Whitfield Bio

[Guest guest]

hey all,

I am new to this group. I was diagnosed with PSC and Ulcerative

Colitis 10 years ago. Up until October of last year I wasn't doing

anything about it. I was having major bleeding from my colon so I would

see a Hematologist and he would schedule IV Iron Treatments. This past

October I was sick and throwing up on a regular basis and wasn't able to

keep anything down. I was drinking Pepto by the bottles. I finally

went to see a doctor who immediatly sent me to the hospital to have a

Blood Transfusion. I was in the hospital for 8 days and had 5 units

blood.

As for my PSC I had a stint 8-10 years ago put in then taken out and

never seen the doctor again. Recently while visiting my colon

specialist, he told me he was referring me to a Liver Transplant team

for evaluation. I have had a conversation by phone with them, and am

awaiting my insurance approval to go ahead with tests to see where I

stand.

A little about me.

I am 28. I currently live with my parents due to being on Immune

Suppresents for the UC. I have a lovely girlfriend that has two

wonderful Kids. Her kids don't understand what is wrong with me, they

just know I am sick. Her kids are great, they have brought a ray of

hope to my life with all of this happening. The day I was at the doctor

and he said something about the transplant team I was devastated. My

girlfriend and her 3 year old daughter were in the lobby and when I came

out, her Daughter asked me if I was ok, you have been crying. I told

her I was fine and she said can you pick me up, I did and she gave me

the best hug I could have ever received at that time. Her and the kids

have really helped me thru the past few weeks during this phase.

I currently work for a cellphone company as a customer service rep. full

time. I like my job and it isn't that strenuous. I think this is the

perfect job for me.

I do have a few questions that I was curious about.

1. I am allergic to milk. I have been told that it comes along with

the PSC, does anyone have the same issue?

2. I have a big problem with my weight, is this a PSC thing or what?

3. Thoes of you who have seen a transplant team, what are some of the

things that I need to prepare for. ( ie. tests, procedures, etc)

4. For those of you who have had a liver transplant, what are some of

the side effects, and what is the recovery time?

5. I have also been told that UC and PSC come together, is there anyone

here that has both also?

Interested in talking to you all and getting some insight from people

with the same issue?