Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
My enzymes were elevated (ALT 178 and AST 73) a week ago. Yesterday, they were lower (ALT 126 and AST 63). I chose NOT to take Enbrel prior to the second blood draw and stayed on my other medication (bystolic and metformin).
So, it's possible that Enbrel is the culprit and it's also possible that the lower back steroid injections did it (they were on 2/19. They definitely raised my bp like I've never experienced including previous cortisone shots to joints.)
I must say that my previous liver enzyme elevation in 2011 had me a nervous wreck this time. I'm glad I didn't take an Enbrel shot between the two blood draws in case it is the Enbrel. If they had elevated again yesterday, I'd be over the top for sure. At least by not taking the Enbrel, I'm left with only two possibilities.
Has anyone here had liver enzyme elevation from large steroid injections? I realize for most of us, we get shots on the same day as blood work then go home for 2-3 months ...so we wouldn't know if they increased our liver numbers or not.
Does anyone have a diagnosis of fatty liver and have a sudden spike in enzymes? (mine are always around 20 no matter how crummy I've been eating, so I'd expect if it was bad diet, they would climb but not nearly so high)
What fun the RA crystal ball can be!
So, it's possible that Enbrel is the culprit and it's also possible that the lower back steroid injections did it (they were on 2/19. They definitely raised my bp like I've never experienced including previous cortisone shots to joints.)
I must say that my previous liver enzyme elevation in 2011 had me a nervous wreck this time. I'm glad I didn't take an Enbrel shot between the two blood draws in case it is the Enbrel. If they had elevated again yesterday, I'd be over the top for sure. At least by not taking the Enbrel, I'm left with only two possibilities.
Has anyone here had liver enzyme elevation from large steroid injections? I realize for most of us, we get shots on the same day as blood work then go home for 2-3 months ...so we wouldn't know if they increased our liver numbers or not.
Does anyone have a diagnosis of fatty liver and have a sudden spike in enzymes? (mine are always around 20 no matter how crummy I've been eating, so I'd expect if it was bad diet, they would climb but not nearly so high)
What fun the RA crystal ball can be!
This GI doc is super busy and booked 2mos out - so the nurse said I could either see a "mid level doc" (not sure what that is) or this doc's PA - either way, my blood work and visit would be reviewed by my doc. Again, impressed, not passed on!!
I'm seeing the PA Tuesday. I didn't want to take a chance at losing the established relationship with this GI doc and be transferred to whatever a midlevel doc is.
There is still great healthcare out there. And really bad (51's hospital experience).