New to PSC

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Jillian. I'm 23, I

live south of

Chicago, and just graduated from college with a degree in Elementary

Education... just this

past Monday I was officially diagnosed with PSC after an ERCP. I first noticed

I was having

liver issues back in May when my eyes started to turn yellow. Of course I went

through the

standard blood tests for everything under the sun (all negative except for the

high hepatic

functions), ultrasounds, MRCPs, etc. Finally my doctor sent me to a

hepatologist at

Northwestern University Hospital (who I am loving because he's very knowledgable

and

explains everything in a way that's easy to understand) and he was the first to

tell me that I

probably have PSC based on all my past test results, and ordered the ERCP.

Overall I feel good. The jaundice went away back in June, and I've only been

really itchy twice

for a few days at a time. I don't think it's all really sunk in yet. I'm

taking the Urso... not sure

exactly what it's doing for me at this point after only a week, but for now

every day is a

learning experience. This group has taught me a lot from the brief times I've

visited, and it's

given me hope. Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group Jillian. I am sorry

to learn about you diagnosis but I am happy you found us. As you stated it

helps a lot to know you are not alone, and there are quite some experienced and

knowledgeable people on this forum.

The Urso makes your bile thinner, which

increases the flow, and it decreases the more aggressive bile salts which helps

to decrease inflammation. In most people that start taking high dose Urso

(25-30 mg/kg of body weight) the liver function tests will significantly improve,

it is not clear if it also increases life expectancy or time to transplant.

If you want to learn more about PSC,

please check out the www.psc-literature.org

website.

It has a wealth of information.

Chaim Boermeester, Israel.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Jillian Meseth

Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007

09:12

To:

Subject: New to PSC

Hi everyone. Just wanted to introduce myself. My name

is Jillian. I'm 23, I live south of

Chicago, and

just graduated from college with a degree in Elementary Education... just this

past Monday I was officially diagnosed with PSC after an ERCP. I first noticed

I was having

liver issues back in May when my eyes started to turn yellow. Of course I went

through the

standard blood tests for everything under the sun (all negative except for the

high hepatic

functions), ultrasounds, MRCPs, etc. Finally my doctor sent me to a

hepatologist at

Northwestern University Hospital

(who I am loving because he's very knowledgable and

explains everything in a way that's easy to understand) and he was the first to

tell me that I

probably have PSC based on all my past test results, and ordered the ERCP.

Overall I feel good. The jaundice went away back in June, and I've only been

really itchy twice

for a few days at a time. I don't think it's all really sunk in yet. I'm taking

the Urso... not sure

exactly what it's doing for me at this point after only a week, but for now

every day is a

learning experience. This group has taught me a lot from the brief times I've

visited, and it's

given me hope. Thanks.