Intro:
My name is Annie, I am now 22 and was diagnosed with colitis 7 years ago at the age of 16. The G.I’s I have seen go between calling it ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis. I had very typical symptoms and flares up until 6 months ago or so. I’ve reached my wit’s end with this on-going 6 month battle, I would love some opinions, help, advice, anything!
My Colitis Story:
I spent seven years fighting the typical up-and-down U.C. battle that I’m sure you all know about. I was living life symptom-free for the most part. When it had been about 6 months or so and I would even begin to forget I had Colitis, I would get another terrible flare. As bad as it would get during the flare, it would eventually settle down with medication and what-not, and I would go back to normal. I felt as if it was under control. As in-contol as colitis can be I guess.
Six or seven months ago, I was nearing the end of my second pregnancy when I started getting yet another terrible flare-up. I figured it was simply because of the pregnancy (which also caused a flare after my first pregnancy) and decided to wait it out until after my daughter was born. About 2 months into “waiting it out,” I spent most of my days and nights kneeled over in pain, and was having terribly bloody diarrhea about 15-20 times in a 24-hr period. I was hospitalized 38 weeks into my pregnancy and had my labor induced so they could begin to treat the colitis.
Almost 7 months have gone by, and I wish I could say I was doing any better. I took prednisone for 3 months or so, the usual 60mg till I taper all the way down. This has worked in the past but this time seemed so different. Not only did the Prednisone not work at all, I now have all these other issues. I have terrible joint pain, sometime so severe it is very difficult for me to walk or hold my kids. Also, twice I have had episodes where I get incredibly painful sharp pain in my stomach which does not go away. This lasts about 3-4 days, and the only thing that makes it feel just a little better is when I finally get so nauseous that I throw up. When I go through this, I have extremely watery diarrhea and throw up at over 5 times a day… I have gotten over this for the second time, and now am just dealing with the 15-20 bloody diarrhea episodes per day that I had in the beginning.
I am starting to lose hope that I will ever get better, and honestly this just seems like something much worst, almost like maybe it isn’t U.C., or something else on top of it. Some type of food allergy? My immune system completely out of whack? Or maybe could I be getting infection after infection through my colon since it is so damaged? I would love any feedback… This is taking such a toll on me, and I can’t stand not being able to spend much quality time with my children or husband because of all this. As much as I thought my “old” colitis of over a year ago was bad, now I would do almost anything to have that back instead of this! For goodness’ sake, I am only 22 years old, and have always tried to lead as healthy a lifestyle as my situation allowed! Why?!?!?!
Thank you for anyone who took the time to read this. Even if no one has any answers or advice, It was somewhat therapeutic to do some good old-fashioned venting!
–Medications Details:
I have taken prednisone twice now for flares, used to take colazal in the past and now take asacol.
Annie’s story is now entered into the 2011 Ulcerative Colitis Writing Contest!!!
You Can Join too, click here for details
