GGT (or Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) is an enzyme found mainly in the liver. Normally there is a low concentration found in your blood, but the levels can increase if your liver is damaged as the enzyme 'leaks out' of holes in the liver. A 'safe' concentration is between 20 & 75 U/ml, and for the last couple of years my bood tests have returned values of around 48-50 U/ml, much to the disgust and disbelief of people who know me.
After my first post-viral blood test I had a GGT reading of 150 U/ml - high enough to be of concern. But I felt on the mend and we assumed that my second blood test would be a double-check to make sure everything was returning to normal. Sadly no. My GGT had increased to 220 U/ml.
This could be due to damage to my liver from a virus, from excessive alcohol, from drugs (both recreational & pharmaceutical) or from a 'fatty liver'. None of these are good, although given recent history the most obvious cause is the virus. GGT is also apparently highly sensitive to alcohol and I had had a couple of beers the day before the test, so there may just be a false reading from that. I certainly hope so because I'm off to Malaysia for 5 weeks next weekend.....
The good news is that I'm feeling better pretty much every day. As a friend of mine said about viral illness, 'all of your energy goes into the working week' so for the last week when I get home all I've wanted to do is vegetate or sleep. But I've managed to get out for a couple of rides this weekend. I have no 'top end' fitness - I can pedal happily along on the flat but any hill, headwind or increase in speed leaves me immediately feeling exhausted - so the plan is to try to gently exercise every day but to take it easy. Hopefully in KL I can keep that routine up - who knows, maybe I'll even find a safe route for a regular barefoot run?
After my first post-viral blood test I had a GGT reading of 150 U/ml - high enough to be of concern. But I felt on the mend and we assumed that my second blood test would be a double-check to make sure everything was returning to normal. Sadly no. My GGT had increased to 220 U/ml.
This could be due to damage to my liver from a virus, from excessive alcohol, from drugs (both recreational & pharmaceutical) or from a 'fatty liver'. None of these are good, although given recent history the most obvious cause is the virus. GGT is also apparently highly sensitive to alcohol and I had had a couple of beers the day before the test, so there may just be a false reading from that. I certainly hope so because I'm off to Malaysia for 5 weeks next weekend.....
The good news is that I'm feeling better pretty much every day. As a friend of mine said about viral illness, 'all of your energy goes into the working week' so for the last week when I get home all I've wanted to do is vegetate or sleep. But I've managed to get out for a couple of rides this weekend. I have no 'top end' fitness - I can pedal happily along on the flat but any hill, headwind or increase in speed leaves me immediately feeling exhausted - so the plan is to try to gently exercise every day but to take it easy. Hopefully in KL I can keep that routine up - who knows, maybe I'll even find a safe route for a regular barefoot run?
Nice information.YOu can check your GGT Test
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GGT Test