Need some guidance

[Jcolvis]

My Mom has the following labs: Tbili 3.5, ALKP 215, ALT 153, AST 199. AMA negative and ANA negative. Physician told her she might have PBC. He told her to stop taking some of her natural supplements and come back in a month. However she is jaundice, itching terribly, and has pain in her liver area. I'm trying to get her into a gastro dr asap. These numbers don't mean anything to me. Can you all shed some light on our situation?

[Ktltel]

Wow, can I ask what supplements she takes? There are women on this site that have PBC and are AMA negative.

Her other LFT's (liver function tests) are all "above" normal. Good lord, what doctor sees a person is jaundice, itching, and their LFTs are elevated and goes ahead and sends them home for a month??

Are you in the UK or USA? If it were me, I'd get a second opinion right away. You also mentioned she was having pain right? Some doctors aren't familiar enough with PBC. I mean, she's in pain and jaundice. It would be interesting to know what her albumin number is?

Keep us posted please.

Stella ❤

[Jcolvis in reply to Ktltel]

We are in the USA. We saw a different dr yesterday who is redoing the blood work. I don't see an ALB number on her report. Thank you so much for responding. It is all so confusing and overwhelming. Like most of you, I had never heard of PBC. The DR threw the term out there without any explanations or plan moving forward. I so appreciate this site and of those who post. It has helped immensely.

[Hidden in reply to Ktltel]

While a lower than normal Albumin level is concerning, it's a higher than normal Bilirubin level that creates jaundice - I am stage 4 now and it is these two that my specialist keeps an eye on.

mayoclinic.org/tests-proced...

[Jcolvis in reply to Ktltel]

Her albumin number is 4.2.

[gwillistexas in reply to Jcolvis]

Mine was 4.4 normal in my drs lab is 3.5-5. They also tested my eGFR which has to do with kidneys. Mine was >60 & they want it >60. See if they ran that as well. It should be in the CMP

[My-life in reply to gwillistexas]

My doctor is sending me now for kidneys. Do you have low sodium. From NM

[gwillistexas in reply to My-life]

Not that I’m aware of.

[gwillistexas in reply to My-life]

Let us know what you find out 😊

[My-life]

I would go to Dr soon. It sounds like PBC. Look up PBC on google it does explain the numbers. I have no jaundice. Its ben over 3 years. They didnt like natural because it can react to meds. May want to see naturalpathic.

[kimpekboyd]

I agree with Ktltel... Get a second opinion. Sounds like PBC to me, a small percentage of people are AMA negative with PBC. Take Care and let us know!

Kim

[JaneIng]

Jcolvis,

do you know what natural supplements she was told to stop taking?

I have heard from various doctors that their patient had liver damage from taking too much horsetail, kava root.

--Jane

[Jcolvis]

As of yesterday, the blood work shows that her ALT fell to 136, AST fell to 92 and Tbili fell to 2.4 but her AlkP went up to 269. He doesn't think she has PBC but with her weight loss thinks it could be cancer. He told her to stop taking Cascara Sagrada.