Bilirubin levels

darkmaker said:When I had to get bloodwork done because of my birth control prescription, they caught an elevated bilirubin level of 40. Since all my other liver enzymes were perfectly normal, my doctor concluded it was just hyperbilirubinemia—or what’s commonly called Gilbert syndrome. Her advice was pretty standard: try to steer clear of fatty foods and alcohol whenever possible, load up on vegetables, and basically just try not to overtax my liver. By the way, she suggested switching from oral pills to contraceptive patches instead.
There isn't any medication for it; I just have to get my bilirubin levels checked every three months.

Here is my dilemma: I am following the guidelines strictly. I avoid heavy fats, and I've almost entirely cut out alcohol. However, if my meal consists of anything other than soup, salad, dry toast, fruit, or a few different types of vegetables, I feel terrible. I don't eat meat at all, and I can't even touch sweets—no cookies, ice cream, or chocolate. Everything else leaves me feeling nauseous, my stomach hurts for hours after eating, and I am constantly bloated. What am I supposed to eat? I simply cannot live on this restricted diet forever.

So that explains why I bloat up from basically everything! Like, my stomach is perfectly flat in the morning, then I eat one thing and boom—instant balloon. Is this because of the bilirubin? Because mine stays stuck at around 40 constantly too. Honestly, I haven't even bothered getting bloodwork done lately because what's the point? Why bother checking every three months when it’s always going to be high and there isn't even anything anyone can do about it anyway?

Linda Gonzalez16 said:I'm guessing the thought was that you can use phenobarbital to treat—or rather, bypass—those super specific genetic glitches in how the body handles bilirubin. Basically, you're trying to kickstart the metabolic pathways to process it wherever possible.
But honestly, those kinds of issues are just a tiny slice of the whole pie when it comes to why someone might end up with high bilirubin levels in their blood.

Gotcha.🙂

Keith Barrett2 said:So that explains why I bloat up from basically everything! Like, my stomach is perfectly flat in the morning, then I eat one thing and boom—instant balloon. Is this because of the bilirubin? Because mine stays stuck at around 40 constantly too. Honestly, I haven't even bothered getting bloodwork done lately because what's the point? Why bother checking every three months when it’s always going to be high and there isn't even anything anyone can do about it anyway?

Nah 🙂. You might be swallowing air while you eat, or maybe you're hitting foods that cause gas (like beans), etc., etc.—but it isn't from the bilirubin.

It might just be an illusion 😬.

Let me share a little bit of what I know about this...
bilirubin 1 and bilirubin 2 are actually bile pigments. Bilirubin is produced in the liver, the spleen, and the bone marrow. From there, the liver excretes it as a bile pigment along with other components of bile. Several things can cause your bilirubin levels to spike, such as fasting, intense physical exertion, exhaustion, infections, alcohol consumption, or certain medications. It can also be caused by a hereditary condition known as Gilbert syndrome. Honestly, the best move is to sit down with your doctor and get a specific list of medications you should probably avoid.

I hope this helps someone out...🙂

So, does anyone actually get why they need to check this stuff every three months? Like, if you've already got Gilbert syndrome, your bilirubin is always gonna be high anyway, and there isn't even a pill to fix it, right?

I’ve gone in to donate blood twice now, and my bilirubin has hit 59.42 both times. Since I dealt with newborn jaundice, I’m thinking this might just be my "new normal" and something I can't really change—but please set me straight if I've got that wrong.

Bilirubin 140, 94-year-old individual

Their face, neck, and stomach have all turned noticeably yellow, though they aren't complaining of any pain; I haven't seen the actual lab results yet, but I know the liver enzymes aren't looking great either.
CRP 44

It’s just so scary, and I really don't want to think that this might be the end, especially since this person is so incredibly special to me and honestly has such an indescribable, fierce will to live.

You know how people always say that older folks just have this amazing way of pulling through against the odds? Well, we're heading to the hospital tomorrow to get an ultrasound done.😢

Lawrence Wells said:Phenobarbital.

lol let's just all take phenobarbital since our bilirubin is high...🤣

Jamie Jones8 said:Bilirubin 140, 94-year-old individual

Their face, neck, and stomach have all turned noticeably yellow, though they aren't complaining of any pain; I haven't seen the actual lab results yet, but I know the liver enzymes aren't looking great either.
CRP 44

It’s just so scary, and I really don't want to think that this might be the end, especially since this person is so incredibly special to me and honestly has such an indescribable, fierce will to live.

You know how people always say that older folks just have this amazing way of pulling through against the odds? Well, we're heading to the hospital tomorrow to get an ultrasound done.😢

I hate being the bearer of bad news, but you asked, so I'll be straight... hyperbilirubinemia can stem from several things, sure... but when there's no pain, especially in older patients, you always have to worry about some kind of malignancy in the abdomen...

I mean, I’m fully aware of how this works now..
But still... back in '94 when she was dealing with cancer, I honestly just assumed that "it" was just what happens to elderly people as they age.
She was feeling so weak, and she had a fever, some diarrhea, and her blood pressure was dropping, but we just brushed all of it off as her getting older.

The ultrasound should show if there's actually a mass in her abdomen or not??!!

Painless hyperbilirubinemia... it is never a good sign. One should first rule out any malignant processes, particularly involving the pancreas... best of luck!

Not true. Older people face higher cancer risks for a million different reasons. Ultrasound usually gives a decent look at abdominal organs—except for the intestines—but whether you actually see what you need depends on a lot of variables. A CT scan will probably be ordered anyway...

Thanks so much for all the help,

I’m really hoping we get some better news tomorrow, and I just pray that my dad isn't in too much pain; I actually witnessed three people passing away right next to me in the hospital from pancreatic cancer recently, and honestly, I wouldn't wish that kind of struggle on anyone at all.😢😢

My heart is just breaking, especially since she called me today just to ask what she should eat??
It's because she doesn't want to touch anything that might upset her stomach or mess with her health, I guess.

We'll just have to wait and see what tomorrow brings, fingers crossed...

You might want to look into Dr. Hulda Clark’s anti-parasite protocol and liver cleanse.
I've dealt with elevated bilirubin levels—just slightly above the normal range—and allergies my entire life. I stay disciplined with my diet, mostly sticking to raw fruits, vegetables, and fresh juices. I also avoid alcohol entirely; it just doesn't agree with me. I recently completed the cleansing program mentioned above, which includes two liver detoxes. The results? I feel incredible. It's as if a massive weight has been lifted from my lower abdomen.

So, I’ve got Gilbert syndrome myself. Honestly, I didn't even realize it was there until some pills absolutely wrecked me. My doctors? They didn't give it a second thought—just sent me off for hepatitis testing, which obviously came back negative. In my experience, this whole thing was triggered by medication, but good luck convincing a doctor of that. They’re all trained to believe that drugs just magically flush themselves out of your system... meanwhile, I've been dealing with side effects for four years straight. Seriously, they need to realize that every single body is unique. Between the breast swelling, clear skin issues, gastritis, low potassium, and hemorrhoids, things are definitely not "normal" here. It basically feels like being pregnant when you aren't... At all. Since I'm dealing with synthetic hormones, I’m super careful about what I eat and lean heavily into natural medicine. I use specific supplements to help detox those artificial hormones from my system. Most pills just make me feel like garbage, honestly... If you want to get serious about diet, check out the book by Elaine Hollingsworth, "Take Control of Your Health and Avoid the Disease Industry."