High Liver Enzymes A Sign Of Gluten Intolerance?

[gonnabeglutenfree]

Have been suspecting gluten issues based on more than a year and a half of logging my food. Never thought to log my SYMPTOMS along with my foods until about 3-4 months ago. Have had constipation, violent vomitting and even diarrhea after eating certain foods.

27 years old. Athletic (workout 6-10hours a week) Eat what all doctors recommend. About 1400-1600 cals, only water/black coffee/teas/limited sugary stuff. Veggies as much as possible, fruits, olive oil, greek yogurt with active cultures, meats (organic chicken/beef, bacon, shrimp/fish, Applegate or Boar's Head deli meats, no meat with every meal), occasionally dairy like sour cream or creamer (don't care for any of it). Prefer almond milk/coconut milk.

The only grains I eat are oatmeal, whole grain breads for sandwiches, wheat buns/breads at restaurants, spinach wraps, pizza crusts, bagels.

No alcohol in the last year or so. It HURTS to drink beer. And wine makes me feel sniffly. It's not fun so I just don't. Occasional whiskey drink if I am in a social setting. I just milk that one drink and stick to water after that...

Typically react to the grains (Subway is the worst), pizzas, pastas, beer, and baked goods.

Received my lab work back and visited a gastro specialist who insists I have a crappy liver...

Background:

High liver enzymes

AST: 48

ALT: 74

Bilirubin: 1.8

Total Chol: 355

LDL: 271

HDL: 63

Triglycerides: 103

Hemoglobin: 15.6

Hematocrit: 46.2

The doctor brushed off my GI symptoms as only IBS and recommended I eat yogurt (even tohugh I already do that...). When I suggested a wheat intolerance, he REALLY became firm that it was only IBS.

He went straight for the liver...

My feeling is that my body and liver are fighting the inflammation from my body's reaction to wheat.

Why is it so damned hard for a doctor to at least rule out wheat intolerance/celiac? Then we could move on?

I found a private lab that I plan to test for IgA and IgG.

Frustrated! Kind of worried!!

[IrishHeart]

Your cholesterol level is very high for a young, athletic person on a pretty good diet.

Doctor are not very quick to suggest celiac or a gluten free diet for GI distress for reasons none of US on here can quite understand.

Many of us heard "IBS" and do you know what we say it means?

It means the doc is thinking:

I

Be

Stumped

There is a link between elevated liver enzymes and gluten/celiac--but also to several other conditions. (mine were slightly elevated, but dropped back down after being gluten-free)

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[roxieb73]

Have been suspecting gluten issues based on more than a year and a half of logging my food. Never thought to log my SYMPTOMS along with my foods until about 3-4 months ago. Have had constipation, violent vomitting and even diarrhea after eating certain foods.

27 years old. Athletic (workout 6-10hours a week) Eat what all doctors recommend. About 1400-1600 cals, only water/black coffee/teas/limited sugary stuff. Veggies as much as possible, fruits, olive oil, greek yogurt with active cultures, meats (organic chicken/beef, bacon, shrimp/fish, Applegate or Boar's Head deli meats, no meat with every meal), occasionally dairy like sour cream or creamer (don't care for any of it). Prefer almond milk/coconut milk.

The only grains I eat are oatmeal, whole grain breads for sandwiches, wheat buns/breads at restaurants, spinach wraps, pizza crusts, bagels.

No alcohol in the last year or so. It HURTS to drink beer. And wine makes me feel sniffly. It's not fun so I just don't. Occasional whiskey drink if I am in a social setting. I just milk that one drink and stick to water after that...

Typically react to the grains (Subway is the worst), pizzas, pastas, beer, and baked goods.

Received my lab work back and visited a gastro specialist who insists I have a crappy liver...

Background:

High liver enzymes

AST: 48

ALT: 74

Bilirubin: 1.8

Total Chol: 355

LDL: 271

HDL: 63

Triglycerides: 103

Hemoglobin: 15.6

Hematocrit: 46.2

The doctor brushed off my GI symptoms as only IBS and recommended I eat yogurt (even tohugh I already do that...). When I suggested a wheat intolerance, he REALLY became firm that it was only IBS.

He went straight for the liver...

My feeling is that my body and liver are fighting the inflammation from my body's reaction to wheat.

Why is it so damned hard for a doctor to at least rule out wheat intolerance/celiac? Then we could move on?

I found a private lab that I plan to test for IgA and IgG.

Frustrated! Kind of worried!!

I do have elevated liver enyzmes. I know there is a link. I also have high cholesterol and had high blood levels till I quit absorbing iron now they are normal but I am iron deficent. So yes it could all be realated.

[jnh380]

I was recently diagnosed with Celiac, but my first indication anything was wrong was 6 years ago when I saw a GI doc about elevation ALT and Bilirubin tests. I was diagnosed with Gilbert's syndrome, which is a naturally occuring elevation Bilirubin.

Now that I know I have celiac I think this was a precursor or indication of something not quite right about my digestion. All they can say now is I have a fatty liver, not that it is connected to Celiac. However if you read up on the links between Celiac and Liver issues it seems like a strong link between the two.

