Introduction:
My name is Miesha and I am a 35 year old educator and counselor who lives in the S.F. Bay area. Diagnosed with UC in 2011. Currently in remission by using SCD diet and lots of supplements! No meds right now ! :)
Some more about me:
I love to travel and volunteer in my community! My passion is helping students prepare and get into college. Yoga and hiking give me sanity!
Symptoms:
Occasional bloating currently.
In my first flare up from 2011 – 2013 had bloody bm 10 x a day, low energy, low libido, bloating with all meals which led to hospital stay in feb 2013 for blood transfusion.
Natural, Meds, or Both?
Hi everyone
In need of some major uc community assstance!
My UC journey began in 2011 when saw blood after wiping and was topd by my pcp that I probably had hemoroids and was promptly prescribed stool softener and told the blood would probably go away on its own. Well because I was in relatively good shape and in my early 30’s I followed this advice. Though I did have bloating nd had put on about 10 pounds, but chalked this up to not working out as much due to my busy schedule,
Well needless to say about 6 months later the blood turned into bloody bowel movements and diarrhea from 4 to 7 times a day along with stomach cramps every morning before work. I was quickly referred to my GI specialist who scheduled my first colonoscopy in Nov 2011 I was diagnosed with UC proctitis on my left side and prescribed mesalmine enemas . Well that changed my life! As a newlywed,lets just say there wasnt a lot of bedroom action happening with my new hubby! On top of that, i was so exhausted and had no desire for my poor husband (side effects of mesamine) , plus I always had the urge to expel the medicine and the blood and diarrhea increased (another side effect)
After 1 solid year of powering through, my GI switched me to oral mesalmine Lialda and VSL probiotis. Well more convenient but would need to use the bathroom within 10 minutes of taking. 3 months later, my body was tired, i wasnt eating because all food repused me. I caught the flu, the really bad one a lot of people got last winter which proved too much for my immune system. In Feb 2013 , I ended up in the hospital with anemia and required a 4 day stay and blood transfusion. After i got out, I was prescribed prednisone, and promptly found a natropath. Though I credit my 6 week predisone with helping my colon recover, the swelling, moon face, and subsequent hair loss from tapering off left me wondering about holistic methods.
Since March 2013, I’m currently in remission, thank god, all because of the SCD diet, my great natropath, THIS WEBSITE, and , supplements such as slippery elm, pro biotic VSL, L glutamine, and fish oil. Not to mention acupuncture and yoga helping me maintain my hectic life as a student and full time employee. Thanks to these methods, i have been able to obtain and sustain remission for the past 9 months! Yay!
Yesterday my enthusiasm was given a kick in the shins” becauae after my follow up colonoscopy, I have less inflammation, but pseudopolyps, which seem to be scar tissue developed from the years of inflammation? They are not cancerous after a biopsy, but of course GI now wants me to back on meds! : ( I am so disappointed because I feel great with no symptoms and most importantly, I have my life back!
I need advice from the UC brothers and sisters! I can understand the need to treat this disease, but will meds (azathioprine) and steroids treat the polyps found. Do I want to risk the side effects which basically mimic UC symptoms, plus possible organ damage? I would love to continue my natural treatment and live a normal life!
Any suggestions welcomed!
My Current Supplements/Treatments:
Suppleents saved me and gave me the gift of remission!
L glutamine
slippery elm
Fish oil
Vitex
Gentle iron
vitamin d
ginger/tumeric tea
Maca root
VSL probiaics
liquid multivitamin
Weekly juicing of veg and fruit
no gluten and limited dairy, only greek yogurt or 1 week cheese
written by Miesha
submitted in the colitis venting area
