Have any of you heard of hyperbilirubinemia?

Chat about anything and everything... (well almost anything) Whether it be the front porch or the pot belly stove or news of interest or a topic of your liking, this is the place to post it.

Moderator: S2k Moderators

Message
Author
ColdFront77

Have any of you heard of hyperbilirubinemia?

#1 Postby ColdFront77 » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:30 pm

I know a bit about it and want to know if anyone here is aware of what it is and if it is good, bad, indifferent, etc.?

Thanks in advance.
0 likes   

User avatar
Cookiely
S2K Supporter
S2K Supporter
Posts: 3211
Age: 74
Joined: Fri Aug 13, 2004 7:31 am
Location: Tampa, Florida

#2 Postby Cookiely » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:38 pm

Are you talking about Gilbert's Syndrome or elevated bilirubin with another cause.
0 likes   

Terry
S2K Supporter
S2K Supporter
Posts: 1450
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:25 pm
Location: Lakeland and Anna Maria Island, FL
Contact:

#3 Postby Terry » Wed Nov 17, 2004 6:38 pm

Isn't hyperbilirubinemia simply jaundice? And if so, it isn't a good thing in children or adults as it may be indicating some sort of disease. It can also happen in newborns, but is normally not a big deal.
0 likes   

ColdFront77

#4 Postby ColdFront77 » Wed Nov 17, 2004 7:03 pm

Cookiely wrote:Are you talking about Gilbert's Syndrome or elevated bilirubin with another cause.

Yes, doing some online searches this afternoon I saw Gilbert's Syndrome or elevated bilirubin.

Terry wrote:Isn't hyperbilirubinemia simply jaundice? And if so, it isn't a good thing in children or adults as it may be indicating some sort of disease. It can also happen in newborns, but is normally not a big deal.

Yes, hyperbilirubinemia is jaundice. Unfortantely there is this being a serious concern or nothing to worry about at all.


I went to my doctor today after seeing him just over a year ago. Three weeks prior to last year's visit I had bloodwork, as some recall everything came back fine except for two items (probably my bilirubin levels), however neither one of these were cause for concern.

Prior to leaving for my appointment I asked my mother a generic question about seeing the doctor (probably a stupid thing to bring up) and she said that she and one of my brother's and his wife noticed my face having a slight yellow tint; that hasn't lasted for long periods of time.

Associated with this is my extreme underweightness. For the last number of years I have been a few pounds below and above 100. I was 104 pounds a year ago (which was a quite an accomplishment), slowly fell and stayed just below and just above 100 pounds during the course of the year, and even was approaching 95 pounds in the last few months, but since then have reached 100 pounds today.

I had several tests back when I was a teenager that indicated that I have a slow digestive system [getting filled up faster than the average person, to the point that I have eat when I am hungry, which can mean eating twice meals a day, instead of three... but sometimes four] and a fast metabolism [burning up calories faster than the average person].

In the coming days I will be having bloodwork, a liver x-ray, as well as a chest x-ray to see what's going on.
0 likes   

Terry
S2K Supporter
S2K Supporter
Posts: 1450
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:25 pm
Location: Lakeland and Anna Maria Island, FL
Contact:

#5 Postby Terry » Wed Nov 17, 2004 7:18 pm

There are several types of liver function tests they do with the bloodwork. For you to be jaundiced, there is something going on with your liver and hopefully you'll find out just what it is and they'll be able to take care of it quickly.

Heck, may be you'll even gain weight.

One suggestion - if you get inconclusive results or you are concerned about the diagnosis, you need to get to a really good specialist. If you get to that point, send me a PM and I'll get some names for you in Tampa or Orlando, if you'd like.
0 likes   

ColdFront77

#6 Postby ColdFront77 » Wed Nov 17, 2004 7:20 pm

Found this about Gilbert Syndrome:

Gilbert syndrome is a common but harmless genetic condition in which a liver enzyme essential to the disposal of bilirubin
(the chemical that results from the normal breakdown of hemoglobin from red blood cells) is abnormal.

This enzyme abnormality results in mild elevations of bilirubin pigment in the blood. Bilirubin levels tend particularly to be
increased in Gilbert syndrome with starvation or dehydration.

