Introduction:
I’m a 51 year old female who was diagnosed last year (finally) with microscopic colitis. It was about half my life being treated for IBS instead. I have a wonderful, patient husband (of 7 years), 2 grown children and 3 beautiful granddaughters. I work full-time and my husband and I try to be as active as my condition will allow although lots has changed since my diagnosis. I live in Indiana, have all my life.
My Colitis Symptoms:
pain (on and off)
diarrhea usually 2-5 times a day sometimes severe other times not too bad
don’t want to eat because I know what will happen (bathroom)
My Story:
I don’t know if my microscopic colitis is the same as ulcerative but don’t think it’s as severe. My doc has had me take Entocort to put it in remission (which helped while on it but that was all) Am currently taking Lialda. I just want to get my life back without being centered around a bathroom and feeling bad. I have started the SCD diet & that seems to help and I feel better on it. My problem is my doc believes Lialda is the answer even though it hasn’t completely stopped the diarrhea like it should. Instead of trying different things he wants to run more tests. I am never an easy medical patient for anything I have had in the past. So this doesn’t surprise me that I have trouble controlling this. Guess I am looking for hope that it gets better. My husband and I haven’t been married too long and I want to enjoy our years together happily and healthy since we met so late in life. I’m tired of the frustration, tears and uncertainty of what the current and future holds.
I was wondering if menopause has caused any other women issues with their symptoms?
Also what helps to soothe your butt area when it gets irritated from so much diarrhea?
I have a hard time talking to people about this and I know my husband has heard it all but it’s not an easy subject to talk about to people. Has anyone talked to their employer about this? No one at work knows. I’m sure they speculate on my many bathroom breaks. Can it affect my performance reviews? Don’t want to have to tell them.
Do support groups help? There is 1 in my area but I have not made it to the meetings yet.
Where I’d like to be in Un Ano:
Living life to the fullest. Motorcycle rides, spoiling granddaughters, just living again without concern or fear of accidents and bathrooms. If I have to be on medicine that’s fine as long as I feel its doing something to help me. Planning our retirement in a few years with all possibilities available.
My Colitis Medications:
Entocort – worked while on it but made me gain weight, which I don’t need help on at all.
Lialda – has helped with pain and somewhat eases symptoms sometimes but not as satisfied as I was lead to believe I would be
written by Sharon
submitted in the colitis venting area
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I’m a 51 year old female who was diagnosed last year (finally) with microscopic colitis. It was about half my life being treated for IBS instead. I have a wonderful, patient husband (of 7 years), 2 grown children and 3 beautiful granddaughters. I work full-time and my husband and I try to be as active as my condition will allow although lots has changed since my diagnosis. I live in Indiana, have all my life.
