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Where Did My Ulcerative Colitis Go?

bev colitis canada accutaneIntroduction:

I’m Bev…I’m a 48 year old gal…I live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada…I was diagnosed with proctitis in 1999, then UC a few years later…now, I apparently have pancolitis (total colon involvement). I have had this disease for 13 years.

Symptoms:

None…I can’t believe it!!

I was diagnosed in 1999, after four courses of the acne drug ACCUTANE, so, yes, I believe my UC is drug induced.

Back then, there were no warnings in the drug info and my doctor said nothing of possible gastro side effects. The disease has steadily spread throughout my colon over the last 13 years, after taking the odd antibiotic over those years, for infections. The last time was AVELOX, for pneumonia, two Christmases ago. My colon has been totally screwed ever since.

I started out on just 6 asacol daily, and proctofoam, and that worked successfully the first time. The next couple of flares required a higher dosage of asacol, and asacol enemas. That all worked. This last flare, which has lasted over a year and a half…well, nothing has worked, I am a very ‘bad’ patient, as I refuse to take steroids (prednisone), immune suppressors (imuran, humira, etc), or remicade. No way am I putting ANY of those drugs in my already drug ruined body. Are the doctors kidding me? NO WAY. I tried upping my asacol to 12 per day, and use the asacol enemas, but to no avail. I was just pooping water and blood, and having terrible pain while doing that, and all the rest of the day as well.

Okay, so I decided to try something natural, finally. Anything natural that would work. I began taking a strong probiotic, along with the 12 stupid asacol, that seemed to be doing absolutely nothing (but, the docs scare you, and tell you that you MUST stay on them forever, for maintenance of remission, which I dutifully have, for 13 years). Anyway, It took a few days on the probiotic, but first, the pain went away. Then, the blood started disappearing. A month in, and after adding 6 acidopholous per day (another probiotic that was in the fridge, because my husband always takes it), I decide to taper the asacol off. Diown to 8, then 6, then 4, then 2…now none…yep, NONE!!! This morning, after three days of pooping pretty firm…I had one of those EPIC craps!!

You know…the ones that come out

the way that Dr Oz, and Oprah

said they were supposed to?!?

I cried with joy. I haven’t seen that in over two years! I know, it’s pretty sad how excited we UC sufferers get whe n something like that occurs…whoopee!!

I know it’s early days…and I know that I am getting very excited very soon, but I can’t help it! There is no urgency, no pain, no blood….just plain old fashioned normal poop goodness!

Now, tell me, why did this happen to me? Why am I on no meds for almost a week now? Could it be that there are different causes of UC, and mine was purely and simply drug induced? All those antibiotics killed my good bacteria? Why did none tell me that I maybe had options other than harsh, body destroying drugs?

I will keep everyone posted. I am taking one 50 billion critical care probiotic capsule at bedtime, and 6 acidopholous capsules, two three times a day, about a half hour before meals…oh, and one banana every day…I don’t know why I mention that. either than it seems to help me. I’ve heard this is not the case for everyone. Other than that, I am doing absolutely nothing different. I’m eating whatever…I don’t follow any specific diet…never have.

Lastly, I am not telling anybody to stop their meds. That is up to everyone individually. I’m just saying that I did. I was tired of taking them, and not feeling any better. I was even considering surgery, because I would rather that, than any more drugs. How drastic, that that has to be one of our choices…

Cheers,
Bev:)

 

Has anyone else done this…gotten entirely off the meds? Has it lasted? I am so afraid that it won’t last. I mean, how could it be this easy? Why did this work? Will it last?

 

Where I’d Like to Be in 1 Year:


Right where I am right now!!! Please!!!

 

Colitis Medications:

Was on Asacol, in different dosages over the past 13 years. Worked at first, but slowly didn’t.

Tried Asacol enemas off and on. Worked for a couple of flares, and then, didn’t.

Refused any other meds like imuran, prednisone, and remicade (probably because of what drugs have done to me…antibiotics are the enemy

written by Bev

submitted in the Colitis Venting Area