Last month when I had bloodwork done my doc said my liver count was elevated a little but not to worry. I was about 2 points higher than normal. Well, I am worried and I wonder what everyone's doc did when there level was high?. When should I worry?
Should start taking some kind of herb or over the counter stuff, if so, what?
Thanks ya'll are the best !
CinDee
2 points over normal is nothing to be concerned about. My rheumy told me with the drugs I am on, that up to three times the normal limit was still considered ok! My last blood check about 3 weeks ago, showed my count to be about 15 above the considered normal limit!If it gets too high, they take you off the MTX for a couple of weeks and give your liver a rest. Then they might start the MTX back at a lower level. As long as they are closely watching your levels, it is usually not a problem.
Someone on here has suggested Milk Thistle and something else that helps keep their enzymes down. you might want to search on that or hopefully they'll post it again.
Don't panic. And don't start taking any kind of OTC herbs without your doctors approval first.
My levels have always been normal so I really don't have any first hand exerience. What medications are you taking? When are you to come back for your next blood work?
You're off your meds for Surgery this week aren't you?
Milk Thistle and Dandelion, a combo supplement, is what I take to keep my liver cleansed with my Dr's approval. My enzymes have stayed normal.I take SAM-e, which is not an herb, but something that occurs naturally in the body. It has the "side effect" of helping with depression and joint pain too. I take 800 mg/day regularly and liver is fine despite 13 current prescriptions.I am off my Relafen for this week because of surgery. I haven't had my Humira injection (should have been my fourth on the 19th but my cycst showed up on Jan. 11th). I have an RA appt on Feb 8th so I was going over my notes I have and writting questions to ask down because my surgery ison the 1st and I didn't want to forget anything.
I have been on predisone many times, relafen, plaqenil (didn't work), sulfasalazine (allergic), mtx (allergic), minocycoline (didn't work). I was dx in Sept 05 still working on the right combo.
Thanks, I won't try anything until I talk to Dr. I am just concerned because my dad died of liver cancer and everything about the liver freaks me out, plus I guess I have too much time on my hands to think.
CinDee
I'd worry too; don't feel bad. Just stay on top of it. Don't hesitate to question your doctor about how high is too high and don't forget to mention to him about your family history. Sometimes we forget that! Not everything is RA related. Sometimes even our doctors tend to over look that fact.
Good Luck with your surgery Sweetie.