Tag Archives: liver enzymes

I Know Lots of Ailments I DON’T Have!

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by 6

Since all this weakness started in March I’ve been tested for just about everything you can think of. I’ve been tested for Myasthenia Gravis, Hemochromatosis; Lyme Disease; Thyroid problems, including an Ultrasound of my thyroid; had a Liver Ultrasound and a Biopsy; and had an Echo-cardiogram, an ABI to test for circulation in my legs, and a Nuclear Stress Test. All these tests came back with a clean bill of health.

We are very thankful that so many of the really scary possibilities have been eliminated.

But I’m not through with the testing yet, as my liver enzymes continue to be high, and the Creatine Kinase test I’ve had twice now shows elevated MB enzymes. That’s why I had a complete cardiac workup. I have read online that neuromuscular disorders can cause high MB results, not just damaged heart muscle, but my Cardiologist wanted to rule out any heart involvement.

I told the Cardiologist I really didn’t think it was my heart, but I’ll admit that hubby and I were both very relieved when the results came back OK yesterday.

So now I wait for my October appointment with the Neuromuscular super specialist at UAB. We’re busy collecting all the test results and CD’s from the various tests I’ve had over the last few months.And I’ve been keeping a diary, too. These specialists are very difficult to get to see, and I want to be sure the appointment is as productive as possible.

I still don’t walk very well, and I tire out very easily, but the Essential Myoclonus continues to be basically nonexistent. So we’re praying that the UAB specialist will be able to pinpoint the problem and help us deal with it.

Still Being Poked, but Optimistic

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by 4

Well, I was hoping to wait until I had something definite to add, but it looks like that’s not going to happen any time soon. Since I’ve written last I’ve had two more sets of liver enzyme tests with varying results, but still high. I’ve been to the Endocrinologist, and he’s run all the thyroid tests again and done an ultrasound of my thyroid.  He is satisfied that all is normal there. The liver biopsy results came back normal. So far so good.

But, I asked at my last Gastro visit if muscle atrophy could cause the liver enzyme numbers to be high, based on some information I found on the internet. So he added a Creatine Kinase test to the orders for the liver function panel, and the CK numbers were elevated. I’m not sure yet what that means, as I’m having a routine colonoscopy this week and won’t see my Gastro again until the followup appointment for that.

I’ve decided that the variation in AST and ALT numbers I keep getting is determined by how much walking I’ve done prior to the test. When I had to walk a long way to the lab the numbers have been higher than when it was close by. I really do think all the abnormal numbers have something to do with whatever is making my walking so labored and oddly gaited.

I have a feeling I won’t get any answers until I see the Neuromuscular Movement Disorder Specialist at UAB in October. But at least we’ve ruled out several things that could have caused this weakness.

I’ve finally reached a point that I’m no longer worried about them finding some horrible something wrong with me, and I’m very thankful for that. I am not as weak as I was back in March when this all started, and I’m VERY thankful for that. I feel good enough to have made a dent in the backlog of work that accumulated when I was so very weak, and that helps my outlook, too.

I’m thankful to God that most of the scariest possibilities have been ruled out, and I’m no longer anxious about the final results of all this testing.

Liver Test Results Still Abnormal = Liver Biopsy

Day by Day with a Movement Disorder Posted on by 7

My liver enzymes tests came back abnormal again, higher than they have been, so I had a liver biopsy this morning. It will take about a week to get the results.

We had read online about what the procedure would be like, but what they actually did was a good bit different. And I’m still hurting, although not as bad as I was right afterwards. I’m still not able to take a full breath without a sharp pain at the entry point. If feels like I’m getting stabbed every time I inhale with any breath that’s not shallow. Morphine and Lortab barely cut it at the hospital, and they’ve long since worn off. I don’t want to take Tylenol, as I think it would be a waste of time. If I’m still hurting this much tomorrow, I’ll call my Gastro and ask for a prescription.

I’m guessing that my diaphragm is having myoclonic jerks from the irritation to the nerves in the diaphragm. And of course I’m not taking any Myoclonus meds now.

We’re praying that the results of this procedure will give a definitive answer as to whether or not I have any kind of liver damage. Reading all the side effects that the various meds I’ve been on and off for the last six years, it wouldn’t be too surprising if I had Drug Induced Liver Disease. Or it could be Fatty Liver Disease, as I used to weigh 182 pounds. I’m a small boned 5 foot 2 inch lady, so I was way overweight up until about a year ago.

My Neuro is waiting for all these liver tests to be dealt with before he will proceed with referring me back to the Movement Disorder Specialist at UAB. He’s the Head of Neurology there at one of the best diagnostic hospitals in the USA. He’s the one who gave the dx of Essential Myoclonus. But now I’m not jerking and almost too weak to walk.

I also have an Endocrinologist appointment next month. So I’ll see him, if the liver biopsies come back as normal, to check for thyroid problems.

Dr. House, Where ARE you???????

Please keep us and my doctors in your prayers. We need an answer.