FIRST OFF, for any newcomers to the site, I would like to apologize for the introduction you’re getting to iHaveUC, you’re gonna see a whole bunch of crazy stories on this site for sure, and I’m hoping you won’t see another like this from me for another 3-4 years.
But for all you old-timers (Shelly, Peter and Bev) yes you are most definitely three of them), I decided to move forward with the colonoscopy that’s happening tomorrow morning. Well, depending on when you all see this, Friday at 10:00 am I’m going to be getting violated by a pretty incredible GI doctor in downtown Oakland, California-home of many a famous Rap stars in-case anybody’s wondering. I’m coming up on my 4 year anniversary of my original diagnosis with UC, and for a while I’ve felt it’s time to get a good look inside. Maybe you have felt the same way if you’re a few years into your UC deal.
And maybe, if you’re at all like me, you too have had some crazy flashbacks before your second colonoscopy. Anyone, anyone?? It’s pretty crazy to be thinking to myself, “Holy FRIGGIN TOLEDO, its been FOUR YEARS already???”
But it’s true.
Four years ago almost to the day, I was sitting in a different apartment, drinking up the goupy colonoscopy prep, and not sure what in the heck was going to happen. I definitely did not think I was living with UC. And I was still thinking whatever the strange “GASTRO” doctor was going to do the next morning, was not going to be any MAJOR news. Did you feel that way too about your first colonscopy?
“Oldtimers, were you thinking you had some ulcers or hemorrhoids only???”
Well that was me in 2008. I didn’t know what it was exactly, but the blood flying out of my butt, and the cramps and everything else surely wasn’t “RIGHT”…
Yeah, you know what I mean now. (oldtimers and new-comers)
Something was dead wrong. And sure enough, my scope proved it. Inflammation all the way around the horn. It was a full on battlefield in there. I know many of you who have written your stories here have the exact same story. What a crazy thing to have in common UC’ers.
Severe Ulcerative Colitis Up and Down. Pancolitis if you want to call it that, not the best news.
Those pictures were pretty depressing to look at once I was not high from the medications, again, maybe you all felt similar after your first butt violation.
Alright, let’s change some gears. Let’s downshift, and sit back in the seat.
Flash forward a quick 4 years and 3 different apartments. And BAMMMMMM! Here I am. Trying to get this post written before I need to run off to “I think” my last or second to last toilet visit of the night before sleeping it all off and getting up for my second colonoscopy. I’ve come a long way. I didn’t know much about UC 4 years ago, heck, I didn’t know a single thing. I think I was searching for it on Google like this “colitus”. You might have done the same. And that’s fine. We aren’t supposed to know everything about UC when we’re diagnosed.
But come 4 years later, times be a changing. The medicine cabinet has been empty for a few years now, and I’m not running around like a crazy guy anymore (ok, Michaela probably would disagree with that comment, but you all know what I mean). I’ve learned a ton, and I hope you have too if you’re 4 years deep with a UC diagnosis under your belt. My out of control severe UC is under control. My days of living in the bathrooms at home and work and squirting blood all over the toilets are over. No more wondering how on earth I could pay 6 bucks for a burrito and then poop the whole thing out twenty minutes later.(Seriously, I used to get pissed at the Mexican restaurants when that happened, I thought they simply had some bad fillings in the burritos which made me do that, no joke) Things are different now. I started having flashbacks yesterday, and tonight when I was getting ready to drink the colonscopy prep for the first time(you’ll see this in the video below), thoughts and memories from 4 years ago hit me upside the face. It was scary back then. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing 4 years ago. I’m no doctor. Nor did I go to medical school, but after that first year post diagnosis, it kinda felt like I graduated from a couple of them.
I’d like to thank everyone who participates on the site, especially the old-timers who have guided the site to where it is today. And, for all you new-comers here, you’re all welcomed. Especially the folks who are from far off countries! (I’m still hoping to read a UC story from someone in Chile, or Tanzania someday.)
Yes, I did start the site, and yes I do read and post up every single story that you can read here (well over 1000 now if you can believe that)…BUT you are what keeps me and the website going. If I had to list out all that I’ve learned about UC, from your emails, your letters, your stories, come on, that would be a massively long list that might bore some of you to death. And who wants to read all that poop talk right:)
This whole colitis thing doesn’t have to be scary. Life for darn sure doesn’t end with a UC diagnosis. Did you see the camping videos I shot a few weeks ago. Tell me that don’t look like the best time ever right, well at least for those who don’t mind getting a bit dirty right?
So hang in there if you’re struggling, or if you have a family member who is in the middle of tuffy times. The “hell” of UC doesn’t go on forever. I’ve got some pretty high hopes for whatever is going to happen tomorrow (and I’m for sure expecting my GI to tell me to get on at least some maintenance drug), but even if he says I have some strange tumor or god forbid some crazy colon cancer, life for sure is only gonna get better. My wife and I got some big plans for the future and they’re just getting started.
I hope it’s the same for you,
-Adam Scheuer
A little movie below that I shot earlier tonight. Before you know what started happening in the zachod. (Czech for poop room)
I started site shortly after being diagnosed in October of 2008 with severe pancolitis (when my whole colon was inflamed).
For me, it was a very rough start with severe symptoms. Getting bounced from medication to medication was not easy or too helpful. But, I did meet another UC’er, changes several parts of my diet, and of course the rest is history.
Leave a comment, ask a question, take advantage of our past experiences here, use the search boxes, they are your friends to0:)
I’ve written 2 different ulcerative colitis ebooks, you can check them out here.
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