Intro:
I am from London (UK), born and raised and just turned 34. I am well traveled and I am proud to have friends from all walks of life, countries and backgrounds. I like technology, cars and generally bit of a big kid. I always try to help people in life in whatever I do.
I have been diagnosed with UC on my left side and my rectum 3 weeks ago.
Some more background info on Deen:
From birth – 30 I was allergic to … Milk, Egg, Fish, Chicken so I spent most of life eating Lamb and Beef daily.
3 years ago blood and skin prick test said egg with small amount of milk in coffee/tea was fine.
Thus I changed my diet, with meat 2- 3 times a week, Lunch was – egg spinach, cucumber, corn, olives, tomatoes, Dinner was rice with veg curry or pasta or something healthy of some sort. Ps I love chips (french fries) and crisp (potato chips) but I cut down massively in the last 3 years too.
Weekends used to be about eating out, Steaks, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Turkish, Thai, Grills and Mexican….. how I miss my meat platter.
My parents are originally from India thus fed me curry most of my life, as a result I had a very strong stomach (loved spices too), thus I could go to a spicy restaurant, be fine the next morning whilst everyone else would be in the toilet.
I never had a sweet tooth due to milk allergy but did drink a lot of soda, energy drinks and coffee (high pressure jobs for the last 8 years) but even that I cut that down massively 2 years ago too.
Symptoms:
Due to prednisone the blood and diarrhea has stopped, but now I have cramps, wind, tiredness and it seems like constipation….
Deen’s Story:
I smoked for 15 years, 7-10 a day. Quit 4 years ago, then restarted on and off 2 years ago and for the last year was on ecigs, still socially smoking normal ones here and there.
I left my job 6 months ago and have not been working since. I went through 20 months of hell with 9 of my team members walking out after me. Many were considering legal action for bullying but as I believe in Karma I walked away…..
I got to the final of nearly every job interview but something would prevent me from getting it. Usually a small thing thus became stressed, I even got offered a job then had it retracted due to a new recruitment freeze.
I started having diarrhea in mid september 2015, becoming blood diarrhea. I took imodium (BM 2 times day). The doctor (GP) said nothing to worry about, it will probably clear by itself. I was waiting to be referred to a specialist but this wasn’t till November 17th. In mid September had changed my diet to BRAT, Bananas, Rice, Toast and Mash potatoes.
I went to the local hospital and they said as “its only blood diarrhea twice a day and no other symptoms, go back to a normal diet and enjoy your holiday”. I decided to stop worrying and go to my friends wedding in Morocco in late October, I ate normally…. (Moroccan food was lovely)…but by then it had become 6 times a day and it was often just blood, lots of wind and cramps.
Came back saw a private GI specialist who was horrified by my blood and stool results. She said I should have had a colonoscopy back September, she arranged for one later that week.
After a few days I was rushed to A&E (aka ER in USA) as I had severe pain in kidneys/stomach and going 9 times a day, mostly blood.
I was put on hydrocortisone IV drip for a week and had a colonoscopy a week later whilst in hospital. They found I had colitis on the left side and a severely inflamed rectum….. It took a week for the Prednisone to kick in and it stopped the blood and diarrhea. Then after a week the bleeding came back a little so they gave me Mezavant (and asacol suppositories). I was taking Aloe Vera juice at the time so I stopped it.
I read up on everything I could find on UC, I tracked down people I knew of with UC, spoke to university friends who are now doctors, I have just discovered the SCD diet but as I am allergic to fish, chicken and turkey I’m not sure if I can do this….
I have lost 1.5 stones(9.5kg) and feel weak. Im 5ft 10 and now I only weigh 9 stones now. I used to be full of energy, full of life and always making people laugh. I am now quite, miserable and can’t concentrate on anything.
I’m confused by people saying so many different things regarding diet, I don’t know what to do anymore.
Any advice / tips / help / guidance / support will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Medications & Diet:
Mezavant XL- 4.8g a day (mesalazine)
Ascol Suppositories 500mg only twice a week if there is blood or I feel sore
Prednisone – 30mg 2 weeks, currently on 20mg for 2 weeks, then 10mg 2weeks, then 5mg two weeks
Omeprazole
Wellman Multivitamins
Adcal-D3 Calcium 400mg twice a day
Currently my diet is banana’s, 2 egg omelette, rice, potatoes, carrot, corn flakes, a ton of water and cigarettes. I ensure turmeric and Extra virgin Olive Oil are in my dinner/lunch. I have also ordered some probiotics VSL#3.
written by Deen
submitted in the colitis venting area
I have been diagnosed with UC on my left side and my rectum 3 weeks ago.
