PBC Symptoms

[GrittyReads]

I was diagnosed as testing +ve for AMAs, years ago - decades. However, I have always had perfectly clear, annual blood tests - despite some junior medics assuming that having AMAs automatically means that I already have PBC - which is wrong.

Until recently, I thought / hoped that I would never develop PBC, but over the past few months I have begun to develop some of the symptoms of PBC: fatigue, memory issues, and now itching! Until the dreaded itch struck, I was assuming that my symptoms were due to tiredness, etc. after a mega-bunion op in Feb. and months of convalescence and various degrees of incapacity. But now that I'm relatively back to normal - foot - and everything- wise ... the symptoms are persisting, plus some itching has set in...

So, question... I live in South Devon: can anyone recommend a PBC specialist in the county? I live midway between Exeter/Torbay and Plymouth, so travel in any direction doesn't make much difference - ideally I'd go up to Queen Elizabeth's in Brum, but that's probably not practical in the long term.

Any help and advice gratefully received! It would also be good to know if a fellow-Devon PBC sufferer - somewhere beyond Exeter? - is still around, on here. It's so long since I was on here, that I've forgotten my nickname - Gritty?!

[butterflyEi]

Hi GrittyReads

I see no one has been able to help so I am jumping in with a suggestion which I hope will be helpful to you and perhaps one you have already thought about for yourself.

You mention going to QE in Brum, I wonder if that would be a good place to start and they would be then able to recomend you to a specialist in your area or maybe they could give you the name of a good hepatologist in Exeter which I believe has quite a large hospital. They may even be able to continue treatment with you more remotely now that the internet has played such an import part during the pandemic.

Alternatively if you contact the PBC Foundation they may be able to help you with someone more local to you.

The Bear Facts magazine on their web site also has a list of volunteers, you may find someone in your area.

best wishes to you

[badpiglet]

Hi Gritty,So, so sorry to hear the reason for your return. Crossing a lot of fingers for you. I don’t know of any recommended consultants around us here in Devon but will see if I can find out. I too, haven’t been looking at HU for years now. Got too obsessive for me. Much love to you.