Worried about PCS! Please Help.

I have not been diagnosed with PSC, I however have had ulcerative colitis for 3 years. I just recently discovered the correlation between the two and now have been going down a rabbit hole. I need your advice on where I go from here. I get blood work yearly including testing my liver enzymes. I have never had any issues besides when I was diagnosed 3 years ago my pancreatic enzymes were high. I get itching on my hands and feet sometimes but I wouldn’t describe it as terrible, just more like a heat itch or dry skin. I also just recently have had right side below at my rib cage a dull pain. I work out lot’s and heavy, I am wondering if that could be it. I am 31 years old, have moderate Pancolitis UC, have been in remission for 2 and half years and besides the itching/pain I really have no other symptoms.

And when you see your GI....ask for an MRCP (noninvasive MRI with biliary system highlighted but not with a contrast) before having an ERCP (an invasive procedure) or a liver biopsy (an invasive procedure), and ask for more indepth blood testing.

What meds are you on?

q

If liver enzymes aren't elevated...no concerns.
Do you have copies of all your blood test results?

Gas can cause cramping as can gallstones in the URQ.

Do you get kidney function tests done?

q

quincy said...
If liver enzymes aren't elevated...no concerns.
Do you have copies of all your blood test results?

Gas can cause cramping as can gallstones in the URQ.

Do you get kidney function tests done?

q

Its very dull pain too and I can feel it on both sides sometimes but mostly on the right.

I had UC (now have a J-pouch) and PSC. I received my official diagnosis about a year after my last J-Pouch surgery. No one knows which came first for me and I think it is a moot point anyway. My liver enzymes were and are always elevated. I have had two MRCPs and a couple ERCPs. An ERCP is where they go in with an endoscopy and look at the bile ducts and can stent them if needed. My bile ducts are too narrow to be stented (I've been told by 2 different doctors). I go for an ultrasound once a year, my liver blood work is done every 6 months, and I see my GI every 6 months. My doctor is most interested in Bilirubin and ALK Phos, there are a couple others AST and one other that I can't remember. If I eat a fatty meal I might have some pain in the URQ other than that I am fine. Itching has been a problem for me, but it is fairly controlled right now. I can't really explain the itching there is no rash or anything it's almost like it is under the skin and you can't get to it. I have it mostly on my midsection, feet, and hands. I take Ursodiol daily (which helps me with itching) but other than monitoring it there isn't much that can be done. PSCers may need a liver transplant at some point. It was scary at first but I really don't worry about it much and just live my life. As of now, I can say that UC caused me way more problems than PSC has. If you're concerned about it, you should go see your GI doctor. It cannot be diagnosed by our replies or Dr. Google but I wouldn't obsess about it either.

Thanks all for the support. It's amazing I am in a UC group on Facebook with thousands of members and I find I get better responses from here. Great community still.

imo, your symtoms do not indicate anything serious, if i were u, i wouldn't even think about it. Sometimes stresses and overdiagnosing bring about much more problems than uc itself