, that sounds hopeful that things are not as serious as you may be assuming,
I could see from your post how anxious you are, hence my reply to you. I hope you’ll have much better results from your next testing. Get on that holiday and raise a glass to those of us stuck in this miserable weather!
Sarah xx
