Hi Everyone I’m just new in this site and I really need someone to talk about the test result I received.please excuse my english because I’m not that good at it..First let me tell you what lead me to this site.The sole of my feet itch every night and it’s like this for more than 2 months at first I just ignored it because i thought it’s just due to cold weather.But when a friend told me I need to have myself checke because itching every night is linked to liver disease,so I went to the doctors and she requested 5 different blood test.4 days after a letter came saying that my bloodtest came back normal except one that I need to teapear because it’s slightly above normal and I need to do it again in 6 weeks time that test is LFT.When I read the letter I cried my eyes out because I remembered what my friend told me about linking feet itching to liver disease.So I started googling and it lead me to this site I’ve been on other sites as well reading forums about itching and liver problem.It seems like it’s all suggested that what I got is PBC and it scared me even more...If PBC is really what I got does that mean I’ gonna die young?it’s breaking my heart with the thought of leaving my son and husband behind.Please englightened me about PBC...Sorry if it’s really long and again excuse my english.
Itchy feet at night and liver function test... - PBC Foundation
Itchy feet at night and liver function test came back slighlty above normal
I think you shouldn't think the worst. Wait for the results of the LFT test & don't search the internet for anything. You will just drive yourself nuts with all the stuff that is out there.
If you do have pbc, please know that it is a slow progressing condition & urso will slow it down further. Just a matter of finding the right doctor/medical team to take care of you.
In the meantime, enjoy your family & Spring. Keep positive thoughts! You will be fine!
Hi Ninjagirl thanks for the reply,I know I’m really bad jumping into conclusion necause of what I read online.I just can’t help it😢.Just wanna asked are you a PCB patient yourself?I f you are is it ok to ask what are your symptoms and how you’d been diagnosed?
My LFT’s were consistently slightly elevated & my doctor sent me to a hepatologist who did intensive bloodwork. I also had a liver biopsy done which was reviewed by 2 pathologists to get the pbc diagnosis.
I take my meds every day & treat them like taking vitamins. My hepatologist takes care of me & I just follow whatever he tells me to do.
We can’t control what happens to us, but we can choose to take a proactive approach to life such as a healthy lifestyle through diet & exercise. Also just to enjoy ourselves without worrying what will or will not happen. Live in the moment.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to find a good doctor to take care of you.
If you do have PBC join the free PBC Foundation and get the correct facts.
I am 77 years old with PBC and enjoy every day. I have made a few adjustments but everyone is different and just because you read that someone has something doesn’t mean you will be affected in the same way..
You have already been told to have positive thoughts
and I second that. It may be hard for you to take in but a lot of people with PBC are able to live normal lives.
Hi Oidira thanks for your reply,I know I’m stressing myself too much with something that I don’t know if I really have or not , to be honest I’m really weak and my anxiety raises to the highest level when it comes to health issues I had this problem eversincr and I don’t know how to stop it.😢I really don’t like being like this...But it’s really good to know that there are people like you even if suffering from something but still able to life as normal.May I know how long you’ve been having PCB?
Hi Mariandy
I'm sorry you've been feeling so worried but as everyone has said, at this point there's no need. Even if it is PBC, many of us have a normal lifespan with good quality of life. I'm 61 and I've probably had it for 20 or more years and my next 10 year outlook is very good, according to my hepatologist.
Distract yourself with happy activities until you know more.
Best wishes
Hello skypony,
Thanks for your reply,I know I should not worried yet but I just can’t help it especially I’ve read that pruritos is a sign that your already in late stage of PBC and you just have few more years to live.I’ve been crying every night And I feel so alone because everytime I talk to my husband about it he will just get angry with me.I’m sorry to bother you all guys but I just need someone to talk to who could understand my sentiments😢.
We do understand and some of us have been in exactly the same place as you are now, and found out that there was no need to worry that way!
Pruritis is a very variable symptom which can appear in very mild early stage PBC and can be present in other liver conditions too. It DEFINITELY doesn't indicate the severity of the disease in PBC.
X
Thank you so much Skypony for your reply made me feel a bit better, actually I got teary eyes while typing this reply to you because I'm just so thankful that there are people out there whom I don't even know understands me...May I ask are you also in the UK?
Hi Mariandy
In answer to your comment to skypony about pruritus in PBC - there is NO connection between the itch and the advancement of PBC liver disease.
I was diagnosed in 2006 by chance but did not have the itch until 2014 but because of an MRI scan of my liver I know that it is in good condition. I am now medicated for the itch.
Where are you from? Your English is great so that means we can help you through this initial stage, you will come to accept that PBC is part of your life and you will find a way back to enjoying your family. It is hard for those who do not have PBC to understand the disease as in general we all look so well.
Eat well, have some exercise daily and enjoy the life you have been sent.
Try to keep you feet cool - ice bags are helpful or I believe you can get cooling gel bags, I use a 2% menthol cream.
