Blood test out of the blue

[SusieQw]

I’m new here. Hi I visited my GP with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, (hands) had a blood test including a liver function blood test, came back positive for AMA M2-3E SP100 and GP10, my blood count was fine! I’ve never heard of primary biliary cirrhosis! GP just gave me the print out and off I went to see the rheumatologist, who is now referring me in to various consultants! I have no symptoms, I have a low positive for RA and also have coeliac disease! Obviously I’m worried, what happens now! I’m very fit and active, no overweight or ill. Please can someone help me understand all this...thanks for reading

[AngelaBarron]

Don’t panic! As long as you feel fine, you are. PBC is a strange condition and not many people have heard of it but this site and the PBC Foundation are wonderful at explaining things. Your specialist is taking things seriously and will see that you get the treatment you need. Take it slowly, you may never have any symptoms, just be glad it’s been spotted and you will now be monitored.

[SusieQw in reply to AngelaBarron]

Thanks so just much x

[GrittyReads]

If you just have AMAs, then that does not automatically mean you have PBC.

The important thing is to have your 'liver function blood tests' (lfts) done - regularly - as if any of the 'marker' chemicals (that is: GGT, AST, etc - nb: they are all detailed on the PBC Foundation website and info documents - start to rise, then that is the more important indication of PBC developing. If they do rise, you will be given medication - usually Urso. Only then (with AMAs and abnormal lfts), will you be diagnosed with fully-fledged PBC. My understanding is that you should not be on medication unless they are 100% certain that you actually have PBC.

But please, do talk to the people at the 'PBC Foundation' ( see the links to their helpers on the right of this page) and read all their documentation. Also come on here and ask and chat as much as you need. Lots of GPs - and even some general 'liver' doctors - never encounter PBC, as it is quite rare, so they don't always know all the latest info.

So try to check that the consultant you are sent to is a good liver specialist, preferably with some experience of PBC. If you are not happy with what they say, you can ask for a referral to a PBC specialist (I did, even though it meant a journey from Devon to Birmingham).

NB I only have AMAs, no signs or symptoms of PBC - I'm not classed as having it and I am very healthy. Some people (about 8% of the population according to Blood Donor statistics) just 'do' have AMAs, and most never develop PBC.

But do talk to the 'PBC F' people, read all you can on their site, and come on here to talk - you are not alone! This is a lovely site, with lots of helpful, caring, knowledgeable people. Also as many have already said: Most people just die 'with' PBC, and do not die because of it.

Meanwhile, try to relax, have fun, dance, watch your fave movies, whatever you love doing and that makes you happy … etc. Treat yourself! Stress is the worst thing for all autoimmune illnesses, so spoil yourself!

Take care,

Gritty

[SusieQw in reply to GrittyReads]

Thanks, have nice weekend! Hope you are well!