Introduction:
I’m a 28 year old history teacher at the local community college. I was diagnosed with UC during my first year of grad school. UC + massive amounts of stress + being away from home for the first time = a very bad time!
Some more about me:
I love to read – history, mystery, fiction (even some science fiction), it’s all good;My two most favorite cities in the world are Boston and New York City – I would love to live in either place one day;
My Symptoms:
Severe Diarrhea
Severe Abdominal Pain
Gas (LOTS of gas – sooo embarrassing!)
My Colitis Story:
I’ve had UC for about 5 years now. After I got my initial dose of Asacol after my first colonoscopy I didn’t really have flares. I considered myself lucky. Then, this last October (2012) I felt like I was having my first flare, but it seemed particularly heinous. My doctor had me tested for c. diff and (surprise!) the test came back positive. I’m not really sure how I got c-diff since I hadn’t recently been on an antibiotic – but, nonetheless, I had it. I was given Flagyl and the c. diff seemed to be going away, but as soon as I began to taper it came back with a vengeance. I ended up having to go to the ER (on my birthday, nonetheless!) and got an IV with Vancomycin. I got a prescription for home, took it as prescribed for a few weeks, and it went away. Thank GOD! I never wanted to go through that again!
Well, here it is, April 2013, and I felt like I had another flare coming on. I was tested for c. diff., but the the test came back negative this time, so my doctor put me on Prednisone. When I was on 40mg a day my symptoms went away and I felt like I had successfully conquered my first flare. I began to taper to 30mg on Thursday. Friday was good, and most of Saturday was fine, but Saturday night/Sunday were awful!! I called my doctor on Monday and he had me up my Prednisone back to 40mg and called for another c. diff. test – just in case the other was a false negative. Well, it was a false negative – I have c. diff. again. At least, this time, I know why I got it. I was on Amoxicillin for a widsom-tooth infection. That infection went away, but not I have c. diff. and have to postpone my wisdom teeth removal. Even if (when?) this c. diff. bought clears up, I’m probably going to end up having it again because one of the pre-medications (they have you take it the day before the oral surgery) for my wisdom teeth is, you guessed it, Amoxicillin. Oy!
Medications:
Asacol HD (my 365 UC medication)
Flagyl (for c. diff., didn’t work long-term)
Vancomycin (for past and current bought with c. diff.)
written by Stephanie
submitted in the colitis venting area
I’m a 28 year old history teacher at the local community college. I was diagnosed with UC during my first year of grad school. UC + massive amounts of stress + being away from home for the first time = a very bad time!
