Autoimmune Hepatitis

Hello, all. Just got my biopsy results - I have AH. I’ve just spent some time reading about this (it’s Saturday, waiting for Monday to call my GI doc and get a follow-up appointment), and am not a happy camper.

Background: liver enzymes first showed elevation back in 2019 when I lived in a different state. I had an ultrasound, lots of blood work, and changed to a “healthy liver” diet. The enzyme levels came down a bit, but still not normal. That doc suggested that probably had fatty liver, and I went about my life. Ended up leaving that state and traveling the country (USA) full time for 3 years. We settled in this state 2 years ago, and it took a while to find a really good GP. First physical with her, blood tests showed enzyme elevation. And we were off to the races with tests. Ultrasound and MRI showed absolutely nothing wrong with the liver or any abdominal organs. Needle aspiration biopsy shows AH.

I have zero symptoms. No fatigue, aches, jaundice, stomach or bowel issues, appetite issues, etc. I’m 68 years old and in excellent health otherwise. I have some mild to moderate arthritis, which I only found because I had torn my meniscus and had an MRI of the knee. After a cortisone injection, I’m back to brisk walks, hiking, ballroom dancing, etc. I am on zero medications, and all I take for supplements are calcium, omega-3, D and B12. After all the reading, I presume I will be put on prednisone and Azathioprine, which is just throwing me for a loop! I imagine I’m going to transform from feeling awesome to feeling like a train wreck … bloated like a Macy’s parade balloon, having to mask in the grocery store so I don’t catch every airborne illness, aching, risking diabetes, cancer, and other horrible things all because of this invisible disease.

I’m curious to hear from others like me … super healthy in all respects except this … and to know how your treatment and illness proceeded. I hope to hear that I’m worrying for nothing, but I tend to think that’s not the case.

Thanks.