Introduction:
My name is Katrina but you can call me Kat :)
I’m 24 and was officially diagnosed with UC two years ago; but have had it for three.
I’m still a little lost.
Some more about me:
I am an avid fan of music; live shows are my all time favourite thing. If it’s a boy band I probably love them. I try to keep a good sense of humour; life is too short not to smile every day :)
Symptoms:
- Frequent urgency
- Blood in my poop
- Sometimes mucus
- Cramps
- Fatigue
- Frequent trips to the washroom
All the fun things!
My Story:
I first noticed something was wrong three years ago while I was living with my dad. I noticed that there was some blood in my stool but didn’t think too much of it at first. I was under a lot of stress at the time with family issues, school, work etc and thought it was some sort of laceration or something.
After six months; I started noticing more blood and that it was clotting so I made an appointment with my doctor. He referred me to a Gastroenterologist closer to where I live and after undergoing a colonoscopy I was diagnosed with UC. I had absolutely no idea what on earth Ulcerative Colitis was and what it meant for me now that I had it. All my doctor kept telling me was that it was incurable and that it wasn’t brought on by stress or bad eating habits.
I was put on asacol and it helped keep my flares down for quite some time. It wasn’t until my second year of college that I really became affected by my UC. I was going to the bathroom 3-5 times a day and had major cramping. It became really disruptive having to leave the classroom multiple times to go to the washroom. Not to mention, waking up constantly during the night with cramps and having to go to the washroom. I went back into see my GI and he prescribed me a higher dose of Asacol and sent me on my way. It helped for a little while but as of recently; my symptoms have returned.
I’m no longer covered insurance wise under my mom’s health insurance and can no longer afford my medication on my own. So my GI put me in a study for this new drug that is supposed to help. They say it is like Asacol but a much higher dose, so it travels down to the bottom part of the colon better. So far it’s been slow going, my symptoms will be present one day and gone the next. However, I am noticing a slight improvement.
I’m concerned because I feel like I’m not going to get better. I’m just going to live my life in fear of having an accident. I’m emotionally drained and am still struggling to understand exactly what is happening to me and why I can’t seem to get better.
I feel so embarrassed all the time whenever I have to explain to my friends or my co-workers what it is I have. I mean who really wants to hear about other people’s poops?
I just want to understand better what is happening and find a way to feel better. Any kind of advice or words of wisdom will help. I know no one else who has this, so I feel really alone. My mom is trying her best to understand what I’m going through but sometimes she feels like I’m being over dramatic about it; when really I’m in a lot of pain.
Medications / Supplements:
I’ve done Asacol. It was working for me quite well but now that I’m over 18 and no longer in school; my mothers health insurance doesn’t cover me.
As I mentioned above; I was put into a “study” for a drug that is supposed to be similar to Asacol but a much higher dose. It is supposedly supposed to dissolve faster and travel farther down into the colon. It is taking a little bit longer to take affect then the doctor would like; so depending how my next colonoscopy comes out, I may have to try suppositories.
written by Katrina
submitted in the colitis venting area
I’m 24 and was officially diagnosed with UC two years ago; but have had it for three.
