Mr. S

Hi I’m a 48 year old male High school Teacher. I have 2 kids 12 and 15.I’ve been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis about 3 years ago. I go to the gym, run and cycle a little.

Medications:

Colazide ( generic name of: Balsalazide sodium )
I have been on Prednisone for a month about 2 months ago.

And Here’s My Story:

I am from Australia (Mediterranean Background, not sure if that has a bearing on UC).I was diagnosed early 2008 with moderate UC.(my symptoms were diarrhrea, no blood nor pain).I was put on Colozide (not sure what it’s called in other countries? colazal) This seemed to have an effect within a week. I has solid stool, but with allot of cramping for maybe 3 to 4 months then diarrhea again. I changed Gastroenterologists and this new guy was not convinced that it was ulcerative colitis from the images I gave him from my first colonoscopy. Anyway, he gave me antibiotics (no good), I was tested for lactose Intolerance(positive),Fructose (negative),Buscopan (no good).Persevered with colozide (no good) even increased the dose from 4 a day to six a day (no good), but manageable (only really had loose stools).However, things didn’t get any better and this year I started to have bloating, cramping, small amount of blood(I mean just spots in the stools and not always) and urgenc y. Had another colonoscopy, he found 2 ulcers. Got on Prednisone for a month (no effect), but frequency of stools slowed. During this period I went on SCD.
It’s been 2 months since I’ve been on the diet and about the same time I’ve been off presnedone.
I thought things were just turning around when last week I had pretty good stools (but a lot, and some dull pain) formed (Bristol scale 4), for 3 days straight. However I was disappointed again and more loose stools (frequency has been ok), no pain at all. But today I saw a small amount of blood in my stools (first time in 2.5 months). I’m at my wits end! How difficult is this damned disease to stop.
I am still persevering with the SCD. However I must admit I eat lots of honey (Raw or Manuka),Bananas (3 a day) and eggs. I steam all types of meats and try to eat fish as often as possible. I am taking probiotics and some vitamins like C, B and even calcium. I am thinking of ordering VSL #3 probiotics(super streghth).I will see gastro in about a 6 weeks.
PS. I did have a bout of Rheumatoid arthritis after a very emotional period in my life. This was a terrible illness, however this has been overcome (after 3 years) and I have not inflammation in my joints and have been symptom free for 4 years. However, It may have a relationship to my UC since both are considered Auto Immune. During that period of time I was salozapirine (My gastro told me he would have put me on that If I had gone to see him first off!).
So this is my story for close to 3 years. I’m hoping as I near 50, that my immune system will calm down. I fear the surgery option. So I’m persevering with alternative. I am going to see a naturopath and even consider Chinese medicine.

New Term: Bristol Scale: from wikipedia:

The Bristol Stool Scale or Bristol Stool Chart is a medical aid designed to classify the form of human faeces into seven categories. Sometimes referred to in the UK as the “Meyers Scale”, it was developed by Heaton at the University of Bristol and was first published in the Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology in 1997.[1] The form of the stool depends on the time it spends in the colon.

The seven types of stool are:

* Type 1: Separate hard lumps, like nuts (hard to pass)
* Type 2: Sausage-shaped, but lumpy
* Type 3: Like a sausage but with cracks on its surface
* Type 4: Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft
* Type 5: Soft blobs with clear cut edges (passed easily)
* Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool
* Type 7: Watery, no solid pieces. Entirely liquid