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So what exactly is Wilson's disease?
Wilson's disease is a rare genetic disorder that is caused by your body storing too much copper. Copper is a metal that is present in most foods, depending on the food type, location where it is grown and how the food is processed. Only a tiny amount of copper is needed for good health and most people get rid of their copper when they urinate (yuck!). If you have Wilson's disease your liver cannot get rid of the copper on its own, and as a result your liver begins to store up this copper. Over several years, your body becomes affected by the amount of metal inside you. Wilson's disease is named after Dr. Wilson, a doctor at the National Neurology Hospital in London. He discovered the disease in 1911, over ninety years ago.
What happens to me if I have Wilson's disease?
Well, before you were found to have Wilson's disease
you may have been feeling tired and less energetic than normal. This feeling
may continue for a while, as it is you body's natural reaction when dealing
with an illness. Due to the reduction in your liver's performance you
may develop jaundice. 
This
is easily noticeable as the skin and whites of the eyes turn yellow. It
happens if the liver cannot process bilirubin (the yellow pigment of jaundice)
properly. The picture shows a man with jaundice.
Although they cannot be seen by the human eye, some patients develop Kayser Fleischer rings, and these are also a result of too much copper being inside your body.
However, neither of these symptoms is permanent and once you are on a treatment program they will disappear.
How common is it?
Well, if you have Wilson's Disease you can think of yourself as being rather special! Around the world there is generally one person with Wilson's Disease for every 30,000 people. In Scotland there are around five million people, so there are only about 160 people here who have Wilson's disease. It is passed through families and, even though your parents may never actually develop Wilson's disease themselves, they still carry the genetic disorder. Because Wilson's disease is so rare many people haven't heard about it before, so you may have to explain things to your family and sometimes even your family doctor!