A Surprising Connection
Two weeks after my wrist fracture was surgically repaired, I got my post‑op labs back—and honestly, I was expecting to see my bone markers doing a victory lap. Instead, my liver enzymes were flirting with the danger zone.
Who knew that anesthesia, pain meds, and healing byproducts could turn your liver into the unsung hero (or unexpected overachiever) of recovery? It was my wake‑up call: healing isn’t just about bones knitting back together—it’s a full‑body production, and my liver deserves a standing ovation.
What I’ve Learned: Why the Liver Gets Overloaded
I’ll admit—I always thought of my liver as mostly the “alcohol organ,” dutifully cleaning up my occasional Friday night margarita. Turns out, it’s way more of a multitasking superstar. After my wrist surgery and the flood of pain meds and anesthesia, my post-op bloodwork started showing liver markers edging higher than I expected. Who knew a bone break could be a liver breaker, too?
Here’s the layperson’s version of what’s going on:
• Anesthesia & Pain Meds = Extra Workload
Every time you go under—or pop a pill to take the edge off your pain—your liver has to step in and process those chemicals. It’s like sending in reinforcements to handle an unexpected influx of paperwork.
• Inflammation & Healing Byproducts
Healing a fractured bone isn’t just about putting on a cast. Your body produces inflammatory molecules and metabolic waste as it rebuilds. Guess where most of that gets filtered? Yep, in your liver.
• Stress & Cortisol Spikes
Stress hormones surge when you’re injured, in pain, and worried about surgery. Elevated cortisol means your liver’s juggling even more, because it also helps balance hormone levels and stress byproducts.
• The “Perfect Storm” Effect
Mix anesthesia, pain meds (especially acetaminophen), inflammation, and stress, and you’ve got a perfect little storm of detox demands. My liver markers went up—nothing dangerously high, but enough to show me that my body was working overtime.
Quick Science Byte:
Your liver is like a postal hub for all things “foreign” in your body—meds, toxins, inflammatory debris. When that hub gets flooded, markers like ALT and AST rise, signaling it’s running behind.
Surprise Moment:
I never guessed that a bone fracture + a few routine meds could mimic the bloodwork patterns we usually associate with, say, a string of heavy drinking weekends. It was the wake-up call I needed to treat my liver as the MVP it truly is.
With this new perspective, I realized supporting my liver during recovery isn’t optional—it’s essential. That’s why I’ve doubled down on hydration, liver-friendly foods, and targeted supplements (more on those next). Because if my body’s doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes, I’m all in for giving it every advantage I can.
How I’m Supporting It Naturally
Okay, here’s where the fun (and relief!) starts—some easy, everyday things I’ve added to my routine:
• Warm Lemon Water in the AM
– I squeeze some fresh lemon into a mug of warm water, stir in a pinch of Celtic sea salt, and sip away. It’s hydrating, gently alkalizing, and gives my liver a friendly nudge first thing.
• Alpha Lipoic Acid
– I pop this supplement each morning. ALA is like a little antioxidant bodyguard that can help recycle other antioxidants—and it’s been studied for liver support. A little side note: ALA has an effect on the smell of urine similar to when you eat asparagus... nothing to worry about, just different from your usual.
• Young Living’s Liver-Friendly Products
– I’ve been leaning on GLF (Galbladder and Liver Function), all of their oils and supplements that begin with "Juva" (when you see "Juva", think liver), and a drop of Lemon Vitality oil in my water. Not a cure-all, but every bit helps when your filter’s on high alert... it's all about internal cleansing and supporting healthy liver function.
• Thinking About Dandelion Tea & Greens
– I haven’t fully committed, but dandelion root tea and adding a handful of steamed greens to dinner feel like next-level self-care.
• Gentle Movement & Lymph Flow
– Between cast-friendly stretches and hopping on my vibration plate for a few minutes, I’m keeping things moving. Good lymphatic flow means less congestion for my liver and kidneys to clear out. Also, I've got a brush for dry brushing, but I keep forgetting to use it before jumping in the shower. I'll start remembering that one of these mornings.
• My Favorite Red Drink
– This high antioxidant juice I've been drinking for years is the base for a special drink containing some super supportive ingredients for any time, but especially right now. The original recipe is from Dr. Peter Minke... I've changed it a bit and added a couple things for my version.
Dr. Minke's Red Drink ingredients:
1-2 ounces Ningxia Red
1 tsp Sulfurzyme Powder
3 drops Lime Vitality essential oil
Filtered water
Here's Dr. Minke's video where he explains everything you need to know about why he chose these specific ingredients:
2-4 ounces Ningxia Red
1 tsp Sulfurzyme Powder
1 tsp Golden Turmeric powder
3 drops Lime Vitality essential oil
1 can of Ningxia Zyng
I am not consistent about actually measuring my Ningxia Red - unless I'm using the 2-ounce packets. When I've got bottles of it on hand, I just pour some in my glass and kinda guess when I've got at least 4 ounces. 😁
The Sulfurzyme and Turmeric Powders take a minute to dissolve into the drink. Don't worry about the few bits of it you might see floating on the top. I have the best luck getting it mixed in well when I use my frother as a blender. This drink is great served over ice as well!
Sulfurzyme is high in antioxidants and the addition of turmeric is especially helpful for supporting my liver AND bone healing right now. NingXia Zyng is a healthy alternative to sodas - I have a hard time keeping it on hand now that my grandkids have discovered it!
What I’m Not Doing: The Perfection Trap
Look, I’ve learned it’s impossible—and totally unhelpful—to attempt to do all the liver-love things exactly right every day. So I’ve given myself some ground rules:
• If I miss my lemon water one morning, I’ll grab an extra glass at lunch.
• Supplements are “recommended,” not “required.” Skipping one day doesn’t mean I’m failing.
• My goal is progress, not perfection. A little consistent support goes further than an all-or-nothing sprint.
A Note to Anyone in Recovery
If you’re healing from surgery or injury, here’s my two cents:
• Talk to your doc about checking liver markers and safe, natural support options.
• Watch for signs—like unexplained fatigue or digestive wonkiness—that your liver might be overworked. Feeling itchy all over with no obvious reason could be another clue.
• Be gentle. Your body is doing the heavy lifting so you can feel better. Give it the hydration, nutrients, rest, and patience it needs.
🗓
Try It for 7 Days
Take my 7-day liver-support challenge: morning warm lemon water, gentle movement/lymphatic massage, and one or more of the supplements I mentioned - I highly recommend choosing my twist on that red drink! Then let me know how you feel on Day 8.
Remember: you’re not broken. You’re just doing a lot of healing work, and your liver deserves a thank-you and a little extra care. Here’s to treating our bodies like the amazing, resilient machines they are!
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You’re invited to join my newsletter, Finding What Works—a weekly-ish note from me with practical wellness tips, nostalgic nods for GenX souls, and honest reflections from someone who’s still figuring it all out (but loves sharing the good stuff along the way).
This isn’t about perfection or pressure. It’s about finding what supports us, what lights us up, and what brings us back to ourselves—together.
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