Do I actually need a referral from my primary care physician, or can I just walk in and tell them what tests I want done? Once the results come back, who interprets them? Is there someone at the private lab who explains everything, or am I stuck having to take those papers elsewhere for an explanation?
thanks.
Personally, I handle all of this through my private insurance provider. It seems like I paid roughly $400, which covers a full physical including a complete blood count, ultrasounds, and basically everything else—even a gynecological exam. If I recall correctly, any follow-up tests triggered by those initial results are also bundled into that price. For the rest of the year, I only have to cover a small co-pay for additional testing, so for just a standard blood panel, I think I pay around $33 (correct me if I'm wrong)
I'm just throwing that out there as an option for you to consider, because I know the out-of-pocket costs for people without insurance are significantly higher.
I have to monitor my thyroid constantly, and using my insurance saves me so much time and stress; otherwise, I’d be forced to take a full day off work every single time I have to visit the hospital here in my city.🙄
Megan Phillips7 said:You shouldn't lose any sleep if your transaminase levels come back just under the limit; honestly, that’s nothing to worry about. You only need to start paying attention when those numbers start spiking—I'm talking two or three times above the threshold.😉It’s just a biological reality that some people are going to have elevated liver enzymes; it happens naturally.
For years now, my levels have consistently stayed within the normal range, though they occasionally lean toward being slightly elevated.🙄 Two months ago, my levels were trending a bit high, but they’ve finally started to settle down a little.🙄
My GGT came back at 43, which is a bit concerning since the upper limit is supposed to be 35.
I went to see a hepatologist at a hospital that basically insists everything is fine, which is just great. First, he tells me to just come back in a month after doing some basic labs, but then he practically kicked me out the door while demanding a whole laundry list of tests: CMV, EBV, and autoimmune hepatitis antibodies including AMHA, LKM, ANA, and SLA on a rib biopsy 😲, plus serum copper, iron, and ferritin. 🤷
I actually went ahead and got tested for hepatitis, and everything came back negative! Regardless, I'm going to give that royal jelly a shot—alongside the artichoke and aloe vera I’m already taking.
Just so we’re clear on my situation, I’m sticking to a strictly clean diet right now because I’m breastfeeding, so I don't touch any pills or alcohol at all.
fadedeagle39 said:A fatty liver should be taken as a serious warning sign. If you don't fix your diet, keep gaining weight, deal with high stress, certain medications, alcohol, or infections... you can absolutely slide right into NASH. It is entirely possible to have a fatty liver without it being NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). Assuming you aren't drinking significant amounts of alcohol, this looks more like NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) to me—damn all these acronyms. 😠 Essentially, NASH happens if we ignore NAFLD and refuse to change our habits. It’s a wake-up call we need to take seriously, but there is absolutely no reason to spiral into despair or panic.
What are your blood sugar levels? Cholesterol? How did the coagulation panel look? And when was that ultrasound actually performed?
In my opinion, the priority here is weight loss; that will offer the most relief, but please, don't go doing it too fast or jumping on some insane meat-only diet—don't be crazy! You need a lifestyle overhaul, but one that doesn't introduce even more stress to your body. Focus on B vitamins, eat whole foods, steer clear of those nasty trans fats, minimize unnecessary medications, and if you absolutely must drink... just don't. Take care of yourself as much as you can, under a doctor's supervision of course, and I am confident everything will turn out fine.🙂
The ultrasound and lab results were done just under a month ago (and I've lost 2 pounds in the meantime from pure anxiety😁).
At that time, the results were: Ultrasound showed a liver of normal size with slightly increased echogenicity. Aside from mild hepatic steatosis, everything else looked okay. Labs: IBM 34, ALT 62, GGT 54, AF 130, CRP 8.0, Total Cholesterol 5.3, LDL 3.10
Coagulation: all within normal limits.
Triglycerides were 1.40, so they are normal.
I think I read somewhere that NASH is linked to elevated triglycerides?
fadedeagle39 said:IBM and ALT aren't directly linked to thyroid issues; the metabolic roles of the liver and the thyroid are worlds apart...
Look, AST and ALT levels fluctuate based on all sorts of variables. You can see spikes in ALT and AST simply from hemolysis during a blood draw. They can climb after a physical impact, trauma, or even just getting an intramuscular injection—ALT specifically tends to jump there. Stress, heavy alcohol consumption, or taking medications that are toxic to the liver will also drive up AST, ALT, and GGT. Bottom line: these numbers can be elevated due to conditions that have absolutely nothing to do with actual liver disease.
They can spike during certain viral infections—think Rotterdam virus or mono—as well as pancreatitis or sepsis of any kind. Even an MI or severe burns can cause AST to rise. There are plenty of scenarios where the origin isn't the liver itself, but those situations present with their own specific clinical pictures.
Of course, when you see them elevated alongside ALP in the context of serious liver pathology—like hepatitis, cirrhosis, or carcinoma—then we're talking about something significant.
So, if you’re otherwise healthy and feeling fine, don't lose sleep over it. But if you're dealing with vague symptoms like abdominal pain, fever, or vomiting, then yes, we interpret those lab results through a much different lens.
Every patient is an individual; nobody is just the mathematical sum of their lab results.🙂
I'm hearing all of this for the first time!😲 And honestly, I recognize quite a few of the things mentioned above! For me, stress is basically my default setting, and I’ve been on anxiolytics for a while (which I assume aren't great for the liver🙄). I also caught the Rotterdam virus right after giving birth!
