Meet Kris:
I’m 24 and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in August 2012. I included more detail below but essentially I have been struggling emotionally to cope since my diagnosis.
Some more about me:
I enjoy playing, coaching and umpiring netball and love spending time with friends. I also enjoy cooking.
Symptoms:
Currently have abdominal pain, which varies in severity day to day with no apparent triggers. Other symptoms have settled since starting Remicade.
My UC Story:
I was diagnosed in August this year after spending 2 weeks in hospital with symptoms. I was being treated with antibiotics for suspected gastro and as you can imagine that wasn’t helping. After telling my medical team “I’m not getting any better” several times and getting no where I had a bit of breakdown and they finally decided to do a colonoscopy and hey what do you know I have UC! Then I spent the next 2 weeks in hospital while they fiddled with my medications. I was getting worse and continued to have people say “it will take time, you will be fine”. I knew this was not right so again I cracked it and they did a second scope and found I wasn’t getting better (but hey what the hell would I know it’s only my body). I started Remicade and 3 days later my symptoms had calmed down enough for me to go home.
I had generalized anxiety and depression prior to UC and that has just become more intense since my diagnosis. Especially considering that my family are not coping at all. I can’t tell then when I feel bad because they don’t know how to react and I have had several fights with my dad because apparently the amount of medications I take is “ridiculous”. I now take them in my room in private so as not to rock the boat.
I spend over $500 per month in medical expenses not including the time off work for appointments and treatment. I’m lucky they kept my job open for me for so long.
I also gained an insane amount of weight since leaving hospital due to prednisone, which I’m finally off now.
I’m slowly starting to come to an acceptance about my UC but it’s been a bit of a struggle.
Medications:
Mesavant
Imuran
Remicade
Vitamin D
Vitamin B6
Iron infusion in August
written by Kris
submitted in the colitis venting area
I’m 24 and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in august 2012
