Introduction:
Hi, my name is Jan, i live in England in Essex, I have ulcerative colitis and was diagnosed when i was 14 years old i am now 53. I have lots of flare ups in my time but each one has been different, it has affected my life a great deal but I’m still hear. I work full time for my husband in his garage as a secretary. I have three children all grown up now, and I like popping over to Las Vegas at least twice a year and i go on alot of cruises when we get the time of off work.
My Symptoms:
I am currently having a flare up, i have had several over the years but every time i have one it seems like i am never going to get better. my symptoms at the moment are “my belly is constantly bubbling on my left side”, when i bend over my left side hurts real bad, i feel like i want to pass wind but nothing comes out only mucus, which is slightly pinkish in colour, i haven’t got the soft poo’s i’m just not going at all.
My Story:
I met my husband when i was sixteen. I have been with him ever since and am now married with three children. When i first met my husband i was in re-mission and was quite well, i didn’t even think about telling him, as i thought i was cured and didn’t think it was any think to talk about. When i had my first flare up it was just after we were married and i was quite bad. I was sent to a special hospital in London called St. Marks Bowel Hospital. I was given a sigmonoscopy which was very unpleasant feeling, and not like the one they gave me when i was first diagnosed, they had to put me under anasetic as i was only young at the time and this disease was only found to be in older people, they told my mum as she was alive then’ that this illness would not kill me , but i would never be cured, and i would be on medication all my life, which was really hard to no when you’ve got your whole life ahead of you.
My doctor at the moment is quite alright, and i have a nice doctor at the hospital, i dont like going to the hospital when i have got to have the “PIPE UP” thats what i call it anyway’ the worst thing is drinking that awful liquid to flush you out, i think that is the worst thing any one can go through. It is embarrassing for people to keep looking up my butt” but i know i cant get away with it. My husband is used to my illness now and the flare ups that go with it, they know when i’m not well i get really miserable, feverish,and spend most of the time in the loo, doing nothing. My most most most concern is that i may eventally have to have a colostomy bag, that would certainly change me forever.
Where I’d like to be in 1 year:
i have always wanted my own horse, and a house in the country, with the business we run at the moment it’s out of the question, but perhaps next year it might be the right time, i know i am not going to get better, but i wish i could be symtom free, so dose’s everyone else but that would be my wish if i could have it, just the horse and the house and symptom free.
Colitis Medications:
i am on asacol, lanzoprozole,lopperimide.
for my depression i am on citalapram.
when i have a flare up they put me on prednisolone steriods, but at the moment they do not work, but most of the time they do.jan’s
written by Jan
submitted in the colitis venting area
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hi my name is Jan, i live in England in Essex, i have uc and was diagnosed when i was 14 years old i am now 53. i have lots of flare ups in my time but each one has been different, it has affected my life a great deal but i’m still hear. i work full time for my husband in his gararge as a secratary i have three children all grown up now, and i like popping over to las vegas at least twice a year and i go on alot of cruises when we get the time of off work.
