My Rant on Ulcerative Colitis

Intro: 48 years old diagnosed with UC 2 years ago, I had it for about 3 years before I got the courage to get something done.

Some more about me:

I am IT consultant love running I am currently training for the reserves in the Royal air force.

Symptoms:

Loose bowel movement bloody stools cramps and generally feeling crap (pun intended)

My Rant on Ulcerative Colitis

I all started with a bit of blood any probably like most of you I thought piles right? wrong I ignored it too embarrassed to go to the doctor until 3 years later and I am feeling so bad I can’t eat anymore. I spent most of my time in the toilet and most of my money on toilet paper.

So finally I get to my GP (doctor) and he runs a lot tests but all come back fine and he is about to leave it and give me some creams for fissures or piles but I lost it unfortunately and said hell no I want a referral to a specialist hospital finally after waiting months I get a wonderful colonoscopy Oh the joys of modern medicine, I was finally diagnosed with UC and started on Asacol every month going back to the hospital the dose increased, I am now on 6 800mg a day and still I have the symptoms some days better some worse. They tried me on the predisonone that was almost lke having my life back again but the noid rage kicked in real bad I turned into the green monster (don’t make me angry you wouldn’t like me when I am angry) impossible to live with.

I remember one particular evening I shouted so loud at my stepdaughter she ended up crying ( I still hate myself for that one) weaned off the predisonone and it all came back like a bad guest that wouldn’t leave back to my wonderful specialist who thought maybe more predisonone , one look at me changes his mind straight away I will never take that stuff again I would prefer to suffer the ulcerative colitis. So now we come to the most recent 8 months of Asacol 800g 6 a day they had me on the foam enema but its no longer available and the pentasa I can’t stand. My wonderful specialist has prescribed me Azathioprine seriously are they taking the p**s that is listed as a human carcinogen the side effects are ridiculous with nausea bruising bone marrow problems constant blood test to check liver functions. So although I have the medication I really don’t want to use it. I am working abroad for the UN living by myself in Italy, I have already had a huge flare up in the winter where a sore throat became so bad they had to take me into hospital apparently all got to do with my UC. My doctor in the UN thinks I should try it but I am skeptical.

Has anyone got any feedback on Azathioprine ? am I overreacting ? . As most of you have probably found out stress plays a huge part in your UC I am particularly stressed for the past few years with a custody battle for my stepdaughter and on my side my ex wife harassing me that plus been made redundant didn’t help, since moving here to Italy (by myself my family are still trying to join me) stress levels have gone down but I had a solicitors letter sent to my parents house Friday back home and my ex is starting off again. Yesterday and today the flare up has started and it in full swing now at 6 to 8 runs to the bathroom (glad I took up running now) and increasing, I have the beautiful mouth ulcers that accompany this wonderful UC and my throat infection has started, taking antibiotics for this but still not hitting the mark. This disease just gets me so down sometimes you feel like lying down and crying and giving it all up. Thanks for listening to my ranting happy tha t at least someone understands. Love you the web page thanks for putting it up.

Ask Adam:

“Hi Adam

just wondering have you ever been prescribed Azathioprine and how you found it ? Did you ever get the mouth ulcers and sore throats or is that privilege reserved only for me ? Love your webpage thanks for putting it up, It’s reading something like this that makes it a bit more bearable.
BTW how is your UC doing lately ?”

written by Dermot B

submitted in the colitis venting area

Thanks for Sharing Dermot,

I definitely remember talking to my doctor about azathioprine, it was back when my UC was real bad in 2008-2009 and I was running out of medications to try.  But, I never did end up filling that prescription so I don’t have any personal experience with it.  I’m guessing that you’re not the only one with strange symptoms such as mouth ulcers, or should we just call them side effects right…

As for my UC, its doing very good.  Come September it will be two full years since I’ll have seen any doctor for anything, so my overall health has been great too for the most part.  (Yes my wife is still convinced my brain is all messed up since I’ve been annoying the hell out of her lately but we can’t win them all right:)    I’ve been really focusing on getting fresh sauerkraut into my diet on a several times a week basis and I think that has been a positive addition to the foods I normally eat.

I wish you the best in moving forward, and best of luck to you in the coming days and weeks and months.

-Adam