What are the chances?

[Guest guest]

My husband's first cousin has Crohn's (he has Indeterminate Colitis &

PSC). She has been in a particularly active spell of Crohn's lately

and was being treated with Steroids. After 3 weeks on steroids, out

of the blue she started having symptoms of what seemed to us like a

Cholangitis Attack (fever, chills, pain in URQ, etc.) My husband and

I encouraged her family to take her to the hospital or to see a

different GI. The symptoms continued and they finally took her to

the ER with a 104 deg fever. She was admitted and has been told she

has Cholangitis. They can't do an ERCP right now due to the inflamed

state of things. (I am trying to encourage them to pursue a MRCP in

the mean time)

So, in your opinion- what are the chances of her having " Cholangitis "

with out the " Primary Sclerosing " part? Especially when a family

member already has PSC? Anyone on the board have family members with

similar diseases/symptoms? I know that Auto-immune disease can be

hereditary; my husband has several cousins with different auto-

immunes. I am specifically curious about IBD (Crohn's, IC, UC) and

PSC.

I am not sure what I hope to gain by asking these question.

(Understanding, maybe?) I am just in complete shock that she is in

this position. All the feelings I had when my husband was diagnosed

are coming flooding back. I hope and pray that the Cholangitis is a

freak thing for her, but I keep coming back to " what are the chances? "

Thanks for your help, advice & support! It means the world to me!

Jeannie Denney

wife to Nick

expectant mommy to baby Ethan- due in 8 weeks!