Introduction:
Hi, I am a 52 year old female, divorced with three grown children. My daughter still lives with me as she has Charcot Marie Tooth and requires regular care and assistance throughout the day. I completed a teaching degree in 2004 and began what I thought was going to be lucrative teaching career. Unbeknownst to me, UC had other ideas. I have to say though, I have recently acknowledged that I have never handled stress well. My heart beats fast, I stay awake at night, I feel turbulent and think the world is against me. Luckily now older and wiser, things don’t bother me so much and I have learned to protect myself. I have also acquired a quick sense of humour and spend my time laughing instead of crying. I used to feel very hard done by, misunderstood and crappy about myself. However, now that I have Ulcerative Colitis things are looking up. I jest!!!! I do think it’s karma that I have this embarrassing disease and I am laughing as I write this. All my 5 siblings have bowel problems but I copped the mother load. Lol. That’s what you get for being the eldest!
My Symptoms:
Currently, not working except for caring for my disabled daughter fulltime. Much more relaxed but still have to watch what I eat like a hawke. Usually have to make a bee line for loo 30 mins after eating or drinking. Diarrheoa, blood and whatever died back there are a constant in my life. Have decided to remove my profile from the singles website. I cannot lie or sleep on my left side at all as this will necessitate a leap in one bound from the bed, forget the slippers, just get to the bathroom! I spend quite alot of time in the bathroom at night and have gotten through several books lately as I have found it breaks the boredom and as I am waiting for the contractions to subside I massage my abdomen to achieve the best evacuation results. I think that’s the right word.
My Story:
I began having symptoms in 2007 when I started work at a new job. The unethical nature of the business bothered me so much I couldn’t sleep, my stress levels soared and I left after 6 months. My symptoms disappeared to the point that when I finally had my appt with the gastro doc I felt like a fraud. I started relief teaching at primary schools and contracted chicken pox, which I had had when I was 8 yrs old. Then I won a perm. teaching job 2 months later. Three wks into that my symptoms returned, clearly triggered by stress. You don’t want to teach with UC. I had stomach pain all day. Then for some reason, as soon as the last student had left the building I would have to surreptitiously gallop toward the only loo in the school, way down yonder. Sometimes I didn’t make it and resorted to keeping a change of clothing and wet wipes in my vehicle. I ate very little until teatime so that my stampedes to the loo at the far end of the school were minimized. Finally had colonoscopy. Diagnosed UC. Put on Pentasa and Prednisone. Then tried Azithioprine for 18 mths at which point my symptoms were pretty bad so learned to inject myself in the abdomen with methotrexate which helped for a time. While on the Methotrexate my arthritis symptoms disappeared but the UC was untouched. Had a crappy Christmas while doc and specialist were on holiday. Am still on Pentasa and have Infliximab infusions 2 monthly. Prednisone is a quik fix and you feel great but it stopped me from sleeping. Plays havoc with yr adrenal system when coming off so I don’t want any more of that unless I’m dying and then what will be the point?
Where I’d like to be in 1 year:
Well, It’s not really looking like I will find that funny forgiving man to spend the rest of my life with so let me think – I currently have my house on the market to pay my debts so I am looking at a new adventure that may include a different town where the cost of living may be a little less. I would like to be able to hold down a part time job, enjoy my friends and family, take control of my life so that UC is not controlling me. I dabble in acrylic painting. I would like to spend more time with that as it relaxes me and I would love to travel to Italy for inspiration or the south of France. I doubt that will be in my 1 year plan but I hope to reach that goal as soon as.
Colitis Medications:
Infliximab seems to have done some good. The recent colonoscopy showed that at least half of my bowel is now looking normal. Back in 2008, my diagnosis was pan colitis, the bowel 100 percent affected.
We all know that sometimes Prednisone is a necessary evil but it masks symptoms and really is not good for you in the long term.
submitted in the colitis venting area
Hi, I am a 52 year old female, divorced with three grown children. My daughter still lives with me as she has Charcot Marie Tooth and requires regular care and assistance throughout the day. I completed a teaching degree in 2004 and began what I thought was going to be lucrative teaching career.
