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Additional Resources/Websites
There is a wealth of excellent information on the internet and you and your family can learn a lot that will help in managing your condition. The following list is a sampling of what is available on-line.
These entries represent primarily government or non-profit sites that our members have found useful in learning more about their disease or related issues. We cover medical/disease sites, and those that focus on other PSC-relevant topics: navigating medical systems, lab tests, financial assistance, pharmaceuticals, care giving, transplant, and the National Institutes of Health's medical encyclopedia and dictionary.
Use the internet wisely and carefully, as a guide to your individual situation. New research can change old understandings quickly, so check the date of the information on each web page; be sure the site's sponsor is reputable. Chat rooms and message boards may not always impart accurate information, and well-meaning people may not advise what your medical professionals would advise. Commercial sites may present a conflict of interest, especially if they are selling a product. They may not provide impartial scientific information. When you find facts or data you do not understand or if it conflicts with what you've been told, talk to your medical team. Use the internet as a resource, but not as your only resource.
These sites are authoritative and useful, but the fact that a site is listed here does not connote an endorsement of its contents by PSC Partners Seeking a Cure. Always consult your physician for medical advice
Medical Encyclopedia On-Line from the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine
MedLine Plus: The Medical Encyclopedia includes articles about diseases, tests, symptoms, injuries, and surgeries. It also contains an extensive library of medical photographs and illustrations. Click here for the site.
Lab and Medical Tests Guides
National Institutes of Health Diagnostic Imaging Site: This site explains the imaging tests you might need, such as x-rays, CT scans, nuclear scans, and MRI scans. Click here to visit.
National Institutes of Health Diagnostic Tests Site: This National Institutes of Health site offers a wealth of information on various tests you might experience, including endoscopy, scans, blood tests, etc. click here to go to the site.
Articles in Medical Journals
PubMed: You can search in the extensive National Institutes of Health library of national and international medical journals.
PSC Literature: The site contains over 100,000 articles relevant to PSC diagnosis and treatment, including various research studies of genetics, medication, and other topics. The site is searchable.
Medications
Medline: Medline is another federal government site. Here you can find information on medications, including their purpose, side effects, dosages and related information. The Food and Drug Administration drug sites are linked. There is information on research regarding the medication. Available in Spanish (Espanol).
Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases
Information on Liver and Digestive Diseases: Medline includes a page specific to liver diseases.
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse offers information on digestive diseases. Included is an article entitled "What I Need to Know About Liver Transplantation."
- digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/livertransplant/index.htm
- digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/livertransplant_ez/
American Autoimmune and Related Diseases Association: The association offers a wide-ranging site devoted to managing and eliminating autoimmune diseases. On the site is a list of identified autoimmune diseases, some of which have been related to PSC. The site offers information on autoimmunity, support groups, a blog, and a subscription newsletter.
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation: The group supports research, collaboration, understanding and education on the disease. There is information on the disease, support, and tips for the newly diagnosed. A discussion board and live chats are offered.
Cirrhosis
Crohn's Disease
Hemochromatosis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis A
Also in Spanish (Español).
Hepatitis B
Also in Spanish (Español).
Hepatitis C
Also in Spanish (Español).
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Ulcerative Colitis
Wilson's Disease
American Liver Foundation: The foundation promotes liver health and disease prevention. It focuses on research, education, and advocacy. You can sign up for an email newsletter to keep abreast of liver funding and research news.
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
This non-profit organization wants to find the cures for these two diseases. It provides education and support programs as well as funding research. On the website there is a wealth of information on Crohn's and colitis especially for those newly diagnosed.
Financial Issues
Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness: Patients can get free information, advice and advocacy about acquiring their own medical records, getting and keeping health insurance, health insurance coverage for particular treatments, drugs and therapies, how to get private disability insurance, social security disability income, how to assert rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act and how to ensure schools accommodate students with chronic illness. Site includes links for health insurance, drug assistance, social security, educational equity, employment, and related subjects.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance: The site is sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and assists low-income, uninsured, or underinsured patients to prescription assistance programs, many of which provide medicines for free or nearly free.
National Transplant Assistance Fund & Catastrophic Injury Program: The organization helps raise money in communities to cover uninsured medical expenses related to transplantation and catastrophic injury.
Medicare: There are links to Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, billing, appeals, long-term care, and specific information about plan choices. Search tools allow comparison of prescription drug plans, of hospitals in your area, nursing homes in your area, and to health plans and Medigap Policies in your area.
Medicaid: Medicaid is a state program for certain low-income individuals. There are links for information about specific contacts for help and support in the application process.
Volunteers in Health Care: This site claims to be the most current and comprehensive directory of Patient Assistance Programs that are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. The site offers a comprehensive database of these programs and practical tools to access them all in one place.
RxAssist Sites for Programs and Medicare, State sites: Part of the RxAssist program referenced above, this site is a breakdown of specific state information. This site is useful because states define "elderly" differently; this can mean anything from 55 and older. This site includes information compiled from state prescription assistance website and AARP State by State Plan by Plan list of Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs.
Medicare Part D: This reference is also a part of the RxAssist site. The site explains Medicare Part D, ways to get health care if you are uninsured, and what the federal poverty level means. There is information about drug discount cards, programs that assist with medication co-pays, and programs that offer free or low cost health care.
Transplant Living Financial Resource Directory: The site is part of the UNOS site and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive list or an endorsement. The list does offer websites, addresses, and phone numbers from many important organizations. (American Liver Foundation, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, and National Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program-MOTTEP)
Caregiver and Family Support
Carepages: You can create your own web page for free to inform family and friends about your progress. The pages are password protected. You can upload photos, art, and the latest news. The site includes patient stories and tips for caregivers. The service is provided free. A Spanish version is included.
