severe itching /burning

[help4me]

My wife has been jaundiced for 2 weeks and itching for 2 weeks prior to that, at the commencement of yellowing she was hospitalised for a week for observation and tests as of which have proved inconclusive. The itching and burning are causing massive discomfort along with lack of sleep, the doctors are unwilling to prescribe questran for reasons unknown to us , and a general lack of information and general shrugging of shoulders is driving us mad. This is on top of all the other distressing symptoms of hepatitis/pbc of which you are all aware, as we have no diagnosis we can`t say which. Some of the other symptoms would be more bearable if we could see an end to the dreaded itching. So can anyone please give us a timescale of what to expect , Thank you very much any info both pessimistic and optermistic gratefully received.

[Junolee]

I was 3 weeks in hospital before they diagnosed me after many tests. They knew it was PBC about 2 weeks in but did biopsy and ruled out other things before putting me on steroids and Urso, calcium etc. I had jaundice and severe anaemia so needed blood transfusions too. I would say in your wife's case they don't want to start treating before ruling other things out that medication might interfere with.

[Junolee]

I was 3 weeks in hospital before they diagnosed me after many tests. They knew it was PBC about 2 weeks in but did biopsy and ruled out other things before putting me on steroids and Urso, calcium etc. I had jaundice and severe anaemia so needed blood transfusions too. I would say in your wife's case they don't want to start treating before ruling other things out that medication might interfere with.

[liver-bird]

So sorry to hear of your distress. I would speak to PBC Foundation who are experts in this specialist area and may have some answers for you both. Good luck.