Intro:
I am a 26 year old English teacher in Brazil. I love running (when my symptoms let me), traveling, and spending time with my husband! I am originally from Seattle, Washington, moved to Spain after college for two years, and now have lived in Brazil for two years! I teach English to public school students who otherwise wouldn´t have English classes (through a state funded program).
Some more about me:
I love all things outdoors….but am terrified of riding the bus. Not just because Brazilian bus drivers are crazy, but because there are usually no toilets on public transportation. I play classical flute sometimes….and love listening to terrible music. Pop, rap….reggaeton.
Symptoms:
Bloody stools
Abdominal pain
Bloating
Frequent bathroom trips….especially in the morning
Weight loss
When Remicade, SCD, and Paleo don´t work…..and you have to go number two on the bus
i remember having abdominal pain and bloating long before my diagnosis, but I always attributed it to food sensitivities or stress.
In April 2011 I started to have severe abdominal pain and blood, and I knew something was wrong…I was living in Spain at the time working as an English Teaching Assistant, and luckily had a great insurance plan. After many tests and Dr.´s visits I was diagnosed with pancolitic UC. I started taking mesalazine (oral and enema) and prednisone. I was hospitalized for a week when these medications didn´t give the results that my Dr. hoped for. Once I was released from the hospital I continued the same protocol, and was fine for a couple months. I headed back to the USA for the summer, and as soon as I got there things got much worse. I lost 20 pounds, and was on 70 mg of prednisone. I started to vomit all my meds and wasn´t sleeping because of so many bathroom trips. I was hospitalized again and put on Azathioprine. When the inflamation got so bad that they were considering surgery we started with Remicade, and within a few days I was much better!
As soon as I got out of the hospital I was off to Brazil for a new life with my then fiancé (we met in Spain, and with the financial crisis in Europe decided to try our luck in his native country, Brazil).
I was OK for about a year, but in fall of 2012 things started getting worse again. For the past year I have been off and on prednisone, and struggling with pain and frequent bloody bowel movements.
I feel like the Remicade isn´t working, and all of these drugs are just being continued because my Dr.´s don´t know what else to give me.
I tried SCD for a few months, and when that seemed to yield no results I started the Paleo diet. When that seemed to make no difference I tried the Paleo Autoimmune Protocal….(basically grain free, egg free, no nightshades, and no legumes). Now, to eliminate more possible problems like SIBO I also have stopped eating starchy tubers, and high FODMAP foods.
I feel like I can´t eat anything and nothing is working!!!!
I really want to believe that there is a natural solution, but I am getting more and more discouraged (and skinny).
I am supplementing with amino acids, and fish oil, as well as a multi vitamin.
HELP ME!!!! What can I do when nothing seems to work???
How Not To Give Up Hope?
Medications / Supplements:
Taking: ASACOL, Remicade, Amino Acids, Fish Oil, Green Propylis, Aloe Vera
Discontinued: Azathioprine
written by Mika
submitted in the colitis venting area
I am a 26 year old English teacher in Brazil. I love running (when my symptoms let me), traveling, and spending time with my husband! I am originally from Seattle, Washington, moved to Spain after college for two years, and now have lived in Brazil for two years! I teach English to public school students who otherwise wouldn´t have English classes (through a state funded program).