Tag: ulcerative colitis

Liver biopsy

I’m waiting to be picked up by my parents who are coming with me to the hospital for my biopsy today. I know what to expect so I’m not feeling nervous, but I still don’t want to have it done because it’s a whole day in the hospital.

I’m allowed to drink water until 8:30am (so, for the next 20 minutes or so), but I’m not allowed to eat anything until after I’ve had it done. I’m just having a read through the Patient Information leaflet I was given at the pre-assessment.

I’ll likely be home from work tomorrow so I’ll try and keep you all updated.

The only good thing thing about having an appointment early in the morning is that you’re going home when everyone else is going to work. I’m on my way to my second appointment of the week (and of the day) with the third one tomorrow morning, which will ultimately be an all day thing because they have to observe me for six hours after they’ve done the biopsy. I’m starting to wonder if I should get my mail forwarded to the hospital, I spend so much time there.

Yet another MRI.

So, it turns out that last MRI I had didn’t capture all the images they wanted so I have to have a third this Monday morning. It’s not that I mind having it done because I now know what to expect, it’s just I don’t want to have to go to the hospital again. I’ve got three days in the next week where I’m not working but all of them will be spent at the hospital; tomorrow afternoon is my biopsy pre-assessment, Monday morning is the MRI, and Tuesday is the biopsy proper which will be a whole day. I’m going to try and go to bed early this weekend.

I’ve got my second MRI this afternoon. It’s so they can take a better look at my liver but it’s the biopsy that’ll tell for definite.

I worked out that I have eight appointments coming up in the next two months; six are at the hospital, one’s a stoma check that’s been pushed back since before Christmas, and the last one is to sort out my Pills. I just hope my work can arrange my days off so I don’t have to change any of them.

The biopsy is booked! I had to change the date because they gave me less than a weeks notice and I couldn’t get the time off work, but it’s only a few weeks to wait. I’m hoping it’ll give me a diagnosis but, although I’m hoping it isn’t PSC, I’m not going to get my hopes up.

Another MRI!

I’ve got another one for my liver. This one is apparently meant to be a more precise scam so they can look at my liver in more detail. They still want to do the biopsy, I think, but I don’t have a date for that yet.

Dressing with an ostomy

One thing I’ve found since having my ostomy is that getting dressed isn’t as easy anymore; I have to be mindful of where my clothes sit over my bag/stoma.

I’ve found the biggest issue is trousers; I have several pairs of work trousers that I can’t wear any more due to them sitting too low to be comfortable over my bag but too high to sit under it. To solve this, I’ve turned to high-waisted trousers and skirts with elasticated waists. As for casual wear, I have found that most of my jeans will sit under my bag quite comfortably, except one pair that rubs the bottom of the adhesive just enough to worry me. It doesn’t create a hole but the last few times I’ve worn them I’ve noticed the edge of the flange has frayed slightly.

There’s also making sure that tops and dresses aren’t too tight over my bag as well but that’s why I try everything on before buying it.

Does anyone else have similar issues and if so, what have you found works for you?