However, at my last ultrasound, the doctor concluded I have a "slightly fatty liver" and noted the possibility of NASH!😲 Having gone through two pregnancies, both of which resulted in significant weight gain, I wonder if it's possible to have a fatty liver because of that without it immediately progressing to NASH?
Okay, this might sound like a silly question, but I’m asking anyway! 😁 Is there any actual connection between elevated AST and ALT levels and thyroid issues? I mean, everything eventually boils down to metabolism, doesn't it? On another note—it honestly baffles me how many people deal with elevated transaminases, whether occasionally or more frequently, without any clear cause. Both my primary care physician and a specialist hepatologist have mentioned this. Honestly, those standard reference ranges probably need a serious overhaul! 😁 If it were up to me, I’d expand those parameters significantly! 😁
I'm being a bit lighthearted, but I am personally hunting for the reason behind my own "wandering" lab results. My most recent numbers were AST 34, ALT 62, GGT 54, and ALP 130, but this happens to me several times a year where my results just bounce between normal and these kinds of fluctuations. I've recently gone through a pregnancy, so I'm really hoping all of this can be chalked up to that. 🙄
My son deals with constant respiratory issues, ranging from basic infections to full-blown pneumonia, and every single time we go to the doctor, they try to push those "budget" options first. We end up cycling through three or four different rounds of antibiotics before they finally prescribe Zithromax, which is the only thing that actually works for him...
Personally, I refuse to leave the clinic without being prescribed Zithromax if an antibiotic is even remotely necessary.
I’ve told them straight up: I will pay out of pocket if I have to, but I am absolutely not letting my child get poisoned by massive doses of useless antibiotics that don't do a damn thing.
I used to buy high-quality vaccines myself—the kind that meet strict international standards—but now they've restricted everything, forcing us to rely on the standard government-subsidized ones provided by Medicare, which are lower quality and come with way more side effects! And I'm talking about childhood vaccinations here.
Gregory Myers said:Like I mentioned, I’ve been running a low fever for about two months now. Finally ran into a doctor who was maybe a bit too thorough—she had me pull ten vials of blood today, even though I already gave three just ten days ago. My head has been spinning ever since, and it’s been about ten hours since they drew it all. Should I be worried, and what’s the best way to bounce back quickly? heeeeeeeelp
Look, I've donated blood before and I survived!😁
The reality is that feeling lightheaded and dizzy happens, but honestly, it's totally normal so don't sweat it!
lonebadger6 said:Don't worry, you won't catch it... 😉 At least the flu won't get you... The flu doesn't really "catch" you... it just hits you like a freight train out of nowhere... 🙂 You were doing just fine, and now you’ve gone and caught a 103 fever... There’s always that specific moment with the flu where you get that heavy, sinking feeling like you’re about to crash, and then sure enough, you wake up actually sick...
This really puts my mind at ease!🙏
I’ve been dealing with a sore throat and this heavy, general weakness since yesterday, though I haven't run a fever yet.
It’s just an occasional cough and that’s the end of it!
I finally have those demons under control, though I’ve definitely taken a few metaphorical red cards in the past because I just couldn't find a way to back up my intensity—people always seemed to misinterpret my passion as being purely irrational!🙄
Zachary Thompson9 said:Look, friend, 😍 just don't let yourself get thrown off balance by reading posts claiming you can cure specific types of cancer with nothing more than some burnt soup. 🙄 Even if someone thinks they can, listening to random people's anecdotes and unsolicited advice might make you think you've "learned" more than what we were actually taught at the Mayo Clinic. 😁
Sending my support to all the moms-to-be out there and anyone hoping to start their own journey! 😁
I’m officially checking in to this second group, so please, feel free to drop any advice or ideas you might have! 😁
To be honest, I’ve spent some time lately "looking for signs" 😁 but I've come to realize that obsessing over every little thing just drives you and everyone around you absolutely insane! 🙄
Nothing to report yet—just staying busy working the graveyard shift at full speed. 😁
By the way, my son actually ordered his brother a sibling instead of a PlayStation! 😁
tilopa said:Look, I don't know if I'm particularly smart, but I definitely know how to do math. The poll shows 84% saying yes and 40% saying no. How does that even work?🤣 🤣
You completely ignored the subcategories! 😁 The gospel according to the bloodthirsty tells us there were the truly smart people, and then there were those who just liked to pretend they were!🤣
If we’re talking about the wisdom of Socrates, then sure! But if you're referring to the vision of a modern strategist—someone constantly evolving and acting on new insights—then there isn't the slightest bit of connection between that and Socrates' old school of thought.
The Executioner said:Intelligence might not have anything to do with love, but does money have anything to do with happiness? What good is all the cash in the world to a painter if he isn't happy? Besides, I have no idea what would need to happen for a simple gardener to be unable to make a living off the things he crafts with love.
If intelligence even has any connection at all 😁 it would be just as abstract as love itself! For instance, a smart person realizes that love is wildly overrated—just a melodramatic, life-altering nothingness—and they’ll use that realization to their advantage, putting them one step ahead of those perpetual dreamers chasing some romantic illusion. It's pointless!
Forgive me, but there is no equality here, only a direct cause-and-effect relationship!😁
