weakness - help!

[Guest guest]

For some time now I have been getting weaker. Although it varies

somewhat it seems overall to be getting worse. I went swimming at

the w/e with the kids and came back completely exhausted. i am

taking increasing numbers of days of work and like today all i want

to do is lie down and watch tv. even reading seems an effort at

times.

I had a gastroscopy the other week which showed i had no varices. I

have a bone density scan coming up, d the last mri showed i may have

a bit of a blockage in the common bile duct. My doctor is going to

decide next time (depending on my bloods I think) whether to do an

ercp to flush it out.

I was wondering if anyone has any experiene about whether once

fatigue / weakness gets like this does it get better or just carry

on, or wd having the bile duct cleared make much difference?

Thanks in anticipation

Tim

UC 01, PSC 03

[Guest guest]

Tim,

My experience with fatigue is that it's a continual slide down with occasional days of or even a part of a day with energy. I inevitably over do during those times and become even more fatigued. That's one of the issues I will be working with the Dr treating my depression. Setting realistic expectations and learning my limitations to avoid the increased fatigue that comes with doing too much. I don't have any experience with having a blockage flushed, so I can't help you there. Take care,

Cheryl Berg, Idaho 45Married 25 years, 4 children, 2 grchildrenPSC 01, UC 00, Fibromyalgia, hypothyroid,hiatal hernia, ulcer, gall baldder removed '93disability (retired English teacher)

weakness - help!

For some time now I have been getting weaker. Although it varies somewhat it seems overall to be getting worse. a bit of a blockage in the common bile duct. My doctor is going to decide next time (depending on my bloods I think) whether to do an ercp to flush it out.I was wondering if anyone has any experiene about whether once fatigue / weakness gets like this does it get better or just carry on, or wd having the bile duct cleared make much difference?Thanks in anticipationTimUC 01, PSC 03

[Guest guest]

Tim wrote:

I was wondering if anyone has any experiene about whether once fatigue /

weakness gets like this does it get better or just carry on, or wd having

the bile duct cleared make much difference?

In my experience the fatigue / weakness just keeps going on, however, you

just have to deal with it and do the best you can. I work 3 days/week / 12

hour grave shifts at my local hospital and find that I am very fatigues and

nauseated on a nightly basis. It takes me 4 days to recooperate for the next

stent of service. But, I like my job and feel it is worh the effort to

continue. I do not know about the bile duct issue as mine was removed last

June.

Hoping you can just keep on keeping on!

Mark (and ) from Las Vegas

PSC/03 Lt Hepatic and CBD resection /03.

[Guest guest]

Hi, Tim.

Unlike most people who seem to be responding to your question,

I actually did experience a dramatic decrease in my lethargy after

having my bile ducts " roto-rootered " via ERCP.

I seem to be in my longest stretch of jaundice and exhaustion right

now, but in general my symptoms have sort of ebbed and flowed.

I've always experienced periods of just complete exhaustion and

severe itching and jaundice that seem to either clear up on their own

after a month or so, or that were improved by ERCP-placed stents.

My advice is that if you've got a doctor you really trust and who isn't

procedure-happy, and s/he recommends it, I'd give the ERCP a try

and see if it helps. If it does, great, if not, at least you'll know for

the next time.

The only thing I can tell you is to try really hard not to overdo - learn

to love napping, and just go easy on yourself. For ages I thought I was

just lazy, when in reality I had every reason in the world to spend a day

on the couch.

Best wishes,

27 yrs old, PSC since '97