Liver function tests abnormal

[Larra]

@DianaCox I trust that my now your fast is over, the test is done, and you have repleted your stores of water and food. I considered telling you to pretend it was Yom Kippur, but restrained myself.
I hope all went well and that the results will be that you shouldn't get liver function tests the day after you eat out and have a drink or two with dinner. Let us know as soon as you hear anything.

 

[DianaCox]

It was only ONE drink - if I'm even remembering correctly that we ate out that night.

I literally brought a ham and cheese sammidge with me to the radiology office, as well as a diet soda, so the minute I got out I could chow down - I ate it in the parking lot, before driving home. I then had my mug-o-high-test-coffee, but the whole day has been pretty much a waste.

Now I wait for the results.

OTOH, I am holding virtual hands with a friend in the Bay area who is awaiting results from her latest series of labs, bone marrow biopsy, MRIs, PET scans, etc., for stage 4 small lymphocytic lymphoma (stage 4 is somewhat less dire - by itself - in lymphoma, since of course it has spread to multiple sites - her disease is probably fairly stable right now).

Which I mention to let you know that I have my whining calibrated internally more than this might appear. (I sometimes post things like this for people who read here who are going through things, maybe even similar things, and don't think they can/should post about them or look for support.)

 

[hilary1617]

Hope all went well today from a testing perspective and that the results give you comfort. I'm sorry to hear of your friend's circumstance. Best wishes.

 

[southernlady]

I am sorry to hear what your friend is dealing with. Things like that sometimes makes others feel like we whine for no reason. But being ab;e to vocalize our issues without feeling like we shouldn't is important.

 

[CaraOC]

There are too many posts on this thread so sorry if I'm repeating what everyone else is saying. Liver panel results can fluctuate quite a bit so I think I'd be more inclined to have the blood work repeated.

 

[DianaCox]

Well, this is annoying - for some reason, my PCP's messages posted on my patient portal are not generating an email to me. He sent it 12 hours ago. But here it is:

"Ultra Sound over all looked OK, it did show some BENIGN kidney cysts, nothing to do for them"

Findings: The liver demonstrates normal echogenicity without
evidence for focal lesions. The common bile duct measures 4 mm.
The gallbladder is surgically absent.
The visualized pancreas, spleen, aorta and IVC appear within normal
limits. Portions of the pancreas are obscured by overlying bowel gas.
The right kidney measures 9.6 x 5.9 x 5.1 cm. No hydronephrosis.
The left kidney measures 10.2 x 5.2 x 5.9 cm. There is several
peripelvic renal cysts, largest measuring 1. 7 x 0.9 x 1.5 cm size
which has a 5 mm echogenic peripheral focus, perhaps a nonshadowing
calcification. Probably no hydronephrosis.
No evidence for focal solid renal masses or perinephric fluid.​

I asked him about the big kidney cyst, since it was only 4 mm in 2011. And I asked him whether I needed to see the GI/liver specialist in view of these results, and whether I should just repeat the LFTs, perhaps before the follow up appointment next Friday (and NOT have a drink the night before!).

 

[hilary1617]

Great news!

 

[Clematis]

Good news!

I have kidney cysts. Its an age thing. Most 60+ have some.

 

[Larra]

Sounds great! That's not a large cyst. renal cysts are very common. Repeat the labs and hopefully they'll be back to normal.

 

[Susan in Tennessee]

I'm really happy the news was boring. Boring and good!

 

[DianaCox]

Meh - now the PCP says no GI doc needed - but he's referring me to a nephrologist! WTF? If I find out I have an occult stone, I'm not going to be happy! (I had transient blood in my urine a year or two ago, had a cystoscopy and all was fine.)

 

[Larra]

This sounds ok to me. He's clearly not worried about your liver at this point, and this kidney cyst I think will turn out to be a non-issue. So, unless there was some abnormality of kidney function in your labs, which I'm sure you would have noticed, I think it will turn out ok.
And if they are worried about a kidney stone, all they need to do is a plain x-ray, nothing fancy.

 

[DianaCox]

I hope so - but I also plan to use it as a distraction for bringing some concerning incidental findings on Charles' recent CT to the doctor's attention at our back-to-back appointments next Friday. Charles always gripes that I'm putting him "up on the rack," so this will be putting myself up right next to him.

This getting old shit is not for sissies, amiright?

 

[DSRIGGS]

Good news!

I have kidney cysts. Its an age thing. Most 60+ have some.

I have had several for five or six years now. Unless solid I am told they are very common and no big deal.

 

[Susan in Tennessee]

I hope so - but I also plan to use it as a distraction for bringing some concerning incidental findings on Charles' recent CT to the doctor's attention at our back-to-back appointments next Friday. Charles always gripes that I'm putting him "up on the rack," so this will be putting myself up right next to him.

This getting old shit is not for sissies, amiright?

Very right!