Introduction:
I am a 48 year old mother of 3 beautiful children ages 22, 20 and 15. I have been a substitute teacher for 7 years.
Colitis Symptoms:
Current meds: Rowasa enema every night. .375 Apriso @ 4 pills daily. Just started Prednisone @ 40mg.
Fortunately, I’m very responsive to prednisone (I’m 4’11” 108lbs.) last week, however, I was in the bathroom 30 times a day. My worst flare up ever in 32 YEARS! Bloody stools, mucous(y) diarrhea, gas…mostly compromised gas…oops! and feeling 100% lousy. Finally accepted that this disease just doesn’t go away. It must be carefully managed into remission and forced to stay there!!!
Colleen’s Colitis:
I have a wonderful life. I live in the Atlanta area. As stated, I have 3 great kids ages 22, 20 and 15. None of which show signs of the disease.Thank God! I have an amazing husband. We are celebrating our 25th anniversary this May, 2012. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 16. From the age of 11 to the age of 22 I had an alcoholic dad. He was a great dad, would have given you the shirt off his back, never violent just drank himself to sleep every night and then added vodka to his coffee in the morning… when he thought I wasn’t looking. We moved to ATL in 1980. I was 16. Back then a sweet little Yankee girl from Chicago with a bad accent moving into southern belle territory was not a good thing.I was a JR in HS and just crowned homecoming queen at my Chicago area HS!! I had a boyfriend that I was madly in love with! What happened? I had no choice. I came with my younger brother. I hated every minute of it. He got into sports and loved it. Mr popular! I stayed home in the fetal position in my bed. My mom couldn’t beat my dad at his game so she joined him. Wahla!!! Double the fun!!?? That was many, many years ago. I had to grow up way too fast. My dad completely stopped drinking the year before we got married…Sept 26 1986 to be exact. Why do I remember that so well? I had to take him to rehab. My mom was in Chicago helping my sister with her 2nd baby. Wouldn’t you have come home?? Exactly.
Long story short, mom cut waaaay back after dad came home from rehab. I lost my dad in 2008, despite the earlier years, he was the most wonderful man I ever knew. I was his favorite enabler (and fav daughter;) My 77 year old mom is still with me and lives 7 miles away and still feels most comfortable being in a Sutter Home state of mind.
Bottom line…NO ONE can tell me that stress doesn’t play a major role
in the onset and the duration of this disease!!
I have had untold colonoscopies…drugs…Drs…pain. I am done buying new underwear and knowing where EVERY bathroom is, this side of the Mason-Dixon!!! I have finally taken my blinders off…for REAL this time! I found this site (YAY!) I’m on the SCD diet and it’s working!! I think I’ve finally saved my own life…or at least my colon! Thank you for letting me vent!
Please know there is always hope!
Negativity will kill you.
Fear is a thief.
I’m praying that this is my LAST flare up…Stay positive, try to MANAGE your STRESS and stay the course! Thank you, Adam! Oh yeah, and lose the blinders sooner than I did…please!! God speed!
written by Colleen
Submitted in the Colitis Venting Area
I am a 48 year old mother of 3 beautiful children ages 22, 20 and 15. I have been a substitute teacher for 7 years.
