#P S C 25 TO LIFE SONG SKIN#

Blood tests did show raised liver enzyme levels. My urine had turned dark once the fever had started and I was showing signs of jaundice. For 3 days this was accompanied by what might have been trigeminal neuralgia – very frequent shooting pains in the upper jaw leading to the head in addition to the ‘heartburn’. The fourth day of experiencing the pain I started a fever which persisted for 11 days. The pain in retrospect may have been caused by gallstones and could have been biliary cholic. Four days into the course I started getting what I thought was heartburn which continued for a few days, becoming very painful. My GP prescribed me Nexium and Gaviscon which helped. I had a bad attack one day when my oesophagus was completely blocked for 24 hours. I had been suffering from reflux oesophagitis over many years.

However, he told me that my enzyme tests over the previous 10 years indicated slight but continuing damage to my liver and that I had been suffering from primary sclerosing cholangitis – I had to ask him to spell it!Įverything seemed fine until September 2006 when things seemed to kick off. He told me my colitis mostly remained mild, only obvious in biopsies though there were occasional slight flare-ups. When I was 48, in 2000, I saw my consultant privately so I could get more information about the colitis and other issues. I had annual visits to my consultant, who kept an eye on things, including regular endoscopies. My life continued normally, and my wife and I further expanded our retail business with all the advantages and disadvantages of being self-employed. The colitis persisted, but never seemed to cause serious problems. I was told I had colitis and was put on Asacol and iron tablets and given a colonoscopy. I was advised my liver enzyme levels were high and iron levels low. I informed my GP and was referred to a consultant, a gastroenterologist. I also have a record of a couple of day’s fever.

#P S C 25 TO LIFE SONG SKIN#

Several months later I have a record of more blood in my stools accompanied by itching of my skin with feeling of pin pricks lasting a couple of weeks causing me to lose sleep. My first record of any problem was when I was 36 and noticed blood in my stools.

After around 12 years when I was 35, my wife and I took advantage of an opportunity to join and later take over the family business. The salary allowed us to buy our first house and later move to a larger one.

My wife also found work in the Civil Service.

On graduation I married, and being unable to find a job in my subject, applied for a post in the Civil Service which enabled me to stay in our home town. I was born in South Wales and studied Biology at University to degree level. While I have paid some attention to the latest research, my attitude had been to deal with issues as they arose and hope it remains under control. I do not know anyone else who has PSC and understand that my GP practice has not had to deal with anyone with this condition. I was asked to write about my experience of having PSC from the point of view of someone who has not had a liver transplant but has lived with PSC for many years.

P s c 25 to life song