Patient Comments: Primary Biliary Cirrhosis - SymptomsPlease describe the symptoms of your primary biliary cirrhosis.
Comment from: daisylady, 55-64 Female (Patient)
Published: August 12
I am a 57 year old obese female. I was diagnosed with PBC. My mom was diagnosed in also. I was told I had a fatty liver also after 2nd liver biopsy. My Doctor talked to the radiologist and gave him more info than just the biopsy and he changed it to PBC. I also have itching at times, dry eyes (which I use Sistine). I have hiatal hernia, and gastroparesis. I have GERD also. Plus the usual arthritis and Raynaud's syndrome. I am tired all the time and I do not sleep well. I take 8 x 300mg ursodiol everyday. Right now all my blood work is normal. I take it 1 day at a time. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: foxy123, 65-74 Female (Patient)
Published: May 14
I am 66-year-old female and have primary biliary cirrhosis. This started in my 40s, which is pretty much normal for PBC. I do get very tired. But I exercise at least four times a week at the YMCA. I have had two liver biopsies. The one I had two years ago revealed stage 3. I do not itch as most patients do. However, I do bruise very easily. It seems I keep red marks on my arms all the time from just minor pressure or bumps. I guess I am fortunate to have only these symptoms. However, I really worry about all the complications with the disease. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Lonnie, 55-64 Male (Patient)
Published: December 16
I was diagnosed nine months ago. My routine blood work indicated I was anemic. A liver biopsy revealed I had primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: Joanna, 25-34 Female (Patient)
Published: December 16
I have been diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). I am 32 and a mother of 5-year-old twins and an 18 month baby as well. I had severe itching, which is how I was diagnosed after my most recent pregnancy. The doctors think that PBC was directly caused by something in my pregnancy. I have finally experienced relief from the relentless itching through a drug called Vistaril, and my liver levels are coming down thanks to a drug named ursodiol. I still experience major fatigue occasionally, usually around my menstrual cycle, and light itching every once in a while, about every three months or so. I am learning that just because I have three good months in a row that I still experience the symptoms cyclically. It is demoralizing because somewhere in my brain I think I am getting better and then I get my symptoms again. Was this comment helpful?Yes
Comment from: rebidue2, 45-54 Female (Patient)
Published: October 28
I was just diagnosed with primary biliary stage 1-2. After two years of stomach pain along with fatigue, the third doctor I was sent to for a routine colonoscopy was alerted by my high liver levels. I told him that they were my "norm"(at least two yrs) along with my low blood platelets. Previous to this diagnosis it was thought I had Gastritis, gallstones or irritable bowl syndrome. After having 20 plus tests from ultrasounds, cat scans, endoscopy ect., they have done a liver biopsy and confirmed this disease. I have not read about one of my symptoms which is joint pain. The only way to describe it would be to picture yourself working out at the gym with a trainer for the first time. Your body is sore. But the next day it feels like you got hit by a car. That is the pain I am feeling. It however is not every day. Haven't been able to pin point why some days and not others. It is more prominent on the days that I have severe fatigue though. I do have the more common symptoms of fatigue, itch and not sleeping. Hope this helps somebody. Was this comment helpful?Yes
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Primary Biliary Cirrhosis - Diagnosis
Question: How was your primary biliary cirrhosis diagnosed?
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis - Experience
Question: Please describe your experience with PBC?
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My PBC was noticed during a blood test for life insurance in 2001. In 2002 I had a biopsy that confirmed PBC. In 2003, I had my gallbladder removed. Since then, I've had lots of symptoms: itching; weakness; dry mouth, eyes, and skin – you name it. By early 2005 I was put on a transplant list. Since then, I've been taking Urso, prednisone, and anti-rejection drugs. I also have portal hypertension and autoimmune hepatitis. PBC is very life changing, especially with all the drugs I have to take, including propranolol and Nexium. When I thought it could not get worse, in 2007 I came down with spinal stenosis. Now I'm disabled. But I have coped and my family is a big help.
Related Medications: prednisone | propranolol