Intro:
I am a husband, father of 3 wonderful children, CEO of 2 growing practices (financial advisory and tax/accounting) with a great business partner & friend, exerciser, basketball player/coach, and a good movie & good book enthusiast.
Originally diagnosed with ulcerative colitis back in July 2013 (right in the middle of vacation!).
Twitter handle is @martyfed.
Some more about me:
I am originally from Northeast PA in the USA. Lived in NC, SC, and MD in the USA as well. I enjoy most sports, taking care of our business clients, pro wrestling, eating healthy, walking my puppy, blasting out 100 pushups in the blink of an eye, and taking a good run/walk with my wife.
My friends call me “Marty the one-man party” because I am a dancing machine – I am available for entertainment at most weddings (I don’t even need to drink alcohol to have a good time) ;-D
References are available for those who think I’m kidding…
Symptoms:
Currently I am in remission since shortly after my original treatment – thanks be to God!
Marty’s Story:
Diagnosed back in July 2013 after we had to cut our Universal Studios (FL) vacation short due to my symptoms. My symptoms may have come about due to a hemmorhoid in the beginning (in early June), but I had never had those before either so I just thought that would clear up & go away. Well, I was about to find out that things would not go as easily as hoped!
The diarrhea became more and more disruptive until I felt so horrible after a few days on our vacation I had no choice to go to the ER back in PA. I think I freaked out my very good friend and business partner because we were supposed to see them again before we finished up our vacation. I had told him that we had to cut the trip short, and I was heading back to PA to get this looked at since I just couldn’t take the pain anymore.
I was originally given Cipro & Flagyl to control my issues, but that seemed to make things worse (there was a bathroom disaster in the middle of the night that will forever go unmentioned – thankfully there were no witnesses). Eventually they got me on a prednisone taper and Asacol HD, and shortly after taking that my symptoms seemed to completely disappear.
My first follow-up colonoscopy went very well thankfully. All my numbers looked good and I seemed to be doing great. After all, I had already been eating very healthy (with the help of my very supportive wife, who began running regularly and eating better as well), and exercising regularly. Keeping stress at bay as the CEO of 2 financial practices can be a little tricky, but I seemed to keep that in check better as well.
My second follow-up (no colonoscopy this time) went very well. My doctor said that we should schedule another colonoscopy in March, but with tax season going full-tilt I said after tax season would be best. However, due to a change in insurance cost (for meds, procedures, and deductibles being ridiculously raised) I told them I needed to schedule something at the end of April ’15 due to the insurance changes taking effect in May ’15. They could not fit me in and (obviously) I was not thrilled with that decision.
I am most concerned about the long-term side effects of Asacol HD (renal failure, etc.), as is my wife. I have completely changed my focus in life to what is most important – my health & my family’s well-being. Putting that into perspective has helped me to keep my UC under control.
Medications:
I try to limit stress as much as possible (not easy though) by exercising ~ 4X’s/wk. I am very mindful of what I put into my body (drugs, food, medications, drinks, etc.) – processed food is absolute crap for your body!
Also, I’m down to 1 Asacol HD pill/day…making sure I still take the l-glutamine first thing in the morning 1/2 hr. before breakfast; get my greek yogurt, raw honey, chia, hemp hearts, ground flax, cinnamon, raw nuts, and various berries/cherries (various seasonal fruits) and/or banana, along with kefir for breakfast; usually a loaded salad with good protein for lunch (avacado or guacamole is a must if available); and something similar for dinner.
I also limit my bread/pasta/pizza intake to once/day (if at all) – this has helped me have no UC symptoms at all since being originally diagnosed.
I usually drink V-8, lemon water, kefir, and green tea during the day and make sure to get some raw apple cider vinegar in one of my waters (or salads) during the day. Finally, I finish off my night by taking a new supplement (pill) that has turmeric root & extract, ginger root, black pepper extract, boswellia, and devil’s claw (drink it down with some kefir & water). Basically that pill now replaces one of my Asacol HD pills that I took at night.
Once I go off the Asacol HD entirely, I plan on adding a slippery elm bark supplement (in powder form probably) around lunch or shortly thereafter. Everything seems to be working just fine; still being careful about what I put into my body, esp. when it comes to food. I READ EVERY LABEL – my wife thinks I’m nuts, but she knows why I do it (for not only myself, but for my children’s health & hers as well).
I will whip this auotimmune disease – it will not whip me! Marty – 2; Colitis – 1 (first and only time)!
written by Marty Fed
submitted in the colitis venting area
I am a husband, father of 3 wonderful children, CEO of 2 growing practices (financial advisory and tax/accounting) with a great business partner & friend, exerciser, basketball player/coach, and a good movie & good book enthusiast.
