Along with my bi-yearly liver function tests (LFT), I have a yearly blood test called "AFP Tumor Marker" which screens for cancer of the liver. The chances of developing liver cancer increase exponentially every year after 10 years of chronic liver inflammation. I'm on year (counts fingers) 22 of documented liver inflammation, so you can probably imagine that I'm a little wound up until I get the results of this particular test along with the yearly ultrasound.

We're good to go for another year, except that my ultrasound showed enlarged bile ducts. This is a new one for me, because years ago I was told by a bile duct specialist that my ducts were abnormally small. He oughta know, he's had to roto-rooter them a couple of times and put in temporary stents.

Along with all of that, my LFTs are extraordinarily high- one of them is 10x the high end of normal. I got a copy of the tests when I went to the gastro's office today for follow-up labs because I was curious why my new gastro was 'alarmed'. If nothing else, this will show my new gastro two things:

1. The flare-ups have nothing to do with alcohol, because I haven’t been able to even smell wine without it making me nauseated for a couple of months now.
2. That I don't complain unless there's something really wrong.

..actually, I err on the opposite side of that. I need to do a little bit more complaining and take better care of myself. I'm sure y'all can imagine how sick I am of doctors and hospitals, and why I try to avoid them....

So, the nurse said that the doctor was going to wait to decide what, if anything, to do with me after getting the follow-up labs. Let's hope that it doesn't include a referral to Dr. Kevorkian.