Christine
Hi! My name is Christine,I was born in Montreal and now live in Byron Bay Australia.I’m 43 and i’ve had UC for about 20 years.
My Colitis Story:
The first 10 years of colitis were awful I was in denial. Going from one specialist to another. Getting colonoscopy. And given Salazopyrin, Asacol, Prednisone, and Imuran. They all masked my symptoms but didn’t really help me. I just couldn’t accept that I was sick. Often very anemic but very good at pretending all was good! Then at 30 I changed my life-style. Moved to a small alternative town in Australia. I had 2 children and stopped all medication. (was previously followed by a very well known gastro in Sydney: Dr. Tom Borody) I started seeing a naturopath, and homeopath. I felt amazing during both pregnancies and while breastfeeding. Totally free of symptoms,until the next flare up re-occurred…I was devastated.
Now for the last 5 years, I get 1 flare up a year which has brought me twice to Hospital for 10 days in a bad state.
Flare ups always occur around the same time;November! Most of the time,i think it’s related to stress pre-X mas. I am very busy;teaching yoga,running a surf shop and taking care of 2 children. I seem to notice that whenever I travel,a week or so before I get a bit of a flare up…(anxiety of traveling?)I can control small flare ups with all my supplements. But the last 3 years in November,it hits me hard and I have to resort to medication ,which I hate. I am now on Entocort ,expensive,but less side effects then prednisone.Does it work? Who knows…2009,it helped me, 2010 it didn’t. Now i’m trying again,hopefully just to take the edge off! Finally getting a colonoscopy in January with DR Geoffrey Francis,whom I found on your site (thank you!!) It’s been 14 years,and I hate the hospital, I am traumatized by specialists insisting on giving medication and putting fear factor in your life. But I know I’m well overdue. I’ve been meditating,and getting once a week massage. It help with stress and I’m also seeing this fantastic kinesiologist! She’s helping me emotionnaly, I think there is a lot of suppression with UC and Crohn’s sufferers. I’ve just discovered this site; Adam you make me crackup!! I ‘ve checking the 2 diets mentionned (SCD and GAPS) Seems to be all meat ,I’m not vegetarian but can’t digest red meat. I have fish and chicken. But do prefer a vegetarian diet. I ‘ve been Gluten free for 2 years,and it has really helped. The 2 diets scares me…Also 2 kids and a husband who loves his food makes it harder to follow a strict diet. I’m interested in trying the vitamin E enema, but can’t find the necessary material at the chemist to do it. I’m really looking into anything alternative…. I hate that I have to resort to Entocort,but when the bleeding in the toilet and frequency to go gets worst everyday, what do you do?
Has anyone been on Entocort ?
I really love reading all the blogs on the site. It’s weird when I’m healthy,i feel like i finally got rid of this horrible thing. When I’m well ,I’m really healty. I run, I eat everything(except gluten!) I drink coffee,i drink wine. And i forget for months and months that the colitis lies dormant in the depth of my colon….till the day it shows it’s evil head and makes me bleed and cramp. Then ,everything else means nothing. It takes over my life. I’m grumpy and introverted.
I want my health back!!!!!!
written by Christine
Submitted in the Colitis Venting Area
Hi! My name is Christine,I was born in Montreal and now live in Byron Bay Australia.I’m 43 and i’ve had UC for about 20 years.
