Had my biopsy.

[Twinkle26]

I had my biopsy yesterday, it was uncomfortable as I expected, I had to lay mostly on my back and my arm over my head, they took the liver sample between my lower part of my ribs just around my side towards my back. It was all over with half hour with the prep etc. The noise was the sound of a kids gun when it took the liver sample. The only difference with my biopsy was that I didn't have to lay on my side for hours after, my dr didn't think there was a need to.

I was told to rest for four hours after but I could sit up, and I was allowed to eat about two hours after. It's still a little uncomfortable today but not nearly as bad as I had imagined. I can't do anything strenuous for about a week, see how it goes.

I just thought I would let you all know. I can start the urso now so I'm going to read up n best time etc.

[cclcnal7]

Glad the experience wasn't too bad for you. I felt OK after mine too but my liver didn't appreciate being poked about much, had a bit of an ache. I've also been given urso which I haven't started yet. Got permission not to start taking it till after my holiday so will start soon. I'm not too sure when to take mine either. I'm sure my consultant said I could take it in one go, but pharmacist says no so not too sure.

[Twinkle26 in reply to cclcnal7]

I spoke to the pharmacist too he said it would depend on what other medication I was on, I take thyroxine in the morning and need to Aketa the urso a few hours after, I will wait until I'm all over the biopsy as I'm still getting niggly pain in shoulder and back but bearable and it's not for too long. I'm going to look back on the bare facts compendium to see about the urso as I remember a while back reading when's best to take.

[2bear in reply to Twinkle26]

Hi there. Were u told not to take ur synthroid with urso? My specialist said it is ok to take the synthroid and then the Urso ..

[Littletonya]

I had my biopsy Tuesday and my liver didn't like it, it felt like it was having spasms. I was in a lot of pain and after two hours finally requested pain meds. I had to lay on my side for two hours then on my back for two more hours. Nurse said most people don't have pain like I did, but it does happen sometimes. I can usually handle pain but that was too much.

I am glad yours went well.

[Twinkle26 in reply to Littletonya]

It's almost a week since the biopsy and I e been having short sharp pains in my right side, it's uncomfortable to lay on my right side too.

I thought it was too good to be true lol.

[Gillyano]

Hi with regards to taking the Urso tablets, my GP suggested taking 1 morning noon and night to get used to them but my consultant changed that to taking all 3 at the same time before bed. Apparently its easier on the body with the side effects if you take all in one go and before bed. I itch all night so having the side effects wasn't really a bother. I did try to take them throughout the day but side effects were interfering with my job and looking after my kids.

I hope you manage to find a way to make the tablets work for you.

[58goose]

My Urso tablets come with a direction to take them 'with or after food'. I take Thyroxine in the mornings so usually take the Urso with my evening meal which seems to work for me. When I took them without food I felt nauseous.

[Twinkle26 in reply to 58goose]

Thanks I have been taking one after every meal so far but I have to take 6 so it may take some time or 2 after the 3 meals. I phoned the chemist to see if it was wrong as it seemed too much lol I know it goes on your weight.

[Ohio82 in reply to 58goose]

I take all my Urso before bed with no other medications. Vitamins etc

[58goose]

My dose is 1000mg per day, which I have in 2 x 500mg tablets so it's easy for me to take them in one go.

[Twinkle26 in reply to 58goose]

I have 250mg capsules, they gave me some in the hard form and some others in a jar that look different, I'm a bit unsure as I've read that different ones have some side effects too.

[SimbaTutor in reply to Twinkle26]

I also take 6 250 mg tablets a day. I take 3 with breakfast and 3 with supper. I do better taking all three together after I have finished eating. Since I take other meds/supplements with meals, I usually take the others as part of the meal, keeping the urso to the last. I have had less side effects with this pattern. I was on the 300mg capsules last year but insurance company changed the drug formulary so I had to go to 250 mg tablets. My doc reduced my urso from 1800 mg a day to 1200 mg a day in Dec 2015, but you can't get that dosage with 250 tablets, so I ended up with 1500 mg a day for this year. I was diagnosed in 2014 and have been on urso for 2 years now. My blood work gradually dropped to the normal range and has stayed there for the past 6 months. Good luck!

[Twinkle26 in reply to SimbaTutor]

Thanks, what side effects have you had with the urso, are you taking ursofalk or another brand.

Sorry with my questions.

[SimbaTutor in reply to Twinkle26]

I struggled with intermittent nausea that seemed to have no rhyme or reason and fluctuating bowel movement patterns. Once I realized that the bile acids are added later in the normal digestive process, I realized taking the urso during the meal was putting the acid in before all the food was present. As soon as I switched to all of them together at the end of the meal, the digestive issues straightened out within a few days.

Also, your questions are not bothersome to me; I also had many to ask when I first started down this road. I call it joining a unique club that none of us wanted to join. Now that we are a part, the other members here on this forum are wonderful about sharing their ideas and experiences.

I take ursodiol. I use yogurt and/or keifer to help with digestive balance. I have learned that coffee before breakfast food is a fast route to nausea and that my water intake is more important now; it affects my sleeping patterns as well as being a key to feeling better. I shifted to natural skin care with goat's milk soap and shampoo without all the chemicals. I figure anything I can do that reduces the processing load on the liver may help.

I eat fresh foods whenever possible and try to keep the sugar down (I still have to have a small bite of chocolate every now and then!) I rest whenever I can, a reality that is made possible by an understanding husband and working from home in self-employment so I make my own schedule. I try not to get too stressed out by things I cannot control or change and to live each day fully. Having PBC was a major lifestyle shift for me because it made me stop and think about what was important now and to make better choices in my life. Blessings!