Making the Best of a Shi$$y Situation :)

Intro:

Diagnosed in 2008, went in to remission within 6 months, just recently had a ghastly flare up (September 2013) now trying to hold down FT job with no energy and on day 6 of 25mg Prednisolone. On a positive note I am finding myself insisting every day on finding something positive about my life. I have a beautiful supportive partner who helps me get through the down times when things get too much.

Some more about me:

I am from Sydney Australia, I am an accountant who consults to small business, live near Bondi Beach and love the life that I have.

Symptoms:

regular BM, getting firmer but still blood and mucus present. Painful, painful tummy, GI has taken me off Sulfasalazine because of the headaches, joint pain, sciatic pain (a nightmare), nausea, brain just not quite as sharp as it normally is. and NO ENERGY to speak of :-(

Making the Best of a Shi$$y Situation

How long does a flare up stay around for?When does your energy come back?
Does diet really matter?

I would give anything for my energy back, I had just celebrated 45 days cigarette free which was a monumental achievement for me, I was exercising, running down the beach, loving life and woke up one morning feeling like I had been hit by a bus. It was that horrible feeling of dread when I put my symptoms all together and realised my UC was back, I cried all afternoon.

My partner has been truly amazing – he is the sort of person who never gets sick so it’s hard for him to understand what is going on but he asked me for some links to UC so he could get a better understanding of what I am going through which was so sweet.

My biggest concern is that My last flare up coincided with my stopping smoking back in 2008 and I started smoking again 8 months later. I am worried that taking up smoking kicked me in to remission due to the stopping smoking and consequent flare up that has occurred this year – make sense to anyone? Trying very hard not to just go buy a packet of cigs right now!

I am also worried about the articles and law suits i have been reading about in relation to UC being caused by Roaccutane which I was prescribed in 2002, feel like I have brought this on myself.

The good I can take from all the negativity is that I force myself every day to think positive – not n the Pollyanna way but in the “I am tougher than this and I won’t let it beat me”. tenacity is becoming my mantra for everything, that and my list of things I want to never take for granted once i get my energy back!

Medications:

Sulfasalazine Pyralin EN worked first flare really well.
scared about the long term effects about Prednisilone.
What does everyone use for pain relief?

written by Melissa J