How do you get PSC ?
Memorise this : PSC is non-contagious, so you don't “get it” ... You “develop” it.
You'll be repeating that sentence dozens of times in the future as you describe what life is like to your workmates and friends, so they don't freak out you've got Hepatitis, or secretly judge you as being a raging alcoholic.
Generally speaking, it develops over time inside you and you may not show symptoms until eventually 'that day' comes ... and you notice something is massively wrong.
From the little data that's available, the incidence between men-women is about 2:1. No countries/cultures appear to have abnormal incidence rates. If we filled a football stadium with 100,000 people, we might find a maximum of eight (8) people who share our suffering.
I am loosely aware that there is a common link between people who have Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, who then also go on to develop PSC. Incidence rates suggest it appears to be more of am unwanted bonus for those with UC rather than Crohn's.
In my circumstance, I was originally diagnosed with Crohn's almost a year before PSC. It turns out I'm the exception-to-the-exception of the norm. These days Crohn's gives me no hassles whats so ever, and has been in remission for over a decade. PSC on the other hand, continues to bother me, and is the source of 95% of my medical issues.
To the best of my knowledge, there is no history of anything like this in my extended family.
You'll be repeating that sentence dozens of times in the future as you describe what life is like to your workmates and friends, so they don't freak out you've got Hepatitis, or secretly judge you as being a raging alcoholic.
Generally speaking, it develops over time inside you and you may not show symptoms until eventually 'that day' comes ... and you notice something is massively wrong.
From the little data that's available, the incidence between men-women is about 2:1. No countries/cultures appear to have abnormal incidence rates. If we filled a football stadium with 100,000 people, we might find a maximum of eight (8) people who share our suffering.
I am loosely aware that there is a common link between people who have Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis, who then also go on to develop PSC. Incidence rates suggest it appears to be more of am unwanted bonus for those with UC rather than Crohn's.
In my circumstance, I was originally diagnosed with Crohn's almost a year before PSC. It turns out I'm the exception-to-the-exception of the norm. These days Crohn's gives me no hassles whats so ever, and has been in remission for over a decade. PSC on the other hand, continues to bother me, and is the source of 95% of my medical issues.
To the best of my knowledge, there is no history of anything like this in my extended family.