Meet Joe:
I have lived with Ulcerative Colitis for almost 18 years now, and I the past two months have been the most positively interesting part of my journey.
Some more about me:
I’m from New England, but I hate the snow. However, I would hate to leave!
Current Colitis Symptoms:
None
Remission after Many Years of Active Colitis
As a teenager I showed symptoms of colitis, originally my doctor said we would “wait it out” and see what happens. Yet to be diagnosed and feeling lousy, I told my doctor I’ve waited long enough, so he sent me to a pediatric gastroenterologist. Finally diagnosed, I was put on prednisone (moon face and even more acne in high school, was awesome). Once I reached a good point, I then was put on Sulfasalazine, and figured I would be medicated for the rest of my life.
As I got older and switched a pediatric to a regular gastro, I was still on Sulfer and got up to eight pills a day. At this point the doctor had me try Lialda. Now my colitis symptoms seemed to vary from moderate to bad to a “flare up”. I came to accept the moderate colitis symptoms, like minimal cramping and loose bowels as “normal” for me and I didn’t expect to live any other way.
After my most recent flare, I was once again put on prednisone. I asked the doctor if we could try something different, so we prepared to change over to Humira once I was done with the prednisone. He also said to stop taking the Lialda while on the prednisone, something I had never been told when I had previous flare ups.
As a result of trying to switch to new medication, I needed to get blood drawn. I had been through having blood taken before, but this time was different. This time, I passed out. They determined I was anemic, and put me on an iron supplement. I started feeling better. I noticed that my typical day with moderate colitis symptoms was turning into a day without any. I weaned myself off the of the prednisone like many times before, and was left taking one pill a day, the iron supplement.
I was on a cocktail of colitis medications for the past 17 years and the past two months without any have been the best two months in my battle with this disease.
I knew I needed to write this for a few reasons:
UC’ers need to know that even after 17 years battling, it is possible to find remission.
Doctors may not always have the right solution for you, when I told my doctor about dropping the Lialda and only taking iron, he said that some medications side effects can mimic the symptoms of colitis. Why you would put a colitis patient on a medication that has that result, I do not know.
What I do know is that I am happy and confident and feel as though I am starting my life over.
Happy 2013 everyone!
written by Joe
submitted in the colitis venting area
I have lived with Ulcerative Colitis for almost 18 years now, and I the past two months have been the most positively interesting part of my journey.
