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I’ve Got Colitis and I Feel Alone

kerrys colitisIntroduction:

I’m Kerry. I was born in New York but currently live in Pennsylvania, USA. I’m 32 years old, and was just diagnosed with colitis three weeks ago.

Symptoms:

Urgent chronic Diarrhea, bloody stools, mucous in stool, joint pain, slight fever

I’ve Got Colitis and I Feel Alone:

I’m Kerry and I have suffered with UC for twelve years, I believe (I’m 32), but was diagnosed three weeks ago. I had the same symptoms 12 years ago, mucousy, bloody diarrhea, fever, belly pain, and joint pain. Went to the E.R. in Pittsburgh and got diagnosed with arthritis at the age of 20. No tests, no nothing(probably because no insurance either, at the time.) I then went back to the doctor and he told me there was nothing wrong. So I dealt with it.

Right before Christmas, I got the worst diarrhea ever.

  It was like the uncontrollable urge to throw up,

but out of the other end.

 

There was no “holding it.” So I had a colonoscopy , the doc took biopsies and found out it was Chronic Active Colitis (is this different from UC?), although the doctor said my colon looked beautiful, probably because there was still stool in it and he couldn’t see it right away, which he should have just told me he didn’t know. I was prescribed Lialda, and have been taking it for three weeks. I called two days ago to tell the gastroenterology people it wasn’t working and the secretary said to me,

” I thought I told you not to call until three months had gone by

and tell us how you were doing.”

That’s it. No explanation, no diet to follow, no nothing. If I hadn’t researched it, I would know nothing about what I have. Anyway, so no one seems concerned about my colitis but me. Everyone else thinks it’s no big deal. My husband came home and told me so-and-so from work has it. He takes pills. He’s fine.  When I was explaining to people about it at church this morning I was interrupted and told that what they were interrupting me with was more important. I’m not dramatic or a hypochondriac, but is it too much to ask for someone to listen to me??

Colitis Medications:

I’ve only been on Lialda, and so far I can tell you that it is very expensive and it doesn’t work, and no one is listening to me that it doesn’t.

written by Kerry

submitted in the Colitis Venting Area