Meet Rosanne:
57 year old female. Diagnosed in 1982 at 27 years old. Hospitalized 2 times 1983 and May of this year 2012. Have 3 children. Current meds 20 mg prednisone, .375 Apriso (4/day), Mercaptopurine-6MP (3day/2day/2day/3day cycle). On Atenolol for a rapid heart beat I have had since in my teens…put on it about 4 years ago because doctors just brushed it off. A few years back told I have sliding hiatal hernia with schazki’s rings. No heart burn or typical hh symptoms. Was also checked for gallbladder but they said no issues with it after a ultra sound scan.
Colitis Symptoms:
Knock on wood…don’t want to jinx myself…but doing well. 2 visits to the throne a day. Big change from February-May 10 of this year when it could have been 20! Yesterday I had an EGD (scope from the mouth to my stomach) and they told me I have gastritis. Cannot find a connection between UC and gastritis. Checking for H.Pylori. In the past 8 months or so have had episodes where I had a severe chest pain attack…like a knife going through to my back.
Rosanne’s UC Story:
Curious to know if anyone else has gastritis and UC.
Over the past 30 years I have been really good or really sick. Fortunately only hospitalized 2 times….30 years apart. Not bad. Also…I have only lost 1 day of work in those years and that was in May. I raised 3 children. My symptoms started in my 2nd pregnancy but they told me it was hemorrhoids. 8 months later, I finally went to the best GI in Western PA. I am still seeing him. He told me a few months ago very, very few of his patients have had surgery. When I was pregnant with my 3rd child, all my symptoms vanished. I do not remember when they came back after that but it is a constant up and down with me. One thing…when I get stressed over things that happen that I cannot change is when I flare enough to get stressed and then flare. February is the worst and I can pinpoint the day and time of the issue. It was downhill from that moment. Finally ended up in hospital. Although I had acute stomach pain just above my belly button and it radiated down my right side. Thought it was appendicitis. They did a scan…said it was UC flare. Then they isolated me…thought I ‘might’ have c-diff. Fortunately that came back negative. Was on IV of potassium and 80 mg prednisone/day. Stayed 4 days. The stay was very relaxing and healing for me. Got back home and within a few days was doing well. I was seen by 2 docs in my GI’s practice but not my doctor. My doctor isn’t sure my pain that sent me to ER was UC related as UC usually isn’t acute pain.
Soooo… As I said I get these chest pains…could it be hiatal hernia? Read on Wikipedia that they can cause angina like pains. GI isn’t so sure. Now I have this gastritis hanging over me. Saw online that gastritis can be auto-immune…as is UC. It is like my body’s army is attacking me from all sides!
Where I’d Like to be in 1 year:
Hopefully my symptoms of UC will be just as they are now…quiet. It takes the people around me to keep things in perspective and calm to help me stay this way. They generally don’t understand that though. Pray that all is status quo and we find out this gastritis thing. Also…it would be great to lose about 30 lbs. Some is prednisone related I know…but my weight keeps going up and up.
Colitis Medications I’ve Tried/Trying:
The least productive & expensive med is Rowasa enemas! When you are in a flare they are just a waste…put them in and flush them down the toilet 10 minutes later! The best med I have been on is 6MP aka Mercaptopurine. If you are on it, be sure to get your bloodwork down on schedule. THAT is important.
written by Rosanne
submitted in the colitis venting area
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I have had UC for over 31 years now. About 6 years ago I had what is called a CRVO (Central Retinal Vein Occlusion) It is when there is veins in your eye that leak and cause visual problems.
