Introduction:
I am 27 years old and was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis on July 24, 2012. I live in Texas and enjoy watching movies, reading, and spending time with my family.
My Colitis Symptoms:
I am currently having to use the bathroom 4-7 times a day and have blood in my stool. I am also experiencing stomach cramps and pains.
My Story:
I began experiencing symptoms of UC on July 19, 2012. After a week of symptoms I went to a doctor who told me it was most likely a stomach virus and to come back in 4 days if it wasn’t better. 3 days later I scheduled another appointment and they began running tests for parasites, etc. I had two separate doctors run those same tests twice over a 2-3 week period and prescribe me two separate antibiotics before I lost my patience and scheduled an appointment with a GI. After my first appointment he quickly scheduled me for a colonoscopy. After that is when he told me I had UC. He put me on a decreasing dose of Prednisone starting at 40 mg and told me the symptoms should clear up in about 48 hours. I am now down to 30 mg, a week and a half later, and the symptoms have NOT cleared up. I do feel like I have a little more energy and I can get up and move around a little more without feeling like I have to immediately run to the bathroom, which is an improvement over how I felt before. However, I am still having to use the bathroom 4-7 times a day (most often 7), I still have blood in my stool, and I am still continuing to lose weight. Before getting sick, my standard weight was around 125-130, and now I am down to 109. Also, the Prednisone is giving me night sweats like crazy, sore and achy body, and I have to wake up to go pee during the night like once an hour (not sure if that last one is from the Prednisone but it’s happening nevertheless). I tried calling my doctor almost every day this past week to ask if there’s anything else I can do before my follow up appointment (next week) and I haven’t heard back. Ideally all the symptoms will clear up, but at this point I’m really scared about the weight loss. My fiance is being really great and supportive and has done a lot of research for me on different supplements and diets to try. For the past couple of days I have been eating lactose-free pr obiotic smoothies, protein shakes, white rice with olive oil, probiotic yogurt, and bananas. I have also been taking Vitamin D, E, B complex, and calcium. I feel like this diet may be helping with the stomach cramps, but I’m not sure because it also may be the fact that now whenever I experience persistent stomach cramps I go straight to the bathroom. After having numerous accidents at home and one at work, I am at the point where I’m no longer trying to hold it. I guess at this point I’m just frustrated because I don’t know what to do. I really want to get this under control, I’m tired of thinking about it all the time. Because I haven’t had my follow-up appointment yet I’m feeling really lost about UC and what I can do. Sometimes I feel like I’m being whiny because I know that my case isn’t as severe as others, but I’m just so frustrated. I want to stop going to the bathroom and I want my weight back! I’m also wonderin g what the next step will be since the Prednisone doesn’t seem to be working.
Where I’d like to be in 1 year:
In 1 year I’d like to be in remission and not thinking about UC all the time.
Colitis Medications I’m Trying:
I’m currently on Prednisone, but I don’t think it’s working.
written by Lexie
submitted in the colitis venting area
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I am 27 years old and was diagnosed with UC on July 24, 2012. I live in Texas and enjoy watching movies, reading, and spending time with my family.
