Introduction:
My name is Jerry. I have battled UC for 18 years. I am 30 years old and born and raised in Indiana.
I am otherwise a very active happy person. I consider myself normal, but have found that controlling this disease is anything but normal..
Colitis Symptoms:
Intense abdominal pain. Urgent bowel movements. Bloody stools. Arm and leg pain. Bloating. Bowel movements upwards of 10 – 15 visits daily. Anxiety, panic.
I am new to this website as I just discovered it a week ago.
All I keep thinking is “wow, wish I would have stumbled upon this years ago.”
I have been in a constant battle with Ulcerative Colitis for 18 years now. I was diagnosed when I was 12 years old. To start off there really wasn’t a lot of research or information available at that time. Not to mention when you are at the cusp of becoming a teenager there is enough weird stuff going on in your body. What made matters worse is I hadn’t ever found anyone else who was suffering from this disease so I felt like the only one! I have had about 5 flare ups since being diagnosed. Each lasting a long time and requiring a hospital visit. The main problem has been my stubbornness or unwillingness to admit defeat.
I know that sounds dumb,
but I have always went to war
with my condition
and seemingly always lost.
The ensuing battles have left me in bad shape. I am currently in another flare up as we speak. My biggest problem is the medications. Steroids work but make me feel weird. I have been taking Sulphasalazine for over 10 years off and on and believe it has worn off its effectiveness. The horrible stomach cramps and uncontrollable bloody bowel movements are sometimes upwards of 15 times a day. I have read a lot on this site that confirms what I have always know yet doctors don’t seem to understand is the direct relationship between stress and the onset of a flare up. It’s a major factor with me if not the trigger.
I just wanted to get this out, I would like some feedback as I have never vented about my situation or discussed it.
Writing it down seemed liberating in a sense.
Colitis Medications:
Sulphasalizine
Prednzone
I have only taken sulpha for control and taking 4 pills a day. Causes discolored urine and weird skin problems when exposed to sun. Overall seemed to help, but recently not so much.
Steroids control the bleeding and the flare but have made me feel worse, both mentally and physically.
written by Jerry
submitted in the Colitis Venting Area
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I’m from Indiana, USA and have been battling ulcerative colitis since I was about 12 years old.
