Introduction:
My name is Jessica, I’m 27 years old from Toronto, Canada. I was diagnosed with UC when I was 20 but have been suffering from the symptoms since 17. I have had ups and downs with this disease – an up was a 5 year remission on absolutely no medication. However, this past year I was hospitalized and after months of Prednisone, Imuran and Salofalk I’m in the middle of yet another flare. I’m a generally healthy person, I eat well, exercise regularly and am now just fed up with the up and down roller coaster of feeling like crap. I’m so frustrated with my specialist for always just pushing pills. There has to be other options. The side effects are unbearable. Most recently I was dealing with debilitating arthritis and fatigue and feeling like an 80 year old woman. I want to find a solution where I can enjoy life and just be healthy.
My Symptoms:
Currently I’m suffering from nausea, violent cramps, diarrhea up to 15 times a day with blood and mucus. I can’t keep anything I eat in, low energy & no appetite.
My Story:
Lately my UC has really been affecting my life. Simple things that I enjoy doing I can’t. I love to run and in the past have participated in 5km, 10km and half marathon races. This past weekend I was registered for a 10km run but had to withdraw because I was running to the bathroom every 15 minutes. Spending time with friends and family consists of me laying on the couch lethargic and weak and unable to sit and eat a meal with them. Even something as simple as a short road trip with my husband turned awful, I ended up having to stop on the side of the highway because I couldn’t hold it. My husband and my family are very supportive but I know sometimes they feel helpless not knowing what to do to help. Right now I’m most concerned about how my UC is going to affect starting a family. My husband and I would like to have children in the next few years and I’m terrified that I won’t be healthy enough to carry a baby or th at I might put my baby in harm if I have a flare up or have to take medication. Being a Mom is my biggest dream and I don’t want UC to take that away from me. It would be helpful and encouraging to hear how other UC’ers have gone through this and what their experiences were like starting a family.
In my experience I have found that eating a very strict diet has helped me. I believe what lead to my 5 year remission was cutting wheat, dairy, sugar and red meat. I would love to hear what natural remedies or solutions others have tried/what has worked for them. I’ve looked into SCD but have yet to try it.
Where I’d Like to be in 1 Year:
In a year I’d love to be feeling energetic and just all around healthy. I want to be living an active lifestyle, fit and in shape. I want to get back to running and being in the gym. I want to be able to eat foods that I enjoy and not have to worry about knowing where every public washroom is when I go out.
My Colitis Medications:
Medications I’ve been on/tried: Salofalk, Prednisone, Imuran, and a steroid enema. Specifically from the prednisone I’ve had the huge list of nasty side effects. I have a love/hate relationship with the drug – yes it works but the side effects are just as bad as my UC Symptoms to be honest. Imuran has seemed to work well for me but the long term effects are what worry me, that and having to monitor my blood so carefully. I don’t want to be developing more health issues for the future. I have not had any side effects from Salofalk but I aslo don’t feel that it has done a whole lot for me.
written by Jessica from Toronto
submitted in the Colitis Venting Area
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My name is Jessica, I’m 27 years old from Toronto, Canada. I was diagnosed with UC when I was 20 but have been suffering from the symptoms since 17.
