Bile Acid Test: has anyone had their bile... - PBC Foundation

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Bile Acid Test

Becca75 profile image
18 Replies

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

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Becca75 profile image
Becca75
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18 Replies
Shine1 profile image
Shine1

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.

Becca75 profile image
Becca75 in reply toShine1

ya she did it because of the itching I was telling her about. I have to get it done each month, so I'm interested to see how it changes over time

Wilmahair profile image
Wilmahair

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.

Becca75 profile image
Becca75

sorry what is it you're taking? OX Bile Salts?

LindaVillanova profile image
LindaVillanova

Havent heard of that but it's interesting....testing is through regular bloodwork?

Becca75 profile image
Becca75 in reply toLindaVillanova

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

acts31920 profile image
acts31920 in reply toBecca75

I had mine done in one of the university hospitals in Toronto. Mine was 13.7 (normal up to 6.6).

I didn't have to pay for it. I'm going through testing for PBC

Becca75 profile image
Becca75

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...

Becca75 profile image
Becca75 in reply to

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

acts31920 profile image
acts31920 in reply to

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.

acts31920 profile image
acts31920 in reply toacts31920

Still going through testing.

Grace8888 profile image
Grace8888 in reply to

That's me...right now. Mine are 19 boo! And I have PBC. Wish I could find someone like me.

Sjkennedy84 profile image
Sjkennedy84

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?

Grace8888 profile image
Grace8888 in reply toSjkennedy84

How high were you when they did the c sec? I'm 23 weeks and my last test came back 19. I am scared.

Sjkennedy84 profile image
Sjkennedy84 in reply toGrace8888

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!

Grace8888 profile image
Grace8888 in reply toSjkennedy84

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I do appreciate it a lot.

Sjkennedy84 profile image
Sjkennedy84 in reply toGrace8888

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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