The elevated bilirubin pigment can sometimes cause mild yellowing (jaundice) of the eyes. People with Gilbert syndrome are
otherwise entirely normal with no other signs or symptoms and their liver enzymes in blood serum are also entirely normal.

There is no need for treatment, and the prognosis (outlook) is excellent.
0 likes   

ColdFront77

#7 Postby ColdFront77 » Wed Nov 17, 2004 7:27 pm

Terry wrote:One suggestion - if you get inconclusive results or you are concerned about the diagnosis, you need to get to a really good specialist. If you get to that point, send me a PM and I'll get some names for you in Tampa or Orlando, if you'd like.

My father doesn't drive too far and my mother and myself do not drive at all, so I wouldn't
believe I will be able to go too far from my location unless it is extremely serious.

Thank you very much, Terry.
0 likes   

Terry
S2K Supporter
S2K Supporter
Posts: 1450
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:25 pm
Location: Lakeland and Anna Maria Island, FL
Contact:

I will drive you to a specialist, if needed.

#8 Postby Terry » Wed Nov 17, 2004 7:56 pm

Seriously, "better" doctors deliver better cures. Provided your insurance covers it, a second opinion should be the norm.

Just send me a PM and let me know if you need me to find a specialist. Lots of my friends are doctors here in Lakeland.

Where are The Villages located? Is that in Pasco County or somewhere up that way?

Also - I see you are originally from MA. We're heading up to Boston for T-giving. I'm not sure these FL bones will survive the cold, but I can't wait to see my son and I do love Boston.

Take care of yourself!

Terry, just a middle aged housewife and mom in Lakeland
0 likes   

ColdFront77

Re: I will drive you to a specialist, if needed.

#9 Postby ColdFront77 » Wed Nov 17, 2004 8:28 pm

Terry wrote:Where are The Villages located? Is that in Pasco County or somewhere up that way?

The Villages is located in extreme northwestern Lake, extreme northeastern Sumter and extreme southern Marion
county. I am two to three miles west of the Lake county line and about two miles south of the Marion county line.

Terry wrote:Also - I see you are originally from MA. We're heading up to Boston for T-giving. I'm not sure these FL bones will survive the cold, but I can't wait to see my son and I do love Boston.

Yes, I grew up south of Boston, moved to central Florida in June 2000. If you don't mind me asking, are you going to be right in Boston?

Our Floridian blood certainly isn't used to the New England winter. :)
0 likes   

User avatar
breeze
Category 5
Category 5
Posts: 9110
Age: 63
Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2003 4:55 pm
Location: Lawrenceburg, TN

#10 Postby breeze » Wed Nov 17, 2004 8:52 pm

Hi, Tom! As Terry has mentioned, Liver Enzymes
can be drawn from a simple blood test to give
your doctor an idea of what's going on in your liver.
The Doctor should be able, from your tests, to
determine if anything needs to be done, from there.

Take care, wxbuddy!
0 likes   

Terry
S2K Supporter
S2K Supporter
Posts: 1450
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:25 pm
Location: Lakeland and Anna Maria Island, FL
Contact:

Re: I will drive you to a specialist, if needed.

#11 Postby Terry » Wed Nov 17, 2004 8:58 pm

ColdFront77 wrote:
Yes, I grew up south of Boston, moved to central Florida in June 2000. If you don't mind me asking, are you going to be right in Boston?


We'll be staying in Cambridge.
0 likes   

GalvestonDuck
Category 5
Category 5
Posts: 15941
Age: 57
Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2002 8:11 am
Location: Galveston, oh Galveston (And yeah, it's a barrier island. Wanna make something of it?)

#12 Postby GalvestonDuck » Wed Nov 17, 2004 9:02 pm

Ditto all the above.

And if I recall correctly, you don't drink alcohol, right, Tom? Even for social drinkers who happen to imbibe the night before a trip to the doctor's office, alcohol can sometimes alter the liver function test results. Best bet is to fast after midnight and have absolutely no alcohol the day, or even two days, before the blood draw.

Good luck!
0 likes   

Josephine96

#13 Postby Josephine96 » Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:18 am

Thanks for the information in this thread guys.. I've really never heard of hyper lol whatever..
0 likes   


Return to “Off Topic”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests