Daughter Gone Yellow

[jourdain2]

I'm having a sort of shaky panic here. My incredibly healthy (save for sports injuries) 47 yr.-old daughter, L,, met me for my birthday on Sat. and told me that her husband had told her that twice in the last week she had gone yellow ( she does very much NOT drink a lot) and that she was to go to the GP for some tests this morning.

Her younger sister just rang me to say that Leone has been told to go immediately to hospital for further tests.

She was fine on Saturday. I'm casting around for help and informatiion, please. Sister just rang to say that L. was feeling nauseous, if that's any clue. Any help or ideas welcome, I'm feeling a bit shaky.

[pixie374]

Hi jourdain, going yellow does not mean she drinks a lot, but the first suggestion would be a liver issue. I hope she is ok, please let us know.

[jourdain2]

Thanks Pixie, yes, L is very abstemious in the context of today, so in a way that's more worrying.

[Buenchico]

See here for some basic info:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/jaundice/

[jourdain2]

Thanks, Buen.

[pixie374]

Not necessarily, jourdain. She is in the right place to get answers, medication etc.
Of course you are worried- take some deep breaths and wait xx

[Peter Pedant]

There are about 104 causes of yellowness ( jaundice) - she doesnt drink and so there are 103

Going to hospital for test is appropriate and means she is on the conveyor belt. It involves blood tests of course ( about an arm ful) and then further investigations like.... CT and MRI scan.

On the numbers game I cant tell you what the likely dx is in a 50y old - there must be alist somewhere - ( you know of 1000 Jaundiced 50 y olds the commonest was .....)

[jourdain2]

Bless you all. I'm trying to breathe and going to bed. My head's telling me one thing - but my body isn't going along with it. :)

[pixie374]

Of course. Gallstones? She is young and otherwise healthy. She will get the treatment and advice she needs xx

[Sqad]

The two commonest causes by far, in your daughters age group and from what you have said and what you haven't said is........viral hepatitis and Glandular fever.

Neither life threatening.

[anneasquith]

Sudden painless onset of jaundice, must seek medical assistance immediately .

[Bobbisox1]

Thinking of all of you jourdain xxx

[jourdain2]

Thank you all so much for your help, presence and advice. It's been a busy and stressful day after very little sleep, as you can imagine.
To sum up - after chest X-ray, ultra-sound scan and umpteen tests and checks - they are baffled and are sending her home whilst organising a fortnight's worth of a battery of further tests and checks.
She is no longer yellow but her enzyme levels are 'alarming' to quote her doctor.

I feel like sleeping for a week, but have stopped with the cold shivers. Thanks again.

[Sqad]

Your full and informative feedback is appreciated.
For what it is worth I still feel that it is viral in nature.

[DTCwordfan]

Is she overweight by chance?

Has she recently been anywhere out of the ordinary? I ended up with way OTT triglyceride numbers after visiting Somalia...

What about cholestrol?

[anneasquith]

Sounds like obstructive jaundice (I’m not a doctor). How often will she have her ‘bloods’ taken jourdain ?

[jourdain2]

I don't know yet, anneasquith. I'm letting her get some sleep - she was in A&E all night. I'll speak to her this evening.

Sqad, thank you. They are not very long back from a holiday in Portugal - I suppose she could have picked something up.

DTC - she's no lightweight, but she is 6' tall, highly fit and still playing in a league netball team after being a track & field athlete
in her youth, so she is well-muscled - no fat though.

I think that we were even more worried because OH's late wife turned yellow one day - and died of liver cancer months later. You can't keep something like that out of your mind.

[anneasquith]

Jourdain, it’s a very worrying time for you all. Hopefully some test results soon . Take care .

[Sqad]

Jourdain.......just to reassure you :

/////She is no longer yellow but her enzyme levels are 'alarming' to quote her doctor.////

You havent told us the level of liver enzymes but in the medical world 3 times the normal is thought to be "mildly elevated and 50 times the upper limit of normal is considered "of some concern."

She will be fine.

[jourdain2]

I want to say 'bless you both', but it might not be appreciated. Thank you so very much.

[jourdain2]

Sqad Enzyme levels 1,050. Had 3 lots of blood taken. Going back Tuesdayfor more bloods and hopefully some results. Feels tired but OK.