Bear bile?

[Annie703]

Hi I have just been diagnosed with PBC following a phone call last week from the liver Clinic . I have an appointment to see my GP for medication but I've been reading online about the bears and milking their bile ! Is there anything I can have that doesn't use this ? I'm really upset about this even more than my diagnosis! I live in Scotland.

[LisaC22]

as far as I'm aware the bile used in URSO is now synthetic and not from bears. It's possible the information you came across is very out of date.

[Sachin1234]

It was before urso was introduced.. urso is synthetic works better then bear bile.. bear biles are still use in Asian homeopathic 😔🙏

[Annie703 in reply to Sachin1234]

Thank you both so much 😀

[Anne29]

Hi Annie I also freaked when I was a diagnosed late last year then looked up the prescribed Urso . It is sourced from cows. A by product of slaughter for beef as far as I can tell. I am aware too though that any progress in research involving clinical trials is preceded by testing with animal models...(sorry). I choose to use Urso . My blood results and other symptoms have improved rapidly. Hard choices I am afraid😐

[Annie703 in reply to Anne29]

Thanks Anne . I'm glad you're improving on the Urso. I'll be starting it hopefully on Tuesday after I've seen my GP 😀

[teddybear7]

It's made in a lab honey, no bears are harmed for us these days don't worry. It's the first thing I checked too 4 years ago. X

[Annie703 in reply to teddybear7]

Thanks teddybear 😀 Such a relief

[Hidden in reply to teddybear7]

u have had pbc for 4 yrs? how r u feeling and how r things going I'm into a yr now

[teddybear7 in reply to Hidden]

Well it's been a real learning curve, I find medics don't tell me much I have had very few tests & I only get bloods done when I ask, not had any done for 8 months now. But I've learnt not to worry by using the help of the PBC foundation. I have a very good gp though. I can go to him & he understands. I have developed 4 other autoimmune conditions. So I'm very symptomatic. I itch but it doesn't yet drive me too mad & comes & goes. The fatigue is the worst. I've had to learn to pace myself & I've recently stopped working. Muscle pain is bad & I have trouble with writing door handles, & sometimes walking. Good days & bad days. I've just adapted accordingly. I don't get obsessed with bloods I know they go up & down I don't know what the values are & I don't ask. I've made an agreement with my GP that if I'm bothered he will run them & if my bilubrin goes up we will then start to worry. I've had no biopsy, I refused it. I keep having my specialist hospital appointments cancelled & rearranged, & this time cancelled completely with no new date which is annoying. I suppose I've become a bit fatalistic. What will happen will happen. I take my urso eat healthy & don't drink. I swim 5 days a week early morning & carry on as if I haven't got anything wrong. Luckily my family know that when I say I can't I can't & they leave me be. Well that was a bit of a book wasn't it. Thank you for asking me, it feels really good to get it off my chest with someone who would understand xxx Teresa xxx

[June9961]

Hi, that was in the olden days. The equivalent of bear bile is synthetically made in laboratories. I'm from Scotland too, Aberdeenshire. Where are you? X

[Annie703 in reply to June9961]

Aberdeenshire too June (Nr Banchory) It was Dr Wilson from the ARI Peter Brunt clinic that called me last week to tell me

[June9961 in reply to Annie703]

Hi Annie, I'm with Dr English at the same centre.

[Annie703 in reply to June9961]

Hi June , I've only been there once so far , last month fir a fibroscan ( so relieved when it wasn't a liver biopsy as I'm terrified of needles 😀) They initially said it was liver fibrosis (9.5) but then Dr Wilson rang last Thursday and said that I had PBC and they will be seeing me every 3months and blood tests every month !!! Aaaaaaahhh ! They seem very friendly there . Hope you've found it's an ok place ? X

[June9961 in reply to Annie703]

I go every 6 months, was diagnosed with pbc 17 years ago. Once you get put on the Urso and it shows it is working you will probably be the same. The staff at the Peter Brunt Centre are all very nice and the consultants are all very good. You will be fine x

[Annie703 in reply to June9961]

Thanks June 😀 6 months would be better-especially with the parking at the moment! 😀 x

[Annie703 in reply to June9961]

17 years! Wow ! Glad to hear that they're all good . Feel a lot more reassured now 😀 x

[Cressy]

Hi Annie, I felt the same as you and contacted the Department of Health for clarification. Anne29 is correct in that the bile used to produce the synthetic URSO is a by product from slaughter houses sadly, however the use of bile from bears is illegal in the UK.

[Annie703 in reply to Cressy]

I hadn't thought of contacting them ! Just freaked out instead 😀 At least slaughter house animals aren't tortured for years like the bears . Thanks Cressy

[sulupolar]

I am on Ursodiol, which is the synthetic equivalent of the Polar Bear bile that you refer to.