Introduction:
Hi.i was diagnosed with uc about two months after I had my first child, which was about five years ago now. I’m from London. I enjoy spending time with my family.
My Symptoms:
Currently I am not too bad but am struggling to keep my colitis under control.looking at trying new dietary options and keeping a diary of everything.
Colitis Story:
At the beginning I was concentrating so much on my new baby I couldn’t see that anything was wrong.then I noticed that I had suffered with diarrhoea for a few weeks constantly with serious stomach pain. My GP told me to take paracetamol.i did, nothing happened.this continued for a few more weeks with still the same response.finally decided to go to hospital.after one X-ray I was told it was ulcerative colitis, I was admitted and put on steroids. Everything was happening so quick now. The doctor at the hospital informed me that if the steroids didn’t work they would have to operate I burst out crying, I didn’t understand any of it.
I had my husband and my new baby and I was so scared. As time went on I was discharged with my steroids.i coped for a while until I noticed something strange about my legs. It looked like I had tiny bites on them. Once again my General Practitioner said they would disappear I coped until the bites turned into huge red marks on my legs it looked the skin had been burned off. I couldn’t walk it was so painful. Went to hospital and got diagnosed with Erythema Nodosum, a side effect to UC.
The doctors had never seen it before. For days I had doctors and students coming to look at my legs. I was given infliximab. This with my medication worked a charm. I went back to work, because I was still on maternity leave and I was in remission. Had another baby with no problems at all. My colitis hasn’t been as controlled since then. In and out of hospital, my husband having to take time off from work to look after the kids. That’s the worst thing about all, not the pain but how much people have adjusted their life’s while I’ve been in hospital, they’re so nice about it, but it’s so hard knowing I have rely on people so much. It feels like such an inconvenience. At the moment I find myself confused about every pain or upset stomach I get. Is it UC or isn’t it, should I eat that or am I going to suffer for it. Mostly I just worry ab out how bad this could actually get for me and my family.
Where I’d like to be in 1 year:
More knowledgeable on what options there are and hopefully figure out what triggers my flare ups because after five years of it I’m still not sure.
Colitis Medications:
I’ve had prednisone, infliximab, azathioprine, balzalzide, more prednisone and I’m on asacol at the moment. Although I didn’t end up staying in remission, infliximab seemed to keep it at bay for the longest.
written by KB
submitted in the colitis venting area
I had my first child and then shortly afterwards I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, it’s been about five years now.