We are here to lend a caring ear so as and when you need to vent we know what you are going through and can empathize.
best wishes
Hi butterflyEi,
I’m from asia and already living here in the UK.I’m really thankful I found this site because there are loads of wonderful people who are willing to listen.The kind of thing that I really wanted from my husband 😢it’s really sad that I can’t get a support in my own home.thank you so so much from the bottom of my heart.Doctor pwescribed me mentholderm cream 1% but I don’t think it’s helping and even taking antihistamine before bed whick make you drowsy but sad to say I still wale up most of the time at night because of my itchy feet.hipefully one day I can smile again and tell myself that everything will gonna be alright.
Hi Mariandy
I did not find that the 1% menthol worked for me. When I spoke to the specialist about it he recommended the 2%.
Have you been referred to a specialist yet? If not, you are best to ask for a hepatologist, if you do not have a hepatologist in your local hospital a gastroenterologist should also have good knowledge of PBC.
Forgive the intrusion of my next question and my ignorance because of our different cultures but as you are from Asia - do you cook and eat hot spicy food? If you do it would be best to avoid spicy food, I love curries but I have found that a hot curry can be a trigger for the itch. Also it is good to remove/reduce sweet sugary drinks and food or highly salted foods from your diet as these are reported on the various forums to be unsuitable for us as it can irritate the liver.
hope some of this helps
No I haven’t been reffered to any specialist yet,still waiting for 6 weeks for my repeat LFT test and I don’t know what’s the next step after that.And about your question Yes I do love spicy and salty food but not really into sweet food and drinks.Thank you butterflyEi I’ll take note of that i will stop eating salty and spicy food.
Good Morning and welcome to your "new best friends". There have been many great replies to your queries...hope I can add a little light to your situation. High LFT's can result from many different things...OTC meds, Rx meds, alcohol, fatty foods, etc. Also, itching can come from lots of different sources too...like you said, dry skin, something you are eating or maybe a medication. The others are right track by saying to wait and see. I starting showing really high LFT's 4 years before the rule out biopsy was preformed. In my case, they concluded it was PBC. Sometimes I have a hate/love relationship with the internet because there is way too much information given, and of course, we want an answer, so we self diagnose. How high are your numbers? Mine have a "normal" for me that is really high...sometimes they shoot up, but they seem to go down. For me, anxiety, spicy foods, any pain meds, carbonated beverages, mushrooms, wheat, blah, blah , blah, will trigger the itch. I have found that staying as removing these "triggers" help. During an itch crisis, try drinking a couple teaspoons baking soda with a TBSP. of lime or lemon juice in about 8 oz water. Also...baking soda lukewarm bathes help. For some reason, heat is an itch factor too.
Well, I'm now in year 21 since diagnosis and still here...no itching for a few months...comes and goes when I'm not careful.
On a side note...sometimes we, especially women, need to talk to someone other than our husbands. Perhaps finding a counselor would be helpful to you to discuss your fears. Some men turn to anger when they feel helpless...he's probably scared too. Let us know how you do over the next 6 weeks. FYI...I have had major LFT's fluctuations in as little as a weeks time.
Be happy...enjoy your family and love yourself...You are whole and complete just as you are.
Hi mrspeffer,
thank you so much for this wonderful reply.I am lost for words everyhting you said just hit me,and again put me into tears.Sorry I’m really such an emotional person especially that I feel so alone and depress.about your question I don’t know the numbers of my result because the letter just came back as need to repeat LFT test last result is slighlty above normal range I’ll phone my GP tomorrow and see if I can ask for the numbers in my result.I do understand my husband as well because maybe he is just scared for me too,but it’s just made me feel so down because i feel like he doesn’t understands me,I don’t want to be selfish that’s why everytime I’m with him I pretend I’m ok and if I needed to cry I do it at night when he is asleep or sometimes go to the bathroom and cry my eyes there...Thanks to all of you who spared ur time for me.I’m so thankful to have found this site and able to get some advices from you all.No matter how difficult for me I will try my best to be ok and live normal again.Of course I will let you know whatever my result is in 6 weeks time.Just wanna ask if it’s ok maybe you know the answer.Why do I have to wait that long for my repeat test ?
Thank you so much everyone praying for all of us!
There may be several factors that are coming into play regarding how long to wait for the re-testing. One that comes to mind is if you are on an insurance that is providing guidelines to the doctors. Alternatively, your doc may feel 6 weeks will give a more accurate picture of what is going on. Try to eat really clean the next 6 weeks. I drink about 3 TBPS lemon with water every day to flush the liver. Juicing celery also helps...8 ozs. daily. Remember...this is not a death sentence. It is said we will most liking die WITH PBC, not FROM it. Try not to "pretend" you are ok when you are not. That in itself will cause your body to react negatively...FInd your truth and speak it. You can contact me whenever you like. If I were in the UK I'd take you out for a yummy green smoothie!
One last thought...Look up JJ Virgin. She is a nutritionalist who has an anti-inflammatory diet. Give it a try...you will feel much better...In love and light...M
Take a breath... First of all, you need to know if you do have PBC for sure before anything else. You need to have blood tests called AMA, liver panel, and a comprehensive metabolic profile. Don't google. Go to The PBC Foundation for so much information on PBC... pbcfoundation.org.uk
Even with a diagnosis of PBC, this is not a death sentence by any means. PBC although no cure, can be treated and managed for many many years. Lab work first then we will see what we are dealing with.
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