yellow eyes
jimbo
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: london berks England
Posts: 426
Originally Posted by FightingIrish 
What did doc say about yellow eyes after test results?
Originally Posted by catch-22
you should have asked him/her to give you a print-out... that's what I did. So, your ALT serum is too high? But of how much? Ah, sorry, you don't know that... but what did he/she say about it generally?
catch-22
Join Date: May 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 135
Originally Posted by baldjim
i did not get a chance to see the doc i got fobbed off with the blood nurse ,she was unable to give me a print out but did say i lost weight and looked better than last time she saw me and said my eyes were better than last time but would not say anything else i have to see the doc to get the answers i seek
Heathen
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: La La Land, USA
Posts: 2,567
From medline:
--What does an elevated serum ALT reflect?
The ALT is manufactured within liver cells. Elevations in the serum ALT reflect alterations in the structure and function of the liver. Damaged liver cells release ALT into the blood stream where it can then be measured. The serum ALT, therefore, reflects damage to liver cells, liver injury, and underlying liver disease.
--Why should I know my serum ALT?
We should all be aware of our health. Unfortunately, unlike diseases affecting other organs, injury to the liver can be silent. Patients may not have any symptoms and the ALT can be elevated for years before one is aware of an underlying liver disease. When one develops symptoms from liver disease, it usually reflects advanced damage to the liver. Once significant damage to the liver has occurred, therapies other than liver transplantation, may not be very beneficial. Therefore, making the diagnosis of a liver disease early in its course can be very beneficial in regards to receiving specific therapies and modifying lifestyle.
--My doctor also measures other blood tests. What are they and is the serum ALT the best test?
The liver is a complex organ with a variety of essential functions for the body.
It participates in metabolism, produces bile, and generates proteins secreted into the blood, so your doctor may measure compounds associated with all of these liver functions. All of those tests are frequently measured in a battery of tests referred to as a “liver panel.” Depending upon the type and nature of the underlying liver injury and therefore the liver disease, changes in the magnitude of the various components of this panel provide meaningful information to your physician. However, if one simply wants to know whether one has liver wellness or may have an underlying liver disease, the ALT is likely the most sensitive test for the vast majority of liver illness.
--Is there a direct correlation between the magnitude of the serum ALT elevation and the severity of the underlying liver disease?
Although there can be a relationship between the magnitude of elevation in the serum ALT and the severity of the abnormalities in liver structure and function, this relationship is not absolute. Patients with advanced scarring of the liver may have significant liver dysfunction despite only mild elevations of the serum ALT. Therefore, any elevation of the serum ALT should be taken seriously and one should seek appropriate medical care to determine the cause.
--What are some common causes of an elevated serum ALT?
Perhaps the most common cause in the North American population is fat accumulation within liver cells. Fat can accumulate anywhere in the body, but its accumulation in the liver cells is toxic to the liver. In particular, patients who are above their ideal body weight, have diabetes, or elevations in their blood lipids, may be at risk for having fat within the liver. The serum ALT is a common approach to determine whether one may have fat in the liver and if it is injurious to this organ. Other common causes of an elevated serum ALT include excessive consumption of alcohol, infection by chronic hepatitis viruses such as hepatitis B and C, toxicity from pharmaceutical medications, a genetic liver disease associated with an excess accumulation of iron in the liver, and autoimmune liver diseases. The latter are a variety of liver diseases in which the body’s immune system inflicts damage on ones own organ.
--What does an elevated serum ALT reflect?
The ALT is manufactured within liver cells. Elevations in the serum ALT reflect alterations in the structure and function of the liver. Damaged liver cells release ALT into the blood stream where it can then be measured. The serum ALT, therefore, reflects damage to liver cells, liver injury, and underlying liver disease.
--Why should I know my serum ALT?
We should all be aware of our health. Unfortunately, unlike diseases affecting other organs, injury to the liver can be silent. Patients may not have any symptoms and the ALT can be elevated for years before one is aware of an underlying liver disease. When one develops symptoms from liver disease, it usually reflects advanced damage to the liver. Once significant damage to the liver has occurred, therapies other than liver transplantation, may not be very beneficial. Therefore, making the diagnosis of a liver disease early in its course can be very beneficial in regards to receiving specific therapies and modifying lifestyle.
--My doctor also measures other blood tests. What are they and is the serum ALT the best test?
The liver is a complex organ with a variety of essential functions for the body.
It participates in metabolism, produces bile, and generates proteins secreted into the blood, so your doctor may measure compounds associated with all of these liver functions. All of those tests are frequently measured in a battery of tests referred to as a “liver panel.” Depending upon the type and nature of the underlying liver injury and therefore the liver disease, changes in the magnitude of the various components of this panel provide meaningful information to your physician. However, if one simply wants to know whether one has liver wellness or may have an underlying liver disease, the ALT is likely the most sensitive test for the vast majority of liver illness.
--Is there a direct correlation between the magnitude of the serum ALT elevation and the severity of the underlying liver disease?
Although there can be a relationship between the magnitude of elevation in the serum ALT and the severity of the abnormalities in liver structure and function, this relationship is not absolute. Patients with advanced scarring of the liver may have significant liver dysfunction despite only mild elevations of the serum ALT. Therefore, any elevation of the serum ALT should be taken seriously and one should seek appropriate medical care to determine the cause.
--What are some common causes of an elevated serum ALT?
