Is a person with PBC more apt to develop other health problems? Are certain things common to effect people with PBC?

[sarahalawson]

Are they more prone to infection?

[Anne123_45]

Hey Sara.. Some people (not all) suffer from multiple auto immune disorders.

[Hidden]

Hello sarahalawson.

I was diagnosed with PBC Dec 2010 when I was 46. I started with the itch and was fatigued earlier that year. Those were the only symptons along with abnormal bloods that I had. I had the occasional right shoulder ache but I am not sure f that was caused in a manual job or if it is connected to PBC as a nerve runs down and near the liver.

It is said that certain fat soluble vitamins like D for instance can be badly absorbed in PBC but so far I've had no major problem. I did have an on the line Vit D reading back in 2010 but with a full-time job that year and never being one for sitting in the sun wasn't exactly surprising. When I had a recheck in 2011 it was found that it was within normal range again. These days I utilise the sun when I can.

Bones can be apparently that bit more vulnerable in PBC due to the fat soluble vitamins too. Some say they have aches and pains in their joints. So far I'm not too bad.

You can develop other health problems but they'd not necessarily be linked to PBC. I think what it means when we have been diagnosed with PBC and knowing it is something that will always be with us, we have to look after ourselves even more than we thought we might have done prior to knowing.

My theory is that perhaps we were pretty good at staving off a lot of things prior to PBC developing that our immune system sort of got a bit over-conscientious and started producing antibodies to attack our own system, in this case the bile ducts.

Over the last 3 years I've not really developed anything else or had any significant problems. I think in trying to remain healthy stands for a lot. This time of the year, I know we are bombarded with calls in England to have a flu vaccination if we have PBC but I've never been for one. I know some on this site will frown upon it maybe but my reason is that over the years I've never been prone to colds as it is and since diagnose I've remained the same so for me, I'd rather not rock the boat.

I don't tend to think about what could happen now I have PBC. I get up every day and though I know I have PBC due to reaching for the bottle of urso (and then itching at night) I just get on as there is nothing else I can do except look after myself. I think it is best to tackle things as and when and not think about what could be as that might not.

[roseter]

I had a flu jab last year because of having pbc and then suffered with the worst cold I'd had in years so not convinced to have one this year!

[Tigger858 in reply to roseter]

Hi roseter I couldn't get the flu jab just after having surgery and just prior to being diagnosed with PBC and I got flu for the first time in my life ( I was 53). Honestly no matter how bad your cold was you really do not want flu. I have had a cough and chest infection for the last 4 weeks and had to cancel my flu jab twice. I'll be getting it as soon as this has cleared though.

[Hidden in reply to roseter]

Problem is with the flu jab roseter, it is altered each year. I'd still rather take my chances.

My brother is convinced each year that everytime the flu vaccines are being took up, there seems to be more people who are healthy and not offered flu jabs who start to come down with the snuffles.

I think with any vaccination there is the risk you may have bad side-effects and if you don't have it there is the risk that you just might get flu.

I'll still be passing on a flu jab no matter how much a GP would try to convince me to have one. There'll be no guarantee either way.

[Val02]

If you get one auto immune disease it leaves you prone to getting more. I have developed other general autoimmune conditions - dry eyes, angioedema.

[spoul]

Yes like a couple of other replies have stated you are more likely to get other autoimmune diseases .......for me that was hypothyroidism, prior to my Pbc. However don't confuse your immune system with autoimmune , they are completely different

Take care

[Hidden]

Yes it is apparently said that you can come down with something else of an auto-immune nature or even develop PBC if you have an ongoing auto-immune condition but I'd rather not go there myself.

I choose to ignore and get on despite as some things can be better not knowing.

[nomorepies]

Like some others here I have Sjorgrens syndrome, apparently 70-80% of people with PBC develop it,I also suffer with pain in my feet. I have had my flu jab this year with no problems, had my pneumonia jab at the same time and suffered a bad reaction under the injection site, swollen, hot and red area measuring approx 5 inches by 3 inches, large bruise where needle went in, has anyone else had a similar reaction.

[Hidden in reply to nomorepies]

Each time I have the bloods taken since I started itching in 2010 the site where it was taken (elbow crook) I start itching badly there for a couple days.

I never had any problem around 2007 when I had Hepatitis vaccinations (working in medical environment as a domestic), top part of arm used for the vaccinations but at the time if I had PBC I wasn't aware of it. (Tho' I do seem to think that perhaps these vaccinations were the trigger for PBC. I had a problem on blood testing after the 3rd spaced vaccination and I had to have a further 2 before I was deemed fine. The final vaccination prior to the last blood check I was given a different brand, it was a combined Hepatitis vaccination.)

I think any vaccination into a muscle can cause tissue damage for several days after. I remember my children having vaccinations when they weren't even a year old back in the 1980s and they'd have a rather swollen and red hot lump at the top of their bottom as back then that was the norm for the injections they were having. I recall they were feverish at the time too.

I think if I'm correct the pneumo jab is for life isn't it?

[Universal44]

I was offered flu jab last winter and took it and ended up so ill and had flu like symptoms for 3 months it was awful.....never again for me.

[Val02]

I suffered a reaction to the flu jab as well a few years ago. It made me so ill for months on end, I decided to take my chances with the flu instead.

[nomorepies]

Yes, with PBC and other chronic diseases 1 pneumo jab is for life.