has anyone had their bile salts tested? With the itching I was having a problem with, my specialist tested my bile salts (I go monthly for all lab work)....this was my first for this test though. Just wondering what other peoples bile acid ranges are...
bile Acid
Bile Acid
HI
17.5 (my result)
< 6.7 (normal range)
umol/L
Hello,
No I've never had that done, that's interesting, had the usual ones like LFT's. Have had talk about bile salt malabsorption, I wonder if that would be a test that would help deduce that..?
Hopefully they'll help give more answers for you.
Hi. In just saw an holistic Dr Who has advised me to start on ox Bile salts. She wants me too take one 500mg with main meals for fat malabsorption. Have had a very nasty loose bowels since my gastric by pass 4+ years ago. Sorry for graphic details. Lol.
sorry what is it you're taking? OX Bile Salts?
Havent heard of that but it's interesting....testing is through regular bloodwork?
it's a special test ordered on regular lab work form (but it's added) and it was one I needed to pay for - not covered under OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) - it's very rare we have to pay for any tests. So this must be a special one
Bile Salt tests tell more about the way the liver is functioning than the main tests - those tell if there's something wrong (like red flags if there's something wrong by the result). The build up of Bile Acid/Bile Salts is what causes itchiness for us and if it's building up, that tells the dr that the liver isn't functioning properly. Which we know it isn't because we have PBC, but this way my dr. is able to track how quickly the bile salts are building up, etc.
I hadn't heard of a 'bile salt' blood test before either, so I looked it up - seems it is a blood test that is ordered for pregnant women who develop 'Obstetric cholestasis' during the last three months of their pregnancy. See: patient.info/health/obstetr...
well that's not why she ordered it for me 
it's a great way for her to track the amount of bile salts in my system (that will directly affect the itchiness as well).
I'm looking forward to seeing my next blood test - that will show a baseline for me (from this past one) and then show me if it's increasing or stabilizing
wish i'd seen the result of what it was before i started \URso
I'm a man. I had mine tested to go along with some positive AMA M2 tests. The doctor doesn't believe that I have PBC because I didn't have a high ALP. I have all of the symptoms unfortunately though.
That's me...right now. Mine are 19 boo! And I have PBC. Wish I could find someone like me.
I've been experiencing really bad itching too. Going for bloodwork Monday but my doc thinks it could be BRIC. He prescribed me cholestyramine. My background is a recent diagnosis with small duct PSC, and I started ursodiol about 2 months ago. I've had very elevated liver enzymes for about a year. I had cholestatis of pregnancy, prior to that I've never had any issue. But this itching feels exactly like the cholestasis when I was pregnant. I ended up having an emergency c section because my bile acids too high and became a danger to the baby.
The last time this itching occured outside of pregnancy my bile acids were normal range so it didn't make sense. Also the ursodiol should be helping with the itch!?
Has anyone taken this powder cholestramine?
How high were you when they did the c sec? I'm 23 weeks and my last test came back 19. I am scared.
Mine were 19 with my first baby at delivery. This post is really old and I have since had another baby. This time my bile acids got up to 70, When I was about 25 weeks. I believe they said anything over 17 is of concern. They fluctuated a lot through my pregnancy and after 30 weeks I was very closely monitored (2 ultrasounds night a week) I was given prednisone to help with the itching and it was a lifesaver. I had a c section at 37 weeks (protocol for cholestasis) and now have another healthy boy who just turned 3 months old. So just make sure you get closely watched and keep positive! Everything turned out just fine for me 2 times! Best of luck!
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I do appreciate it a lot.
No problem! Just going through it not long ago myself, I know it can be scary! Try not to worry too much 😀
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