Is it PBC or Urso ?

[Sissymcc]

I have just st learned through lab testing that I am deficient in Vitamins A, D and K. Does the disease or the medicine cause this? What is the cure because I know we have a hard time absorbing these vitamins. I don’t see the doctor about these results for three more weeks

[Millie09]

I was found to have no vitamin D at all in my system. This was last feb 2017 after blood test.

No idea how long i had been deficient but i now have osteopenia in my hip and two prolapsed discs middle to lower back 😐. I was given desunin tabs at first then changed to Adcal, vitD/calcium tablets. I have been on b12 and thiamine since i was diagnosed with cirrhosis 10yrs ago.

Eating green leafy veg is a good source of vit k , especially kale .

You will be given meds to start with but you can't go wrong with a good healthy diet.

[BSA-3 in reply to Millie09]

Too right !

[Kristian]

It'll be the disease not the Urso. Its quite common to be deficient in such vitamins with liver disease. Most likely treatment will simply be with a vitamin supplement, usually taken by mouth once a day or even once every other day. GIven that your next appointment is in three weeks there wont be a problem waiting till then to get conformation of what to do. You may though hear beforehand, but you also may not.

[GrittyReads]

Yes, it is the PBC: not the urso - so keep taking the urso!

They are all fat-soluble vitamins, and the bad effects that the PBC has, on your liver's proper functioning, is causing this, and means that these vitamins are not being dealt with properly by the body. For these vitamins to be broken down and absorbed, certain conditions are needed in the gut, and this is not happening, fully, due to the liver's impaired behaviour. The situation may improve as you respond better and better to the Urso treatment, but ... meanwhile, you should see your Dr and ask for the right sort of supplements for these vitamins. I don't know the exact details, but they probably need to be higher level doses of the vitamins, but also in forms that are more easily broken down and absorbed by the body. Don't just give yourself high doses of these vitamins via over-the counter purchases, as I'm sure they need to be the right type for your body to absorb more easily.

I would also talk to the lovely advisors at the 'PBC Foundation' (link to their website at the top of the page) as they may be able to help, and there is loads of advice on the website - plus, you can join (it's free) and get even more access. But do talk to them - they saved my sanity!

Take care.

[Sissymcc in reply to GrittyReads]

Thank you for the excellent answer. I am sure that the team I go to will prescribe high quality vitamins.

[Hidden]

Hope you get sorted very soon and you start to feel a little better each day . Love and hugs Lynne xxxxxxxx