Re: Could it be...?

[Guest guest]

tt0ni,

Your English is fine. You don't need to be concerned about it.

If you have PSC it is a very mild and in the beginning stages. The

evidence for PSC is slight, just its association with ulcerative

colitis and the strange sensation you feel. Against a PSC diagnosis

are the normal labs and low bilirubin (IS = 1, US = 0.06). A liver

biopsy or ERCP, which would help give a definite diagnosis, don't

seem to be called for by your other symptoms. Without any pain,

fever or jaundice associated with the odd sensations I would not

conclude that you have PSC. I not sure what causes the sensation you

feel, but until other evidence appears I would agree with you doctor

that is is caused by colitis.

Tim R ltx 4/4/98, recurrent PSC 2002

[Guest guest]

Thank you Tim for your helpful message. I´ve found analizing some

webpages that people with cholangitis and colitis was diagnosed some

fifteen years before with colitis. I was diagnosed with colitis three

years ago, so that makes me think that I could end with cholangitis.

But I´ve also found in an article that a doctor can find cholangitis

symptoms in all his colitis patients if he search for them. What do

you think? Regards.

[Guest guest]

tt0ni,

Colitis does put you at a higher risk of developing cholangitis than

the general population. But you symptoms don't seem to point to a

diagnosis of cholangitis (and PSC is not just cholangitis). Since

English isn't your native language you might have difficulty

describing precisely the sensations in your liver. You are obviously

concerned about the odd sensations and don't quite trust your

colitis doctor to diagnosis them accurately.

I would see a specialist who could help you rule out possible causes

for your sensations that you could do something about. Infection,

parasites, cancer all have treatment options. Viruses usually have

to run their course, but some treatments are available. PBC is

treated by ursodiol. PSC doesn't have a standard treatment yet. I

don't think you have any of these, they are just examples of thing

that might cause odd sensations in the liver. They usually have

other effects, either overt symptoms you would notice or in test

results. You have none of the colaborating evidence that would

indicate something specific. A specialist might be able to hear your

symptoms and identify something - or confirm that it is just colitis.

Regards,

Tim R

> ... I was diagnosed with colitis three

> years ago, so that makes me think that I could end with

cholangitis.

> But I´ve also found in an article that a doctor can find

cholangitis

> symptoms in all his colitis patients if he search for them. What

do

> you think? Regards.

[Guest guest]

Thank you Tim for your answer. I thought that cholangitis and psc

were the same but now I see that the difference could be in the

word " sclerosing " that implies a very abnormal process. As for

viruses, I insisted to the doctor and the blood test were negative

(hepatitis A, B & C). So, what I understand from your mesagge and

articles it´s that many people with colitis develops some minor

problems related with the liver and only a few goes to the rare

desease called psc. As for my doctor I trust him: in the library I´ve

discovered that he is doing research about colitis. I think he has

sensitivity to detect something wrong. When I asked him about the

permanent sensation -it´s like a pression in the upper right

quadrant, liver´s zone, that I feel when I breathe- he aswered me

fast and without any doubt as if he had found that in many of his

patients, " it´s of the colitis " . Regards.