Trevor’s Bio:
Was a party animal in my early 20’s and had a diet of fast food and mostly junk. Worked 2 jobs for a while and had no time to cook. Around age 30 I eventually decided to change my diet and cut drinking down to a minimum. Moved onto great organic foods and ate all sorts of healthy things. Starting seeing symptoms in 2007. I was about to get an examination, but a few weeks before my appointment, I went into remission so I said to myself “ah, that was just a little hemorrhoid or something, no need to get checked” Since then I had no problems till around 2011, when I thought I had an infection in my tooth. I absentmindedly went to the doctor instead of the dentist! (what was I thinking?). The doctor figured I might be infected and gave me antibiotics. Well, now that I trace back to that time, it’s when things got really bad. Saw all sorts of weird things in the toilet but strangely I felt OK! No cramps, no sickness. Just some dizziness every now and then…..but then as time went by….things progressed……….
Symptoms:
It started out with blurred vision, dizziness, running bloody poops, lots of gas, slight loss of weight (I’m skinny to begin with). It’s on and off currently….had my diagnosis just last week! Haven’t pooped more than 9 times id say. Usually I average about 3 to 5.
My Story:
I’ve been well informed about the medical system and prescriptions before this diagnosis, so when the doctor said to “take these drugs” and “eventually we usually have to cut this part of the colon”, I was not to startled (ok….honestly my heart was pumping and my face was red). I knew there would be some sort of outside information about this and holistic remedy so I walked out of the office, tossing out my prescription paper (I know..a little hard headed and arrogant). My fiance found this site, and this site led me to the great book about diet “the vicious cycle” and she bought me Adam’s book – Feeling Crappy to Feeling Happy, which totally rocks! I felt so alone until I read his book about his experience.
I was much like him, drinking, partying, and living it up thinking that the bloody poops can’t be coming from me!?!? “I’m fine and perfectly healthy..I eat well and get exercise!” The denial stage as Adam pointed out! I feel like it’s unfair how minor my case is compared to some peoples. I haven’t experienced cramps and no pain at all….just BURNING! Like someone put a lighter to my butt! My family is so supportive but also worried because I didn’t take the orders of the doctor. The only symptoms that really freaked me out, was when I almost went blind a couple times. My vision went from 20/20, to 2/2. The blood and white crap in the toilet freaked me out too, as all you UC guys can relate to. I’ve felt my hearing go in and out as well….that’s been a really freaky experience. Ulcerative colitis has changed my life in a way that makes me wanna do my homework and beat it! It’s like a cool new challenge that God has given me and it’s not his first!. Seems as soon as you think everything is ok, it’s another step back and your faced with a new dilemma. I’m currently cutting my diet down to a bare min and eating eggs, banana and chicken only. I never thought I’d come to the point where I would have a sigh of relief when I could manage expelling solids out my rectum! Oh, what a feeling!
Currently I work in a print shop as a flatbed operator and I find the chemicals and junk in the air plays a role in my colitis. I get the dizzies….wish I worked outside or in a cleaner environment. Immunity is weak currently and I’m trying the new diet….it’s hard! I have all this stuff in the fridge I bought and I can’t eat it!!! AHHH!
Where I’d Like to be in 1 Year:
written by Trevor W
Starting seeing symptoms in 2007
