New--Introduction

[Guest guest]

Hello my name is and I feel as if I've been to hell and back. I've

had depression problems all my life so when I got sick the last semester

of college I was devastated this was back in 1997. My diagnoses came and

the PSC ran me down as if a truck. I was dying and worse, told I needed

a transplant and wasn't going to get it. I itched to the point of

insanity and was so tired. I lost 100 pounds in about 3 months. Though I

persevered by dropping the classes I didn't need and would go to class

then home to bed ( I did end up having to make up final exams, I

graduated). All of my liver labs through the roof. Things seemed like

they couldn't get worse when I was later diagnosed with UC in 1998 and

in 99 a type of cancer due to the UC. I was miserable and often a danger

to myself. It's by the grace of God that I'm alive today. In 1999 I

under went a type of " chemotherapy " and it briefly took care of the

cancer and seemed to help my liver as it started doing better. The

cancer came back and my doctors decided to treat the UC more

aggressively and the cancer went away.

Today about 10 years later am mostly stable with my PSC though it does

continue to progress. It amazes me how I was at one time in liver

failure without most of the progressions one would expect with liver

failure, but now that my liver has stabilized other body parts are

progressing. I now have the abdominal varices. (My spleen is still

enlarged, but not like it was when my liver was in failure). Also my UC

is in complete remission (at least for now) I worked with my doctor and

got off the medication I was taking for the UC. There was a time with my

colon that due to all the flares they thought about taking part of my

colon. Thank God that never became a must and they were fearful of the

damage that could be done due to my obesity at that time. I've been

through a lot and this is just the tip of the Iceberg. I'm considering

writing my life story because I've been through so much and others are

encouraging me to write my story.

Other fun facts about me is I'm single about age 36 and live in

Illinois. I am a Christian and take my faith seriously. I am on

disability (I have many health problems) and would like to go back to

school. I would change my major from Zoology/ Minor Chemistry to

Psychology with a focus on counselling physical health challenges from a

Christian point of view. If God is willing, I will achieve these goals.

Sincerely,