Slightly elevated bilirubin and aromasin/arimidex

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited April 2020 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Dear all, any feedback would be appreciated. My bili levels are sometimes a bit elevated. But not always. My medical team always exclaims over it, and then says " don't worry..." but I ALWAYS worry when something isn't absolutely normal, and I don't think I have to explain why I worry to any of you.

Do you think the fact that I've been on some kind of drug (tamox, then arimidex, then aromasin) for 4 years now make my bili slightly elevated from time to time? In Jan bili was normal but my creatine was a little off. In June, my bili was slightly elevated and my MO said no worries, but my naturopath is exclaiming over it and wants me to take some supplement for liver support.

For the first 6 months of this year, i also took advil PM nightly along with my regular 325 mg aspirin and some other advils sometimes during the day because of mild joint pain from time to time from the AI. Could that cause a problem? I'm not taking advil to sleep anymore.

Do we EVER get to have normal CBCs anymore, post chemo, rads, and general PTSD from the stupid dx in the first place?

Help! Need someone to talk me off the cliff. I'm of course now thinking "liver mets", etc.

Claire

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  • Kessa619
    Kessa619 Member Posts: 80
    edited August 2016

    Hi. My billirubin is sometimes elevated - and my Dad and brother have the same issue. For us, it was determined to be a herditary condition known as Gilbert's Syndrome. It is not considered harmless. A not insignificant percentage of the population has it. Maybe look into it?

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  • Kessa619
    Kessa619 Member Posts: 80
    edited August 2016

    sorry. It *IS* considered harmless

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2016

    Hi Kessa, saw that disease, but it's also considered rare, so I ruled it out at present, although I suppose that's what it could be...my MO wasn't worried at all so I have to believe that she sees so many tests that might show something dangerous her eyes are trained to ignore the things that aren't. But I also have ongoing {PTSD from the dx, and my experience as a very young caregiver for my husband who died of c in 1996. I know that PTSD contributes to medical anxiety as well. Thank you though!

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  • HeatherPsalm34-4
    HeatherPsalm34-4 Member Posts: 58
    edited April 2020

    hello Claire, I also deal with PTSD related to Dx and fear of reoccurrence. I just received my lab report via app prior to my MO appt on Monday. My bilirubin level is slightly elevated so I of course also went into Panic mode.....I am on Aromasin daily and read that can cause elevated bilirubin levels are u also on an aroma tase inhibitor? That possibility helped me calm down a bit. I see MO on Monday and hope I’m also told it’s nothing to worry about! When my onc tells me it’s nothing to worry about, I’ve been trying to just accept it. My loving sister reminded me why go if you’re not going to trust them?! Good advice from her!

    Looking forward to hearing back from you

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2020

    Hi Heather,

    I know the fear well. I've had two docs see that (one my PCP and the other my oncologist), and they absolutely didn't think it was anything. I think they would pay attention if it was way out of range, and probably coupled with some other value on the report as well.

    Anyway, I have mixed feelings about getting my reports online. On one hand if they are good, I breathe, on the other if something is < or >, I can freak out for longer.

    One time I had to redo my labs because my liver values were a bit high. I did it two weeks later and they dropped right back down.

    I'm glad it was nothing for you! Because it is ;)

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