Caringbridge: Another site create-you-own-website popular with PSC-ers, which now is available in Spanish. New features recently have been added, including features for the visually impaired, easier creation assistance, and privacy improvements.
Well Spouse Association: This non-profit organization, more than twenty years old, offers a site for well spouses to connect with others and to find tips to manage their role. A support group is available on line as well in some localities. There is an annual conference and the group puts out useful publications; a newsletter (subscription) is also available.
Lottsa Helping Hands: As a web-based community the group aims to assist in organizing friends, family and others to support individuals or families during a health or other crisis. The site can manage volunteers, offer support, coordinate activities, such as meals, transportation, specific tasks.
National Alliance for Caregiving: The Alliance is a coalition of groups that support caregiving research and policy development. The group offers conferences and materials for caregivers. There is excellent information on coping through difficult times.
Today's Caregiver Magazine: The magazine is a subscription publication, yet many of the useful articles are archived on this site. The site has links to other helpful sites, and offers a free e-newsletter for caregivers.
Family Caregiver Alliance: The group is a public voice of caregivers. You can view programs of information, education, services, and research. The site is a link to support groups, advice and information, and offers a newsletter with useful updates (centers, conferences, teleconferences).
National Family Caregivers Association: The Association speaks up for more than 50 million Americans who care for a chronically ill, aged, or disabled loved one. The group addresses the common needs and concerns of all family caregivers.
Transplant Experience: The website leads to the "Caregivers' Connection" that provides resources to transplant recipients and their caregivers. Membership enrollment is free. You can receive a newsletter of support, videos, and literature that provide information through each stage of transplantation. This site discusses the impact of transplantation while giving specific coping strategies.
Transplant Sites
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS): The organization develops policy, issues regulations, and oversees the allocation of organs for transplant in the United States. UNOS maintains waiting lists for transplant candidates, as well as statistics on organ donation and transplantation. Also included on the site is information on managing a transplant, before and after surgery. There are several pages on the site that relate to specific liver allocation policies, which are under continuing review from a national perspective.
MELD Calculator Online: If you are waiting for a transplant you will become familiar with the MELD system of scoring your liver disease. You can calculate your own MELD score at this OPTN page.
Chris Klug Foundation: Chris Klug is a liver recipient, Olympic snowboard bronze medal winner, and a member of the PSC Partners board. His foundation supports organ donation nationwide via "Donor Dudes" (and "Dudettes"). Aimed at educating persons in high school and college about organ donation, the group has outreach to campuses and holds events in various locations that improve public awareness of donation.
Association of Organ Procurement Organizations: This is the site of the professional organization for organ procurement. Policies and issues within this community are included. This national site offers links to the OPOs that serve your region.
Donate Life America: Founded in 1992, the group educates the public about organ and tissue donation. The site includes sections in Spanish and has a focus on minority organ donation/transplant. It also includes a link to each state's organ donation information; for some states you can sign up on a state donor registry. The group promotes education on donation and encourages volunteers who want to become active in this area.
Transplant Chronicles: Although this is a project of the National Kidney Foundation, the online newsletter offers a wealth of information for all transplant patients. Archived copies are available, and you can enter a subscription to the information via email. The newsletter covers tips on managing pre- and post-surgery, patient stories, policy and research information, and related topics.
Transplant Living: This UNOS site has useful information on transplant and links to other sites within UNOS that can inform patients both before and after surgery. Readers can sign up for a free email newsletter.
Transplant Experience: The drug manufacturer, Astellas Pharma, offers basic information and guidance on pre- and post-transplant life.
Transweb: This University of Michigan website promotes awareness and activities related to public information about transplant.
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Sites: The OPTN maintains the national patient waiting list and features comprehensive transplant data. The calendar lists OPTN/UNOS events. The quick links lead to data, resources, newsroom, and a member directory.
OPTN Datasource: This reference takes you to the organ datasource for liver. It lists the functions of the liver, liver transplant procedures, and reasons for transplantation.
Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients: SRTR supports evaluation of scientific and clinical status of solid organ transplantation in the United States. You can research national transplant statistics, program-specific reports for individual hospitals, and research resources. There are specific links to help in the understanding data.
Travel Emergency Flight Services
MedjetAssist: This site is representative of several firms that offer medical evacuation services to travelers. Some PSC Partners members have used this particular company, but we urge members to check out similar companies to assess their services, costs, etc.
Angel Flight: Pilots who volunteer to fly patients for legitimate medical need started the group. Using donated planes, and with donations from individuals, clubs, and corporations, the service is free.
Medical ID Medallions and Support
Medic Alert Foundation: The foundation offers medallions and jewelry that include a toll free number service that can be accessed in an emergency, when you may be unable to talk. There is a fee annually.
The site currently offers additional medical and emergency services, but the medical identification jewelry is located here:
American Medical Jewelry: This commercial site is typical of many that offer medical identification jewelry. There is no medical database service to call in an emergency, but you can have engraved on the medallions any contact information you wish. No annual fee. Note: retail jewelry stores also have catalogs of medical medallions to purchase and you can buy these locally, saving time and interacting with the store personnel face to face.
Please note!
Information on this website has been compiled by persons without formal medical training. Therefore, the information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.
Please consult with your doctor before using any information presented here for treatment. Nothing contained in this website is intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment. The views and opinions expressed in the site are not intended to endorse any product or procedure.