Just Trying To Get Back To MY LIFE

Introduction:

my names Erika. I’m 22, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was 17, its been 5 years! I’m currently a dental assistant and student in the dental program.

Colitis Symptoms:

I have a flare up right now its been a while. constant bathroom trips, the stomach pains, joint pains, all the great stuff that comes with it.

My Colitis Experience:

I was diagnosed with uc in highschool i was 17, i never took it to seriously since it didn’t really affect my life at the time. i noticed small things changing but never told my family since i wasn’t in pain.  The blood started slowly then i got scared…my parents took me to the hospital 3 different ones where 2 of them told me i had a bacterial infections gave me some anitbiotics and i would be fine but the problem continued  for 2 months till a doctor finally said somethings wrong here and that’s when i was 1st sent to a gi then came the colonoscopy the results uc!! i had no clue what it was or why i had it. Being so young it didnt mean much since i felt good.  Around the time of my graduation a year later came all the pain and bathroom trips then it hit me, “I’m sick!!”

Started all the medications… they kinda worked… but seemed to fail.  I tried prednisone and asacol. Then i just stopped taking the meds thinking there was nothing that could help so i would live with it . so 2 years later dealing with the flare ups i had finished school for dental assistant got a good job and decided to move out with my friends 4 months in i got a flare up but not like any other flare up i had ever had the pain and bathroom trips feeling weak every horrible thing u can get with uc i had it! got to the point where i had to miss work which means missing money from checks. To make the bills, I started using my credit cards. Just more debt added to school loans.

I couldn’t do it anymore,

I had to take a whole month off work,

and I moved back with my parents.

I focused on getting health.   I started seeing my doctor again she put me back on prednisone 40mg.  I’ve been on it for going on 6 months and i hate it!!! the weight gain the facial hair the bump on my back my round face its horrible. it has helped me feel a little better but not great will i ever? i feel like no matter what i do this is not stopping…its effected my life so much in my job school and social life. How can i balance it all when theres days that feels like its never ending?

Colitis Medications:

Currently on prednisone 40 mgs. It works but horrible side effects. My doctor just prescribed me pentasa I haven’t taken it yet i wanna learn more about it?

written by Erika