Guest guest Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 My daughter Olivia was diagnosed with PSC a few months ago.I have asked what stage the disease is in and I only get blank stares and no answer. I have had to research the disease myself as having my daughter in the room with me, the medical staff are reluctant to discuss future complications of this disease.I understand that it is a rare disease but even rarer in one so young. My daughter is 13 but I believe that it has been undiagnosed for a while.Many of you talk about the Mayo Clinic. Can a doctor there work in collaboration with doctors here in Australia? How can I access someone who obviously is experienced in this disease. It breaks my heart when I read some of your stories as I would rather go through this than my daughter.Another question, I know that there isn't a cure but (a) what is longest time you have heard of someone being in remission and ( what tests are given to check for CCa. The doctors here haven't even breathed this possibility to me let alone keeping an eye out for it! and © Is there someone from a Mayo clinic that I can access through email who is willing to advise us in regard to her biopsy and bloods? Thank you in advance for any replies. Our journey is just beginning and it is so, so scary.Dora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Yes Dora, you are right, it is scary. After a while you " get used " to the idea and then the only thing you can do is try to keep as healthy as possible and fight the symptoms. I am not too well informed about pediatric PSC, but I do remember reading somewhere that there is some suggestion that it is a different kind of PSC that the adult form. There are a few people on this forum that have PSC for more than 30 years, and more than a few that have it for more than two decades. Staging is mostly done by biopsy. The problem with biopsy is that the location of the biopsy is important. It is very well possible to perform a biopsy and get a result without any scarring, even though most of the liver would be stage 3 for example. My hepatologist took a biopsy while my gall bladder was being removed. He could visually decide where to perform the biopsy. CCA is mostly checked by a blood cancer marker called CA19-9. It is far from perfect but non-intrusive and accurate in most of the patients. If you want to be really sure an ERCP with brushing is needed or a procedure called FISH, that I don't understand yet. There are a few people from Australia on this forum who will surely be able to refer you to their own specialists. There is also a PSC forum for mothers of young PSC patients. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pscmoms/?v=1&t=directory&ch=web&pub=groups&\ sec=dir&slk=10 Regards, Chaim Boermeester, Israel > > My daughter Olivia was diagnosed with PSC a few months ago.I have asked > what stage the disease is in and I only get blank stares and no answer. > I have had to research the disease myself as having my daughter in the > room with me, the medical staff are reluctant to discuss future > complications of this disease. > I understand that it is a rare disease but even rarer in one so young. > My daughter is 13 but I believe that it has been undiagnosed for a > while.Many of you talk about the Mayo Clinic. Can a doctor there work in > collaboration with doctors here in Australia? How can I access someone > who obviously is experienced in this disease. It breaks my heart when I > read some of your stories as I would rather go through this than my > daughter. > Another question, I know that there isn't a cure but (a) what is longest > time you have heard of someone being in remission and ( what tests are > given to check for CCa. The doctors here haven't even breathed this > possibility to me let alone keeping an eye out for it! and © Is there > someone from a Mayo clinic that I can access through email who is > willing to advise us in regard to her biopsy and bloods? > Thank you in advance for any replies. Our journey is just beginning and > it is so, so scary. > Dora [:-/] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Yes Dora, you are right, it is scary. After a while you " get used " to the idea and then the only thing you can do is try to keep as healthy as possible and fight the symptoms. I am not too well informed about pediatric PSC, but I do remember reading somewhere that there is some suggestion that it is a different kind of PSC that the adult form. There are a few people on this forum that have PSC for more than 30 years, and more than a few that have it for more than two decades. Staging is mostly done by biopsy. The problem with biopsy is that the location of the biopsy is important. It is very well possible to perform a biopsy and get a result without any scarring, even though most of the liver would be stage 3 for example. My hepatologist took a biopsy while my gall bladder was being removed. He could visually decide where to perform the biopsy. CCA is mostly checked by a blood cancer marker called CA19-9. It is far from perfect but non-intrusive and accurate in most of the patients. If you want to be really sure an ERCP with brushing is needed or a procedure called FISH, that I don't understand yet. There are a few people from Australia on this forum who will surely be able to refer you to their own specialists. There is also a PSC forum for mothers of young PSC patients. