Topic: Liver enzymes up - what to take and what to avoid?
johnnyb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7645
posted
My LLMD's office called me and said that my liver enzymes are a little elevated. I've been on Mepron and Zithromax for about 2 months.
My LLMD said to take Milk Thistle at 500mg/day, Alpha Lipoic Acid at 600mg/day, and NAC at 600mg/day.
I am a little leery about taking the NAC, since I read that it can cause pulmonary hypertension.
What are other good things to take? I was thinking dandelion root.
Also, what to avoid?
Appreciate any advice you folks can give me.
Thanks!
[ 20. June 2008, 02:45 PM: Message edited by: johnnyb ]
Posts: 1197 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2005
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TerryK
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Member # 8552
posted
When my liver enzymes were elevated I felt really awful too. Because mine were so high my doc had me avoid all fat soluable vitamins until they came down. That would be like vit e, vit a, vit d and k.
Avoid alcohol. Some hormones like testosterone can be hard on the liver. Just go through all of your products and check each one to make sure that it isn't hard on the liver. It takes time but worth it if your enzymes are very high.
Check all this out with your doctor before stopping anything that they want you to take.
Mine came down really fast once I took a break from abx and mepron and zith along with anything that could possibly be a problem.
I am not involved in selling this product, just telling you what I took.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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TerryK
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I forgot to mention that I was also taking NAC and ALA. If you take ALA without NAC I believe you will need to make sure that you have something on board to bind and remove metals since ALA chelates at higher doses. I'm not a doctor so please check all of this out with your doc.
I was on 600 mg ALA when my enzymes went up and my doc had me add another 200 at night but again, make sure you are taking something to get rid of metals.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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johnnyb
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Member # 7645
posted
Thanks, Terry
Yes, ALA chelates a bunch of stuff.... you can take equal dose of DMSA with it to catch the metals, but the catch-22 is that DMSA is hard on the liver. Go figure.
I think chlorella 15-20 mins before the ALA should mop up the metals and toxins in general. Gigi has mentioned it multiple times and its a great supplement to take, anyway.
Can't even touch alcohol these days, anyway, not that I was ever more than a "one glass of wine guy." Now I completely avoid it.
- JB
[ 07. March 2008, 02:40 PM: Message edited by: johnnyb ]
Posts: 1197 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2005
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Johnny,
AHCC, a derivative of Shiitake mushrooms. Acts as a liver protectant, and is even reported to help Hepatitis.
Non-denatured whey protein. Provides the amino acids needed for the liver to make glutathione, which is used to neutralize toxins.
You can google for articles.
Carol
[ 07. March 2008, 07:19 PM: Message edited by: Carol in PA ]
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Tracy9
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7521
posted
My LLMD took me off Mepron and Zith immediately when my liver functions were elevated; but mine have not gone down. Did they check you for hepatitis? That is one of the first things my LLMD did.
So he is keeping you on the Mep and Zith? I am concerned about how I am ever going to get rid of the babs!
How elevated were they? Mine are about double what they should be.
13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
Johnny, I don't think you can take milk thistle with Mepron. The other things sound good though.
I drink undenatured whey protein EVERY DAY! I was on Mepron and Biaxin for almost ten months and never had elevated enzymes. Like NAC, the whey protein is a glutathione precursor.
Okay, you don't want to hear this, I know, but coffee enemas make your liver dump toxins. I felt great relief the first time I tried it .... I was desperate because I felt so toxic, so I'd try anything. I've done them about ever day since.
Drink lots of water. Try some lemon water.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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13 years Lyme & Co.; Small Fiber Neuropathy; Myasthenia Gravis, Adrenal Insufficiency. On chemo for 2 1/2 years as experimental treatment for MG. Posts: 4480 | From Northeastern Connecticut | Registered: Jun 2005
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mojo
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Member # 9309
posted
I take Himalaya Liver Support (formerly known as Liv 52). I've been on Diflucan for over a year and a half with no liver enzyme elevation.
Beets are also very good for cleaning the liver. I use a lot of beets in my juicing.
I've recently done a liver flush and expelled lots of fatty stuff and stones. Ask your dr. before you do a liver flush, though.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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johnnyb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7645
posted
Geeze, fatty liver disease? What do you do for that?
Hepatitis? I have to ask, but I don't go back for a month
Six, my LLMD said to take the milk thistle... there's so much conflicting info out there that I am just gonna do what she says... Where can I get undenatured whey protein, btw?
Thanks for the info, everyone!
- JB
Posts: 1197 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2005
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My son and daughter have been treated for lyme for 3yrs. (and are improving,but extremely slowly)
My son did do a course of Mepron, but liver enzymes continued to be high.
Our doctor ordered a gentic test called the Genova. The my son's test detected 4 aberations on the chromosomes related to processing and eliminating. My daughter has 3 aberations and 1 missing gene-she is does not have the gene for glutithion. So she is not producing any of this crucial substance. As I understand it glutithion is involved in process starting in liver that converts toxins to water-soluble form that is then excreted.
So in our case, elevated liver enzymes have a genetic component in which the body is not eliminating toxins efficiently, possibly hardly at all.
The good news is that this condition can be treated with a program of supplements, and in my daughter's case glutithion replacement and physician monitored detox.
I am coming to conclusion that these sort of genetic problems are basis of many kinds of health problems and can make it very hard to recover from lyme. Could be issue for those who just can't seem to get well.
I am not sure how long you have had elevated liver enzymes. It seems from what I read here that people do get back on track over time as they get better.
Best Wishes,
kpa
Posts: 56 | From Virginia | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
My liver enzymes were elevated for 2 months then went down very quickly when I added the following:
Liver Life tincture Cabbage and apple juice Nebulized glutathione Low-fat diet Olive oil and lemon drink on an empty stomach with 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper to stimulate liver Detox baths
I was already taking dandelion root, yellow dock, milk thistle, and some other things for liver support. My sense is that, out of the above list, the nebulized glutathione helped the most to bring the enzymes down. It's a prescription item but you can easily do it yourself at home (you just breathe in glutathione through a nebulizer.
Posts: 929 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Oct 2007
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johnnyb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7645
posted
Nebulized glutathione? Very interesting. Can you post sources for the do-it-yourself way (what glutathione to get and where to buy nebulizers OTC) ?
Thanks!
- JB
Posts: 1197 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2005
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
Johnnyb, good idea, I generally go with what the LLMD says, too.
I buy undenatured whey protein at Whole Foods. I like the Biochem brand -- vanilla or chocolate. I put it in the blender with water and some frozen fruit .... makes a nice smoothie.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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