I was diagnosed with UC at age 17 by colonoscopy and am now 38. Living with this disease has been a struggle and I’m thankful to have found this group. I work full time in the healthcare industry, and have a wonderful husband and five children.
Some more about Dana:
I live in North Carolina, USA, with my family and love to spend time at the beach “(Very therapeutic for my disease). I like to walk too.
Current Colitis Symptoms:
My current symptoms are joint pain, bloody stool, frequent bowel movements, some cramping, nausea and insomnia due to the lack of sleep (Which has also caused some depression)
Dana’s Story
I cannot seem to kick this flare that I have had for the past 2 years.
Yes two years!
I have been on several medications.
I am starting to feel hopeless.
I have missed a tremendous time off from work being sick.
I was hospitalized in Oct 2015 for a couple of days, and seemed to get better from the steroids and then of course it came back. They put me on remicade and when I went in for my second dose, I had a terrible reaction. I almost passed out. I have changed Dr’s since and my new Dr has prescribed me mercaptopurine (Chemo) I have not taken it yet, as I am very fearful. The word chemo scares me. Has anyone ever taken this? Will I lose my hair? I have a Drs appt next week, and will ask him. I didn’t know this was chemo when he prescribed it, so I didn’t know know to ask.
Any help is appreciated.
I would also like advice on what anyone else does for the joint pain?(Join Pain Survey – Click Here)
Taking tylenol and motrin just doesn’t cut it.
I am 38 years old and feel like I am 80 years old at times.
It’s hard living with these symptoms and feeling sick all the time.
I feel bad complaining all the time to my husband, although he is very good to me and helps me.
A lot of times, I suffer in silence and cry myself to sleep. I am not looking for sympathy, but like minded people going through the same thing. The prednisone keeps me awake, and the whole idea of him prescribing me the chemo is to wean me off of the prednisone, but I just can’t bring myself to take that drug. I am thankful for this site and hope to make friends that are going through the same thing.
Thanks so much for listening.
Medications Tried:
Things tried in the past: remicade as I described I had a terrible reaction at the infusion center(Remicade details within the side effects database – click here). I am currently taking Prednisone 40 mg, Lialda and cipro.
written by Dana
submitted in the colitis venting area
My name is, Dana. I was diagnosed with UC at age 17 by colonoscopy and am now 38. Living with this disease has been a struggle and I’m thankful to have found this group.