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pscmoms/?v=1&t=directory&ch=web&pub=groups&\ sec=dir&slk=10 Regards, Chaim Boermeester, Israel > > My daughter Olivia was diagnosed with PSC a few months ago.I have asked > what stage the disease is in and I only get blank stares and no answer. > I have had to research the disease myself as having my daughter in the > room with me, the medical staff are reluctant to discuss future > complications of this disease. > I understand that it is a rare disease but even rarer in one so young. > My daughter is 13 but I believe that it has been undiagnosed for a > while.Many of you talk about the Mayo Clinic. Can a doctor there work in > collaboration with doctors here in Australia? How can I access someone > who obviously is experienced in this disease. It breaks my heart when I > read some of your stories as I would rather go through this than my > daughter. > Another question, I know that there isn't a cure but (a) what is longest > time you have heard of someone being in remission and ( what tests are > given to check for CCa. The doctors here haven't even breathed this > possibility to me let alone keeping an eye out for it! and © Is there > someone from a Mayo clinic that I can access through email who is > willing to advise us in regard to her biopsy and bloods? > Thank you in advance for any replies. Our journey is just beginning and > it is so, so scary. > Dora [:-/] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Yes Dora, you are right, it is scary. After a while you " get used " to the idea and then the only thing you can do is try to keep as healthy as possible and fight the symptoms. I am not too well informed about pediatric PSC, but I do remember reading somewhere that there is some suggestion that it is a different kind of PSC that the adult form. There are a few people on this forum that have PSC for more than 30 years, and more than a few that have it for more than two decades. Staging is mostly done by biopsy. The problem with biopsy is that the location of the biopsy is important. It is very well possible to perform a biopsy and get a result without any scarring, even though most of the liver would be stage 3 for example. My hepatologist took a biopsy while my gall bladder was being removed. He could visually decide where to perform the biopsy. CCA is mostly checked by a blood cancer marker called CA19-9. It is far from perfect but non-intrusive and accurate in most of the patients. If you want to be really sure an ERCP with brushing is needed or a procedure called FISH, that I don't understand yet. There are a few people from Australia on this forum who will surely be able to refer you to their own specialists. There is also a PSC forum for mothers of young PSC patients. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pscmoms/?v=1&t=directory&ch=web&pub=groups&\ sec=dir&slk=10 Regards, Chaim Boermeester, Israel > > My daughter Olivia was diagnosed with PSC a few months ago.I have asked > what stage the disease is in and I only get blank stares and no answer. > I have had to research the disease myself as having my daughter in the > room with me, the medical staff are reluctant to discuss future > complications of this disease. > I understand that it is a rare disease but even rarer in one so young. > My daughter is 13 but I believe that it has been undiagnosed for a > while.Many of you talk about the Mayo Clinic. Can a doctor there work in > collaboration with doctors here in Australia? How can I access someone > who obviously is experienced in this disease. It breaks my heart when I > read some of your stories as I would rather go through this than my > daughter. > Another question, I know that there isn't a cure but (a) what is longest > time you have heard of someone being in remission and ( what tests are > given to check for CCa. The doctors here haven't even breathed this > possibility to me let alone keeping an eye out for it! and © Is there > someone from a Mayo clinic that I can access through email who is > willing to advise us in regard to her biopsy and bloods? > Thank you in advance for any replies. Our journey is just beginning and > it is so, so scary. > Dora [:-/] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 As a Mom, my heart aches for you....as a patient - please understand that life goes on. your attitude towards this disease can and will affect how your daughter's attitude is. Yes this is a very scary disease, but as others have posted, slow progressing and many live decades. The key word being live. Never never let PSC prevent your daughter from living her life. There will be times when the road is rocky, but she will learn how to side-step those rocks and keep a sure footing on her path. I'm 51.5....have has UC for most of my life, now have a jpouch, was dx with PSC through routine blood tests in 1997 - 11 years ago. I have terrible itching but life goes on....I somehow find the energy to keep going. I think people with diseases just learn to cope better with illness. For example, my husband came down with a horrible, horrible sinus infection/cold. He missed 5 days of work. He generously gave it to me (bless his heart)...and since I work in customer service and talk on the phone 8 hours per day, I only missed 1 day and that is because I couldn't speak above a whisper. He is at home right now belly-aching about how he feels and I am at work (lunch break) plugging away at my job. I have learned to deal with pain and the annoying itching that some PSCers get! I have found Cleveland Clinic is very good at communicating with people with questions. The last I knew, Dr. Carey was the hepatologist there...you might use that as a stepping stone to getting some answers to your questions. Both Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic have excellent doctors. Cindy Baudoux-Northrup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 As a Mom, my heart aches for you....as a patient - please understand that