[gonnabeglutenfree]

I was recently diagnosed with Celiac, but my first indication anything was wrong was 6 years ago when I saw a GI doc about elevation ALT and Bilirubin tests. I was diagnosed with Gilbert's syndrome, which is a naturally occuring elevation Bilirubin.

Now that I know I have celiac I think this was a precursor or indication of something not quite right about my digestion. All they can say now is I have a fatty liver, not that it is connected to Celiac. However if you read up on the links between Celiac and Liver issues it seems like a strong link between the two.

Thanks everyone so much for reading.

I am like a lot of people....had not much of an idea what celiac truly involved.

Until I began researching symptoms AND when I got my bloodwork back.

I am CONVINVCED this is gluten related and plan to get to the bottom of this myself! Doctor or no doctor.

To be fair, I really have tried to go the traditional route and thought it would be easier if I could get a doctor to diagnose me. But why wait? What if I do before then?

My plan is to continue to work with this registered dietician who has been through the EXACT same thing. The only difference was she was experiencing arthitic symptoms as well and was very young.

My concern is...why in the HECK would he not want to rule out more things considering that I am otherwise in great health and do all of the right things (including eat my grains). Even a patient in a nearby room mumbled under his breath, "What is SHE doing in here? She looks so healthy?" And I wanted to scream "BECAUSE I HAVE CELIAC AND THESE STUPID DOCTORS JUST WANT TO FORCE ME INTO EXPENSIVE PILLS, SURGERGIES AND MORE SUFFERING"

You know what. They can keep their stupid diagnoses....

I will prove to them with better stats. Dummies!

It started today!

Fruit smoothie for breakfast

Lots of raw veggies with my chicken topped salad.

Tomato soup

some more raw veggies from our garden for dinner!

first round of heavy duty probiotics.

[ravenwoodglass]

Yes elevated liver enzymes can be part of the impact of celiac. I was accused by more than one doctor of being an alcoholic even though most of the time when I did drink prediagnosis I drank NA beer.

Do be sure to read as much here as you can and ask any questions you need to. Make sure you read all labels and are very careful in restaurants. If you can go with whole foods as much as possible do so.

I hope your feeling better soon and at your next checkup your liver enzymes are in normal ranges. Then you can do the 'I told you so' dance for your doctor.

[lovegrov]

My liver enzymes were high and because I did drink too much at the time, one doctor immediately decided I had destroyed my liver drinking. Except it immediately started getting better with IVs.

You most definitely should be concerned abut that cholesterol number. That's really, really high and I doubt that's attributable to celiac. In fact, my cholesterol was EXTREMELY low because of celiac, which is not uncommon among people with undiagnosed celiac. It was 120.

richard

[Skylark]

Hey, if you're getting private celiac testing you need to keep eating gluten until after the tests are done! The blood tests are inaccurate gluten-free because they measure antibodies that only are in your blood when you are consuming gluten on a daily basis. Keep your wheat consumption at or even above where it usually is until the test is done. I do think getting private testing is a great idea. Are you getting the Cyrex panel or something else? Do you need a list of celiac tests from us?

You most definitely should be concerned abut that cholesterol number. That's really, really high and I doubt that's attributable to celiac. In fact, my cholesterol was EXTREMELY low because of celiac, which is not uncommon among people with undiagnosed celiac. It was 120.

richard

Richard is right that your cholesterol is a concern, particularly with the high LDL and low HDL. If it doesn't start falling within a few months of when you go gluten-free you need to start researching how to control it. Look into paleo/primal diet and the benefits of natural fats as part of your reading.

[gonnabeglutenfree]

Hey, if you're getting private celiac testing you need to keep eating gluten until after the tests are done! The blood tests are inaccurate gluten-free because they measure antibodies that only are in your blood when you are consuming gluten on a daily basis. Keep your wheat consumption at or even above where it usually is until the test is done. I do think getting private testing is a great idea. Are you getting the Cyrex panel or something else? Do you need a list of celiac tests from us?

Richard is right that your cholesterol is a concern, particularly with the high LDL and low HDL. If it doesn't start falling within a few months of when you go gluten-free you need to start researching how to control it. Look into paleo/primal diet and the benefits of natural fats as part of your reading.

Thanks so much Skylark and everyone!

I found a lab through my insurance that allows me to mail in blood and stool samples. They have a celiac panel with all of the ones I've read here. (I think there were 5...possibly 6 different things listed)

The only hang up now is that I do need a doctor's authorization OR you can pay more through MyMedLab.com and have their specialists approve it (of course more $$).

So....if my chiropractor is not willing, which we are very close to him, so I believe he actually might, then I will pay the extra. My RD would DEFINITELY sign but she is on vacation until Friday, and I LEAVE on saturday. It would be another two weeks of feeling bad.

My liver ultrasound was today. The whole time I laid their fuming because it's not my liver you dummies...it's my guts causing my liver to react!! lol

I have for sure been force-feeding myself gluten since before Memorial Day 05/28. I did skip it over the weekend (Fri/Sat/Sun) because of a gnarly migraine and started to feel better instantly.

