cholangitis due to UC?

Posted By Julie on May 17, 1998 at 11:38:58:







In 95' I was diagnosed with chronic ulcerative colitis,
and within four months had surgery to remove my large intestine.  
(I now have a j-pouch).  Even before my diagnosis of UC, I had
a burning type pain in my upper right quadrant. After my j-pouch
surgery this persisted, and after having a CCK that showed a 7%
ejection fraction, we decided to go ahead and have my gallbladder
removed thinking I had chronic acalculous cholecystitis, yet at
surgery there was only minimal chronic cholecystitis and no stones.
At the time of this surgery, my doctor injected a dye into my bile
ducts which showed them free of stones.  He also took a biopsy of my
liver because in a previous ultrasound a benign tumor was found.  
Anyway, the pathology report says that the fragment taken was distorted,
but a couple of times it says that fibrous tissue, suggestive of
interlobular septae -- but cirrhosis cannot be confirmed.
Since the gallbladder surgery, I did have a surgery (a year ago)
for a bowel blockage and there were several places of high density adhesions
found in my upper right quadrant.  I'm taking propulsid right now,
because I've had distention in my upper abdomen and pain after eating.
I still have that burning pain where my gallbladdder was removed,
but it encompasses a greater area now, even to the area just under
the very edge of my right rib.  Though the propulsid has helped,
I'm having to take larger doses as the weeks progress, and I find
the relief is not as great as it once was.  Also, I have horrible
nausea, particularly after meals to the point where I vomit.
I've tried prilosec and zantac, so it appears that it's not related
to an ulcer.  My doctor has mentioned that I've shown signs of
biliary disease, and sclerosing cholangitis is a manifestation of
UC.  What test can I ask for to see if this is the problem?  I've
had liver enzyme tests come back abnormal in the last year;  I
believe it was the GGT that was elevated.
Sorry to be so lengthy.  I know this is a lot to take in, but I
feel like I'm getting no where fast.  By the way,
I'm a 32 year-old woman . . . going on 80.