Ali Carter opened up on his ongoing health problems after his UK Championship third-round exit against John Higgins.
The two-time World Championship finalist revealed after his 6-2 defeat at York's Barbican Centre that he was struggling with abdominal pains caused by Crohn's Disease.
Having also overcome a battle with cancer to return to the big stage, Carter spoke at length on the issue after his match.
"I've got such a handicap against all the other players, living with this Crohn's Disease that I've got," he said.
"You can't settle, when you've got constant abdominal pain like I have at the moment. I don't want to keep going on about it but it really is p---ing me right off at the minute.
"If you're not 100 percent feeling right, which is day-to-day for me at the moment, it's a wonder I can compete at all and make a living.
"I'd like to not have these problems but in the bigger picture, I'm lucky to be alive I suppose.
"I've got to take this new drug when I get back, which is an immune system suppressant -- which arguably is probably why I got cancer in the first place, because I was taking a similar drug for eight years.
"Who knows, if I wasn't taking that drug, whether I'd have got it? They certainly don't want to put me near that again but it's a case of living for today, to an extent.
"It's hard enough as it is, without having to have that constant handicap, not being able to sleep because you're on steroids -- but if I don't take the steroids I wouldn't be able to compete at all. It's a complete balancing act."