Guess I will just go on a wild gluten binge this week and get it out of my system this week.

Death by cookies, anyone?

[gonnabeglutenfree]

Thanks so much Skylark and everyone!

I found a lab through my insurance that allows me to mail in blood and stool samples. They have a celiac panel with all of the ones I've read here. (I think there were 5...possibly 6 different things listed)

The only hang up now is that I do need a doctor's authorization OR you can pay more through MyMedLab.com and have their specialists approve it (of course more $$).

So....if my chiropractor is not willing, which we are very close to him, so I believe he actually might, then I will pay the extra. My RD would DEFINITELY sign but she is on vacation until Friday, and I LEAVE on saturday. It would be another two weeks of feeling bad.

My liver ultrasound was today. The whole time I laid their fuming because it's not my liver you dummies...it's my guts causing my liver to react!! lol

I have for sure been force-feeding myself gluten since before Memorial Day 05/28. I did skip it over the weekend (Fri/Sat/Sun) because of a gnarly migraine and started to feel better instantly.

Guess I will just go on a wild gluten binge this week and get it out of my system this week.

Death by cookies, anyone?

My chiropractor has agreed to sign.

So maybe I will have a test confirm something...anything!

Can't continue these awful headaches and feeling like I am constantly carrying around a gut bomb.

[Skylark]

Great! You had me laughing at "death by cookies". Time to eat all your favorite gluten foods and wish them a fond farewell! Have some crusty sourdough for me, willya?

Good luck with the testing and getting an answer.

[beachbirdie]

27 years old. Athletic (workout 6-10hours a week) Eat what all doctors recommend. About 1400-1600 cals, only water/black coffee/teas/limited sugary stuff. Veggies as much as possible, fruits, olive oil, greek yogurt with active cultures, meats (organic chicken/beef, bacon, shrimp/fish, Applegate or Boar's Head deli meats, no meat with every meal), occasionally dairy like sour cream or creamer (don't care for any of it). Prefer almond milk/coconut milk.

The only grains I eat are oatmeal, whole grain breads for sandwiches, wheat buns/breads at restaurants, spinach wraps, pizza crusts, bagels.

I found a private lab that I plan to test for IgA and IgG.

Frustrated! Kind of worried!!

With the high cholesterol and headaches going on, I think you should also be investigating your thyroid. A messed up thyroid can really affect the numbers.

Don't take "normal" for an answer, get your TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 done. I couldn't get a handle on my cholesterol (even with healthy diet) till my thyroid was well treated.

[roxieb73]

Eat some cookies for me! lol

[gonnabeglutenfree]

With the high cholesterol and headaches going on, I think you should also be investigating your thyroid. A messed up thyroid can really affect the numbers.

Don't take "normal" for an answer, get your TSH, Free T3 and Free T4 done. I couldn't get a handle on my cholesterol (even with healthy diet) till my thyroid was well treated.

My original bloodwork that prompted my primary to send me to the GI/Hepatic Specialist included thyroid levels and those were fine. :-/

The blood sample from home testing was going to be REALLY complicated. I decided since I don't have children yet, to go ahead and begin an elimination diet.

This week I have avoided all gluten, and have restricted sugar and dairy too. (Based on some things me and my dietician had already discussed).

FEELING FANTASTIC! And can't believe I felt like it was okay to live with zero energy and general lethargy for so long. It just became normal...

I did have one slip up on the 4th. I ordered something and forgot to check if it was cooked with anything flour/wheat. It definitely was. I balooned up like a 9 month pregnant lady for two days with horrible stomach pains. Just now feeling normal again.

When I teach fitness classes, I am starting to feel my old energy come back as when I was new at teaching.

My plan is to retest at 1 year, and see if being gluten free for the year affects my stats. If this week is an indicator, it will most certainly be life changing! Still waiting on my additional liver bloodwork and liver ultrasound results. From the screen, things looked normal on my ultrasound, but I am not a tech, so we'll see!

[Skylark]

That's great! I'm so glad you feel better.

[gonnabeglutenfree]

That's great! I'm so glad you feel better.

One other question....

Can OB/GYNs order celiac panels? I mean they can test your hormone levels via bloodwork, so if you had concerns about celiac and gluten, wouldn't they be able to have you tested? Because it can lead to things like infertility, migraines, etc. That a lot of women struggle with.

I really love my OB/GYN's office and have been with them for years. She would actually listen to my concerns. Especially when I tell her I stopped taking medication that she was giving me for migraines, because so far NO migraine issues at all!

The lingering migraine I had for the two weeks leading up to my GI visit (hoping for celiac testing), I gorged myself on wheat. It was AWFUL. Never doing that again unless someone will listen to me.

[Skylark]

One other question....

Can OB/GYNs order celiac panels? I mean they can test your hormone levels via bloodwork, so if you had concerns about celiac and gluten, wouldn't they be able to have you tested? Because it can lead to things like infertility, migraines, etc. That a lot of women struggle with.

Sure. Any MD can order a celiac panel if it's justified.