Perhaps the most common cause in the North American population is fat accumulation within liver cells. Fat can accumulate anywhere in the body, but its accumulation in the liver cells is toxic to the liver. In particular, patients who are above their ideal body weight, have diabetes, or elevations in their blood lipids, may be at risk for having fat within the liver. The serum ALT is a common approach to determine whether one may have fat in the liver and if it is injurious to this organ. Other common causes of an elevated serum ALT include excessive consumption of alcohol, infection by chronic hepatitis viruses such as hepatitis B and C, toxicity from pharmaceutical medications, a genetic liver disease associated with an excess accumulation of iron in the liver, and autoimmune liver diseases. The latter are a variety of liver diseases in which the body’s immune system inflicts damage on ones own organ.
jimbo
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: london berks England
Posts: 426
Originally Posted by smacked
From medline:
--What are some common causes of an elevated serum ALT?
Perhaps the most common cause in the North American population is fat accumulation within liver cells. Fat can accumulate anywhere in the body, but its accumulation in the liver cells is toxic to the liver. In particular, patients who are above their ideal body weight, have diabetes, or elevations in their blood lipids, may be at risk for having fat within the liver. The serum ALT is a common approach to determine whether one may have fat in the liver and if it is injurious to this organ. Other common causes of an elevated serum ALT include excessive consumption of alcohol, infection by chronic hepatitis viruses such as hepatitis B and C, toxicity from pharmaceutical medications, a genetic liver disease associated with an excess accumulation of iron in the liver, and autoimmune liver diseases. The latter are a variety of liver diseases in which the body’s immune system inflicts damage on ones own organ.
--What are some common causes of an elevated serum ALT?
Perhaps the most common cause in the North American population is fat accumulation within liver cells. Fat can accumulate anywhere in the body, but its accumulation in the liver cells is toxic to the liver. In particular, patients who are above their ideal body weight, have diabetes, or elevations in their blood lipids, may be at risk for having fat within the liver. The serum ALT is a common approach to determine whether one may have fat in the liver and if it is injurious to this organ. Other common causes of an elevated serum ALT include excessive consumption of alcohol, infection by chronic hepatitis viruses such as hepatitis B and C, toxicity from pharmaceutical medications, a genetic liver disease associated with an excess accumulation of iron in the liver, and autoimmune liver diseases. The latter are a variety of liver diseases in which the body’s immune system inflicts damage on ones own organ.
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: California
Posts: 108
"Once significant damage to the liver has occurred, therapies other than liver transplantation, may not be very beneficial. "
Just thought I would offer some personal experience on this statement. I know everyone is different, but my Mom was told only 5% of her liver was still good 5 years ago. She quit drinking and has been doing great ever since - all liver function tests have been normal. The only thing her doctor told her was that she may have an increased risk for liver cancer and she had frequent tests for that the first few years. Her doctor now feels she no longer is at increased risk for liver cancer and has discontinued the routine testing for that.
c
PS - Jim, your "contraception" comment is hilarious!!!
Just thought I would offer some personal experience on this statement. I know everyone is different, but my Mom was told only 5% of her liver was still good 5 years ago. She quit drinking and has been doing great ever since - all liver function tests have been normal. The only thing her doctor told her was that she may have an increased risk for liver cancer and she had frequent tests for that the first few years. Her doctor now feels she no longer is at increased risk for liver cancer and has discontinued the routine testing for that.
c
PS - Jim, your "contraception" comment is hilarious!!!
jimbo
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: london berks England
Posts: 426
Originally Posted by CALYNN
"Once significant damage to the liver has occurred, therapies other than liver transplantation, may not be very beneficial. "
Just thought I would offer some personal experience on this statement. I know everyone is different, but my Mom was told only 5% of her liver was still good 5 years ago. She quit drinking and has been doing great ever since - all liver function tests have been normal. The only thing her doctor told her was that she may have an increased risk for liver cancer and she had frequent tests for that the first few years. Her doctor now feels she no longer is at increased risk for liver cancer and has discontinued the routine testing for that.
c
PS - Jim, your "contraception" comment is hilarious!!!
Just thought I would offer some personal experience on this statement. I know everyone is different, but my Mom was told only 5% of her liver was still good 5 years ago. She quit drinking and has been doing great ever since - all liver function tests have been normal. The only thing her doctor told her was that she may have an increased risk for liver cancer and she had frequent tests for that the first few years. Her doctor now feels she no longer is at increased risk for liver cancer and has discontinued the routine testing for that.
c
PS - Jim, your "contraception" comment is hilarious!!!
if you read a few of my posts you will see the siggy is not really a joke
just kidding
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: California
Posts: 108
Originally Posted by baldjim
thanks for the good news ,and congrats on your good news about your mom
if you read a few of my posts you will see the siggy is not really a joke
just kidding
if you read a few of my posts you will see the siggy is not really a joke
just kidding
c
jimbo
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: london berks England
Posts: 426
update 44 days sober now the old eyes are getting whiter 
not earth shattering news i know but maybe some one out there is worried about yellow eyes and this post might mean a lot to them
not earth shattering news i know but maybe some one out there is worried about yellow eyes and this post might mean a lot to them
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: in France
Posts: 393
Thanks Jim for this thread with yet more information about the harm alcohol does to our bodies.
I often come to read the posts on this forum when I'm struggling against the "desire" to drink again-this is the sort of post that reminds me that and why it's not worth picking up that first drink. Thanks Jim
PS. I like your humour too!
I often come to read the posts on this forum when I'm struggling against the "desire" to drink again-this is the sort of post that reminds me that and why it's not worth picking up that first drink. Thanks Jim
PS. I like your humour too!
Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 1
Originally Posted by baldjim
...maybe some one out there is worried about yellow eyes and this post might mean a lot to them
I know your post is from 3 years ago, but I wanted you to know that it encouraged me. 
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