Consultation with the liver specialist was 7/2/2021, and it was more optimistic than I anticipated. He reassured me the biopsy results were quite good, and given that I had blood work done at the end of March and we're using that as our baseline, it is plausible that my illness was brought on by the vaccine.
The specialist drew more blood to be tested, to see how my liver enzymes etc are now that it's two months later. He also was having me tested for the COVID19 antibody, to see if I have been exposed to it at any point.
So far, the liver enzymes ARE improving. Contrast & compare is thus:
December 2019:
Sed Rate: 11
C-Reactive Protein: 1.8
GFR: 101
Note: Sed Rate & CRP values are on the high side of what is my normal and are still great numbers. Using December 2019's figures as I cannot locate the March figures.
March 24th:
Total bilirubin: 1.1
Alkaline Phosphate: 79
ALT: 28
AST: 23
Anion Gap: 16
Note: First shot of Pfizer was 4/28, and 5 days after, I started feeling very unwell.
May 11th:
Sed Rate: 42
C-Reactive Protein: 11.6
GFR: 85
Total Bilirubin: .08
Alkaline Phosphate: 96
ALT: 161
AST: 88
Anion Gap: 18
Note: When I first saw my liver enzyme, CRP & Sed Rate results, I was terrified of WTF was going on with my liver--and here I am, two months later, hoping everything normalizes.
July 2nd:
Total Bilirubin: 1.2
Direct Bilirubin: 0.3
Alkaline Phosphate: 78
ALT: 41
AST: 32
Note: Not all blood test results are back yet, but looks like my liver enzymes are normalizing, though my bilirubin levels are still off--and I'm still waiting for CRP and Sed Rate, assuming the specialist ran those too.
It looks like time is the best medicine for me. We haven't done anything different--though I have discontinued the Alpha Lipoic Acid Dr. F., had me on as it looks like it interacts with 9 other supplements, and I've decided to put more space between when I take CoQ10 and other supplements during the day as that one might be problematic too.
No recommendations to change my Rx meds, though the specialist suggested I get off my remaining supplements (of which I am reluctant to do so). I have had remarkably good results from my n-acetylcysteine, glutathione, and taurine, and magnesium-taurate, which I am taking for several different issues. And since no MD wants to write me a Rx for Xanax, I am remaining on the taurine, as it has been helping my anxiety issues (and hypertension), and every article I've read on PubMed supports my continuing to take these supplements, as they are beneficial for the liver. I *have* pared down what I take.
So here I sit, waiting for more results to hit the patient portal. And next month I have an annual physical appointment scheduled, so I'll have even more data to analyze from that.
Follow up with the specialist is October 5th, so no great rush to return to his office in the meantime. I was told if I wanted a glass of wine, I can, just don't over-do things.
Oh--and I've managed not only to lose 16 of the 18 pandemic pounds I gained, but my nausea has disappeared and my appetite has returned, and I've been able to maintain the weight loss, which leaves me at only 2 pounds over my normal, pre-pandemic weight. All this aside, I'm struggling with depression, but lack the luxury to curl up in the fetal position 24/7, so I have to be high functioning (but miserable).
Do I dare be optimistic about next month's annual physical?
