I am a 21 year old male who had been suffering severely with UC since 2009. I am on the brink of having surgery but I’m having great difficulty in making a decision.
Hobbies: Taking a crap multiple times a day, taking medicine, sleeping, eating A LOT… If you count these as hobbies :)
All of the UC symptoms and much more…
Should I Have Surgery or Not?
Hi, I’m a 21 year old with severe UC for 6 years now. It’s been a very stressful and painful journey since my diagnosis. I have been hospitalized countless times with flare-ups and I have been really sick. Basically Ulcerative colitis has eaten away the past 6 years of my life. I have spent the past 6 years at home, in clinics n and out and hospitals constantly. The past 6 years have revolved solely around my illness.
I haven’t been to school in years, I have never worked, drove a car or did anything a teenager has done. I was 15 when I was diagnosed, and now I’m 21, and I’ve spent the past 6 years at home in pain. I have no life. I’m defined by UC. I’ve been on so much medication throughout my disease course.
I have never stopped taking prednisone since my diagnosis.
My doctors told me to have surgery multiple times but I refused. I have pretty much taken every medicine out there for IBD and none worked exce pt for prednisone, plus I have developed reactions to the other drugs, even the so called “safe” drugs. As a last resort, I have turned to Naturopathy. I have seen some improvements taking the natural supplements and modifying my diet, but I’m worried that delaying my surgery is putting me at risk for complications. plus my parents have never supported me having surgery and they still don’t. I’m stuck I can’t make a decision. I want to have surgery, but I also want to stick with naturopathy and still have a colon. Because once I remove my colon there is no going back. And plus there is an odd chance after removing the colon I could have Crohn’s.
So should I stick with Naturopathy, or pull the plug and have surgery.
Please offer some advice and suggestions. I would like to hear from anyone in the same situation as me.
written by Mohammed
submitted in the colitis venting area
Mohammed is 18 years old who was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in November of 2009. He enjoys playing hockey, video games and the piano. He also likes to read.
