I'm Self Diagnosing Again But

[jasonD2]

Now I am convinced that I have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. I read that it can be caused by bacterial overgrowth. my liver ALT was a bit high this time last year and interestingly enough it went down 10 points after completing a course of alinia, which probably helped w/ my bacterial overgrowth. all the more reason to address the overgrowth once and for all but does it seem like i may actually have this?

[burdee]

Now I am convinced that I have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. I read that it can be caused by bacterial overgrowth. my liver ALT was a bit high this time last year and interestingly enough it went down 10 points after completing a course of alinia, which probably helped w/ my bacterial overgrowth. all the more reason to address the overgrowth once and for all but does it seem like i may actually have this?

Obviously something is causing your elevated ALT. Your observation that your ALT decreased after taking Alinia is significant. What does your doc say about your decreased ALT after Alinia treatment? I agree that you need to kill off your bad bacteria ASAP. However your elevated ALT may be a clue to why you keep getting gut infections. So that's worth investigating.

[butterfl8]

NASH is marked by both elevated liver enzymes and fatty deposits.

Open Original Shared Link

The diagnosis is confirmed with a biopsy.

I dealt with this diagnosis with my husband, and in my opinion, it is the diagnosis for alcholics in denial and a way for Drs. to allow them to stay that way. Just like Drs. can tell people "oh, you have IBS" as a generic catch-all term so that they can walk around with a label (diagnosis) and feel better that they "know" what is wrong with them.

NASH is a cheater diagnosis, and unless you have a serious drinking problem that you refuse to acknowledge, I doubt that this is the answer. Oddly enough, my husband's liver tests all came back normal once he stopped drinking.

Sorry Jason, maybe others will have more insight for you, but this comes from my personal experience, and what I researched during that time.

If you do think you have NASH, I do encourage you to stop all drinking, even just if it is 2 drinks a week. Elevated liver enzymes indicate a damaged liver, and putting your liver through more strain with processing liquor is not a good thing.

Best of luck.

-Daisy

[jasonD2]

Thanks but I don't have an alcohol problem..trust me

[butterfl8]

Didn't think so!! But I'm also not one to presume--safer that way!

Take care.

-Daisy

[Emilushka]

Usually with an alcoholic person, the AST will be elevated more than the ALT. Often the AST will be twice the ALT in an alcoholic.

[ravenwoodglass]

How elevated is it and is your doctor concerned? Too much self diagnosis is not always a good thing especially when someone tends to worry a lot. If it is high talk to your doctor about it and see if they can help figure out why. That is what you are paying him/her for.