life goes on. your attitude towards this disease can and will affect how your daughter's attitude is. Yes this is a very scary disease, but as others have posted, slow progressing and many live decades. The key word being live. Never never let PSC prevent your daughter from living her life. There will be times when the road is rocky, but she will learn how to side-step those rocks and keep a sure footing on her path. I'm 51.5....have has UC for most of my life, now have a jpouch, was dx with PSC through routine blood tests in 1997 - 11 years ago. I have terrible itching but life goes on....I somehow find the energy to keep going. I think people with diseases just learn to cope better with illness. For example, my husband came down with a horrible, horrible sinus infection/cold. He missed 5 days of work. He generously gave it to me (bless his heart)...and since I work in customer service and talk on the phone 8 hours per day, I only missed 1 day and that is because I couldn't speak above a whisper. He is at home right now belly-aching about how he feels and I am at work (lunch break) plugging away at my job. I have learned to deal with pain and the annoying itching that some PSCers get! I have found Cleveland Clinic is very good at communicating with people with questions. The last I knew, Dr. Carey was the hepatologist there...you might use that as a stepping stone to getting some answers to your questions. Both Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic have excellent doctors. Cindy Baudoux-Northrup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Hi Dora, My husband, Brad, is 32 years old and was diagnosed with PSC earlier this year after undergoing a variety of tests for over six months to determine why his bloods were all out of whack. He has had ulcerative colitis for over 10 years and initially his gastroenterologist suspected PSC but after a liver biopsy, it was ruled out. It wasn't until he was sent to Dr Stuart at The Alfred in Melbourne that further tests were done and the diagnosis was made. Dr is a liver specialist and is the head of gastro at The Alfred. They run a liver clinic for Hep C, cirrhosis and PSC patients and it is free of charge. They have the new Fibro Scan machine which takes the place of the liver biopsy and they also have one at The Royal Pince Alfred in Sydney I think or at least it's at another hospital in Sydney but I know there are only two in Australia so I imagine they would be at the hospitals with the best doctors/facilities in the field of gastro. Or at least I hope Whereabouts are you located? I too have been researching PSC a lot since my husbands' diagnosis and this group is the most fantastic resource, a real wealth of information but please feel free to email me at any time if you have any Australia- specific questions and I will share what I have learned to date My heart goes out to you. It is scary having an unwell husband, but I can only imagine how I would feel if it was one of my children. Good luck and once again, please feel free to ask any questions, I would be happy to share Cheers, Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Hi Dora, My husband, Brad, is 32 years old and was diagnosed with PSC earlier this year after undergoing a variety of tests for over six months to determine why his bloods were all out of whack. He has had ulcerative colitis for over 10 years and initially his gastroenterologist suspected PSC but after a liver biopsy, it was ruled out. It wasn't until he was sent to Dr Stuart at The Alfred in Melbourne that further tests were done and the diagnosis was made. Dr is a liver specialist and is the head of gastro at The Alfred. They run a liver clinic for Hep C, cirrhosis and PSC patients and it is free of charge. They have the new Fibro Scan machine which takes the place of the liver biopsy and they also have one at The Royal Pince Alfred in Sydney I think or at least it's at another hospital in Sydney but I know there are only two in Australia so I imagine they would be at the hospitals with the best doctors/facilities in the field of gastro. Or at least I hope Whereabouts are you located? I too have been researching PSC a lot since my husbands' diagnosis and this group is the most fantastic resource, a real wealth of information but please feel free to email me at any time if you have any Australia- specific questions and I will share what I have learned to date My heart goes out to you. It is scary having an unwell husband, but I can only imagine how I would feel if it was one of my children. Good luck and once again, please feel free to ask any questions, I would be happy to share Cheers, Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Hi again, Sorry, forgot to mention - I went with Brad to see Dr a couple of months ago and took a list of questions. Some of my main concerns were the CCA and (as Brad is already at Stage 4, cirrhosis) the varices. The doc confirmed that they will run tests for CCA, varices and continue scanning his liver a couple of times a year. It is at least comforting to know that they are looking out for these complications. Cheers, Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Hi again, Sorry, forgot to mention - I went with Brad to see Dr a couple of months ago and took a list of questions. Some of my main concerns were the CCA and (as Brad is already at Stage 4, cirrhosis) the varices. The doc confirmed that they will run tests for CCA, varices and continue scanning his liver a couple of times a year. It is at least comforting to know that they are looking out for these complications. Cheers, Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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