Intro:

Im 18 years old on November 2nd..hopefully I won’t be in a flare haha. Diagnosed somewhere around late June 2010 with Ulcerative colitis. Pretty severe at the time. Got it under control with prednisone and lialda up until now which is what brings me here. I have always been into sports and still am. :] I plan to never let this disease take control of me like it did this summer and I also plan to attend Northern Arizona University in January 2011.

Meds:

-prednisone taper from 60 mg when diagnosed-got me into remission
-lialda 4 per day right now due to mild flare

My Story:

I was diagnosed with UC somewhere around late June 2010. I had just graduated from high school and was ready to start my life at Northern Arizona University in August until i was hit by a sudden ulcerative colitis flare. I had never had trouble with my stool, joints, or any other problems most people have years before being diagnosed with this disease. In fact, I was probably one of the most healthy and athletic girls at my high school before the summer started. Maybe a week after my graduation I went to the bathroom one day and noticed some blood on the toilet paper when I wiped. Possibly just some salsa I had eaten the night before or something? Well thats what i thought anyways. As the weeks went by, I started having stomach cramps a few times a day which would pass after going to the bathroom; however, my stools started becoming more loose and “pebble”- like. I finally decided it was time to see a doctor after having to s kip out on my college orientation due to the pains and frequent bathroom trips. I had a colonoscopy which confirmed ulcerative colitis, and by this time my stool was nothing but mucus and blood about 12 times a day. I was put on 60 mg of prednisone and was to taper over 6 weeks, which worked out nicely. I was also put on 2 pills of lialda 1X day near the end of my taper. All was going well until now. I recently caught a cold and as of now my stool is starting to turn into those “pebbles” again with very little abdominal cramping. No blood, so I’m not completely worried yet but do you know if this flare (if it is indeed a flare) can possibly turn itself around? I’m trying to stay positive and hope that it is just a case of looser stool caused by my cold, but I also know that viruses can often result in a full blown flare. I don’t want to lose 20 pounds again in 3 weeks like this summer…it was probably the most horrible experience of my life having to deal with the pain and exhaustion of it all (and I know theres people that have it much worse. Im praying for them). Any insight would be much appreciative. Thank you so much.