Intro:
My name is Cole and I am a 25 year old male living just outside of Vancouver, B.C.. I am a student and am looking forward to finishing my business degree in the fall. I just got diagnosed with UC this May and it literally came out of the blue..no family history, no symptoms or bowel issues EVER prior to the onset of symptoms in late April. I have had a total of 4 colonoscopies throughout my two hospital stays, which add up to 45 days stuck in a hospital. I lost 60 lbs during that short time and as of lately feel like I am starting to improve (somewhat).
Some more about Cole:
I love to travel, pretty much live for it. Work to travel! I am very active in the gym and enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, etc. I also enjoy watching movies and documentaries.
Symptoms:
Currently, I am still having about 5-8 BM’s (no solids, always the ‘D’ and sometimes blood but not as common anymore) a day, usually occurring during my sleeping hours. Occasional stomach aches. Weight loss.
Cole’s Story:
As it goes for stomach/GI issues I have never had any problems with them at all up until this past April. My girlfriend and I had been planning a four month backpacking trip for well over a year and a few weeks before we left I started to see some fresh blood on the toilet paper. The blood started the day after I took the vaccine Dukoral (a drink you take that is supposed to protect you from getting cholera aka ‘travelers diarrhea’) and the sight of blood on the TP continued throughout that week. A week later I took the second (and final) dose of Dukoral and started to have diarrhea (still bloody) and bloating (anyone else have this problem?!? coincidence or not..). April 25th, 2015 we left for our trip (first stop: India) and I was still seeing blood and had the ‘D’. As someone who never had any family history or personal history of having bowel issues, seeing blood was startling to say the least. The week before our departure I went to my family doctor to ask what was going on. He did a stool sample and blood sample but both tests came back fine. Once my girlfriend and I got to India the symptoms did not subside. Ten days into our trip we decided to head to a hospital. And there I spent a whole 25 days in a Hospital in Goa, India (a private hospital at least). At first they assumed it was infectious colitis so they started me on metronidazole right away. Well…the pain subsided but I was still having watery diarrhea 10+ times a day. They then did more stool samples, CT scans and a colonoscopy to see what was going on. They found e.coli in my stool so started me on more antibiotics. As for UC, the GI doctor there told me “he doesn’t believe it is UC” but the GP was saying it is. They started me on mesalamine (a generic brand in India), which was not working. They then started me on prednisone (IV form at first) which was helping more than anything before. And finally, after 2 5 excruciating days I was discharged with prednisone and mesalamine. We had to wait 4 days for my prescription and as I was feeling better, my girlfriend and I decided to try and continue. We flew to Thailand (the next leg of our adventure..) and once there I started to feel like crap again. A lot of pain, 10+ bloody BM’s a day, more weight loss. So needless to stay we hopped on a jet plane where I then spent another 20 days in the hospital in Vancouver.
In Vancouver they took blood and stool samples as well as 3 more colonoscopies, a CT scan and X-rays. Luckily we did come home because they then found Salmonella in my blood. I was put on vancomycin and acasol in Vancouver as well as continuing prednisone (but up to 60mg again, IV). As time went on, I had less pain but still bloody BM’s. The next route was…Remicade. I have now had two infusions but still not much improvement. In between the hospital stay in India and at home my girlfriend has been doing her research (as have I) and I have started the SCD diet. She bought the book so both her, my mom and I have all read it. I am on day 10 right now but am not seeing all that much improvement…
I did the intro diet, pretty strictly. We bought a yogurt maker and made our own yogurt. We also made the soup and have been eating only the foods listed for the intro diet. I was having less BM’s at first (2-4 a day) with no pain or blood, just watery. Now I am having more BM’s again (5-8) all runny and had blood on Sunday. I have been eating chicken, beef, fish, eggs and the SCD chicken soup. I stopped the yogurt as I thought maybe it was too early for introducing that. I have moved onto the first phase of the diet and have now introduced zucchini, spinach and banana. I am wondering…
a) When am I able to introduce seasonings? (i.e. oregano, basil, peper, oils, vinegar, etc.)
b) When can I introduce my probiotics and L-glutamine? And other vitamins such as vit D, C. etc.
c) Am I able to drink tea in the morning while in this phase?
d) Is it normal to still have diarrhea after the intro diet?
e) How do I know when it is OK to introduce more vegetables and fruit? I am still having diarrhea so it’s hard to figure out whats affecting me and what is not.
f) When should I be going into the second stage?
g) Any advice of what kind of snacks I can have in these phases other than meat, veggies and jello? (Like when can I have cheese, nuts, almond bread, homemade fruit shakes, almond butter etc…)
h) Should I introduce the yogurt back into my diet?
A lot of questions but the book is pretty vague! Please help!
Medications:
Currently on Prednisone 30mg now from 60mg.
Remicade (just had second infusion)
Multi-vitamin, vitamin D, calcium, tumeric, vitamin C, vitamin B12, omega 3-6-9, L-glutamine, licorice root (stopped taking right now as I started SCD, but am now introducing them again)
written by Cole G
submitted in the colitis venting area
My name is Cole and I am a 25 year old male living just outside of Vancouver, B.C.. I am a student and am looking forward to finishing my business degree in the fall.
