Feeling drunk (no alcohol!) Eyes can't focus,dizzy, empty headed.

[flowerpower66]

LFTs fine.positive AMA. Awaiting liver ultra sound scan. Does anyone else experience these horrible effects. I am a migraine sufferer but never had so many problems with cognitive abilities and drunken state especially in my eyes.(my eyes are fine apparently).x

[mumofthree]

Hi flowerpower66,

The first time I experienced these feelings was a few months after I was first diagnosed (Jan2011). I was in a very bad place at that time physically and mentally and was very depressed. I was experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions after having the PBC bombshell dropped on me. I was feeling very sorry for myself, I believed I would not see my children grow up and found it very difficult to accept that I had something seriously wrong with me. I was in total denial and thought that if I didn't talk, read or think about the PBC it would just go away.

I was pushing myself to carry on as normal, working, running the family home, looking after my 3 boys and husband, being the main carer for my elderly, disabled parents and running their home while trying to hide from them my diagnosis and the fact I was feeling dreadful. Then one day at work I collapsed with exhaustion and was experiencing the same symptoms you described. I visited my GP who told me that because I had been fighting my symptoms my body was telling me enough was enough and shutting itself down. She told me I needed to listen to my body.

I had found it difficult to accept that my body would no longer allow me to do things as I had done before...I could not clean my whole house in a day without being thoroughly exhausted and good for nothing for days after..... I could not go shopping for the day with my sister without feeling physically sick because I was wracked with pain and needed to make frequent stops. Now if it takes me 2 or 3 days to clean house...have to make frequent coffee stops while out shopping and spend the following day in bed to get over it....So what!!...I don't beat myself up about it any more.. I listen to my body.

I have a clerical job and find my concentration isn't as good as it used to be. I have trouble focusing my eyes when reading as the writing seems to bounce all over the page and have to read something over and over again before I can get the content clear in my head so it takes me a lot longer to get things done. It has not affected my productivity at work in that it has not become a noticeable problem but I think it would only be a matter of time. I also find that I can forget what I am saying mid sentence and get difficulty thinking of the simplest vocabulary... its really frustrating and embarrassing .....especially if I have to attend meetings at work and have to speak to strangers...I work myself up a treat!.

The tiredness/fatigue is a big problem for me as it seems to hit me at the strangest of times. I may not even have over exerted myself but this strange feeling comes over me in waves and I have no option but to sleep, sometimes a 15 minute cat nap will suffice but other times I have been known to sleep for 7 hours. This is not easy especially at work, I have to really fight against it and end up very exhausted. I have been struggling some days with the 30 minute drive home. I get difficulty focusing and feel really dizzy and drowsy. It's been very frightening when this has happened. I don't feel at all safe and have to stop the car, open up all the windows, put cold air to blow into my face until the feeling subsides and I can continue the drive home. I used to work 3 x 8 hour days so I have recently reduced my working week to 2 x 6 hour days. Its my 2nd week of reduced hours and so far so good.

Listen to your body and hope you feel better soon.

[flowerpower66]

Omg Mumofthree you have just described my life!!! I only work 19 hrs a week but I have been off sick for 9 weeks already and just been signed off for another 3 weeks. I have really bad head right now and have had to lie down. Do you find symptoms get worse when you are around people? I mean if you are around a busy noisy environment do you switch off? My brain just suddenly switches off and I need to go to bed. I get elated if I can put the hoover through and wash the floors!(I used to be very house proud but not any more)I feel so inadequate and weak and worry so much about losing my job as I really need the money.thankfully my daughter is 25 now so no running around after little ones.(when she was a baby and growing up I was always tired and headachy then!)are your LFTs OK? Have you had a scan? Thank you so much for replying.xxxxxx