health screen-high bilirubin

wildbill wrote:

I just got the results of my healthscreening and it shows that I have a elevated bilirubin count. I can't get in to see my doc until later this week. I checked webmd but we all know that letsrunners are the smartest people around. Any thoughts?

An isolated (no other tests abnormal) high bilirubin, in a person who feels well, is generally nothing to worry about. It could be the result of hemolysis (ruptured red blood cells), or a genetic disorder called Gilbert's. See what your doctor thinks.

Ken B. wrote:

wildbill wrote:

I just got the results of my healthscreening and it shows that I have a elevated bilirubin count. I can't get in to see my doc until later this week. I checked webmd but we all know that letsrunners are the smartest people around. Any thoughts?

An isolated (no other tests abnormal) high bilirubin, in a person who feels well, is generally nothing to worry about. It could be the result of hemolysis (ruptured red blood cells), or a genetic disorder called Gilbert's. See what your doctor thinks.

Second this post. I have had the same thing and was told it was abnormal but totally benign.

Still seems odd to me but I have had no other problems so I guess the doc is right.

However I always wonder how much faster I might have run with normal bilirubin levels....

could be tons of things. if you want to know, let's hear your associated symptoms, stool color, urine color. do you know if if your indirect or direct bilirubin is increased? Or both?

Thanks for the responses. The results don't indicated direct vs. indirect...just Total being 1.3 mg/dL

I do seem to have some digestion problems from time to time. As far as color, nothing seems to be abnormal(with either urine or stool).

Thanks again. I am going to be able to get in to see my Dr. this afternoon.

Mine was high at a physical one year when I was coincidentally on an anibiotic for a bad cold or something. I was told this was probably the cause and that they weren't concerned enough to re-check it right away because I was otherwise in great shape. The next year it was back in a normal range.

My husband was recently told by his doctor that his bilirubin levels were high. The last test showed high total bilirubin, with direct bilirubin levels normal and indirect levels being very high. He doesn't have any symptoms. Could this be Gilbert's syndrome? The doc referred him for an ultrasound of his abdomen and referred him straight to an oncologist, which is scaring the shit out of us. The doctor told him that he "isn't too worried, but it is better to get it checked." But referred him to an oncologist. I don't understand why they did that before following up with more blood work and at least a urinalysis to see if there is bilirubin (conjugated) in the urine.

All of his other blood test results (CBC, CMP) were within normal parameters. Bilirubin is the only thing that is elevated. AST, ALT, serum albumin, alkaline phosphatase S, all were normal.

He was also recently training for his second half marathon, and ran it without any problems this past weekend.

I was diagnosed with Gilbert's Syndrome in my 20's...I am now in my 60's and every blood test since than has showed a high bilirubin level. Doctor says, "no problem", and I have not had any. If you can find any negative health issues related to high bilirubin, let me know via this thread...I personally know of none.

I also have high billirubin. Everything else is OK; iron levels are constant.

I got the billirubin level down by eating a lot of steak, and my ferritin went down from 45 to 25.

Could doctors be lying about what billirubin shows?