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Louedwards profile image
11 Replies

Is PBC classed as a liver disease or something else?

Spoke to a doc this morning regarding my tonsillitis on phone. He said well I can give you codeine. It's not as if your liver is failing or you have liver disease?? Oh right maybe I've got it all wrong then.  He did add it would only be for a few days.

Grrrrrrrrrr give me strength

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Louedwards
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11 Replies
Della_Williams profile image
Della_Williams

PBC is an autoimmune liver disease, a bile duct disease, cholestatic disease, break down for him every way possible. That was ignorant of your doctor. Sure for a few days it won't kill you, but I don't like his nonchalant attitude about it. Isn't codeine for pain, what about the infection causing your tonsillitis is what he should be more concerned about and prescribe something like Amoxicillin, or similar. That's just me. I hate when they act like its no big deal.  It's not their health, their life on the line, I'm with you, grrrrrrr! Find another doctor.  Hope you feel better. 

Louedwards profile image
Louedwards in reply to Della_Williams

I wasn't impressed. Won't give antibiotics anymore. Say I will only get better 16 hrs earlier with them than without them. I didn't even get to see him I only warranted a phone appointment.

I feel worse today than yesterday. Did say if it gets worse to get in touch. I took yesterday off work today is my day off anyway. But had to ring in earlier as I doubt I'll be able to do tomorrow's shift. 

in reply to Louedwards

Hello Louedwards.  I presume you are in the UK and if so I thought that a GP could contact a hospital doctor in certain fields for advice regarding patients.  If this is the case then I can't see why your GP couldn't have got onto that straight after you contacted surgery.

There is a programme that has aired weekly for a few months now on tv about a GP practice in a part of London.  There has been several cases where the GP has said they'd contact a doctor at hospital for advice regarding a patient and the GP has said they'd ring that patient later in the day.

I'd have thought with PBC a GP would think to do this.

Just an idea and I know it will be too late for this to happen in your case but wouldn't it be a good idea for a hospital consultant who is seeing a patient at intervals to perhaps mention certain common medications a GP could prescribe a patient with PBC if that patient is to see them in the near future.

in reply to Della_Williams

Apparently due to antibiotics actually acting like a poison to the system there is some that are not prescribed with PBC I believe.  Not sure which are and which aren't as I've not had any antibiotics (was amoxcilloin that then caused thrush on completion) since 1999.

I'm no doctor but I did read this on a patient leaflet that one family member had regarding what was termed 'liver disease' and kidneys too as cautions.

Hello Louedwards.

PBC is an auto-immune liver 'disease' although I prefer to call it condition myself as in chronic condition as it is long-term.

The disease part comes in when we have something that is deteriorating.  This is quoted from the Oxford dictionary on the word 'disease':-

"A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury".

I think with PBC we are all at varying stages with this condition and it can lead to cirrhosis which can then fail or keep on going for quite some years.

According to the PBC Foundation leaflet on medications with PBC there is a piece and I think it is in the GP leaflet (I received both from them, the patient one and GP) that states unless a patient is in the very late stages with PBC medications are 'well tolerated'.

Louedwards profile image
Louedwards in reply to

Very interesting peridot. When I saw a gynaecologist she got in touch with my  liver specialist to see if I was allowed a couple of things. Took a while for a reply though

I am very early stages of PBC. I have do many things to ask specialist seen I eventually get to see him. Oh yes I am in the UK

dollydaydreams profile image
dollydaydreams

PBC is a liver disease, you need antibiotics and a new GP, what codine is going to do I will never know you may just as well take a paracetamol or an ibuprofen, but not to many and gargle with salt water if you can. 

Louedwards profile image
Louedwards in reply to dollydaydreams

Well I'm not going to get antibiotics. I only took one codeine it didn't do anything. So just taking paracetamol again. If it's not started to get better by Friday.  I will make sure I'm seen by a doctor. Ive not been eating much but taking my urso obviously. Last night I felt acid coming up my throat.  Woke me couldn't lie down for ages. Give me strength or antibiotics

Tigger858 profile image
Tigger858 in reply to Louedwards

Try soluble paracetamol, it tastes like fizzy water but really releived the pain when I had tonsillitis x

in reply to dollydaydreams

Certainly agree here, if one needs certain  medications then a short course I doubt will do much harm.

The only thing I can think of regarding a precription and even over-the-counter meds is that it might temporarily rise the bloods slightly.

dollydaydreams profile image
dollydaydreams

If it get's worse ring him out hun, don't let it get out of hand

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