I am a 58 year old mom of two, Mimi of 2 and a dog mom. I have had UC for over 30 years and it alternately flares and then goes into remission only to return again for reasons I have yet to uncover.
something interesting about me: I am a college student, trying to finally finish my degree.
Current Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms: I am currently in a flare. The abdominal pain is the worst part, this time. The frequent and urgent trips to the bathroom make me scared of car trips. The blood is always there but maybe less this time, nausea, and diarrhea. I know sleep is important but between the nausea, abdominal pain and frequent bathroom trip, I am not getting much sleep at all.
My Story:
I have had UC for over 30 years. When it flares i use mesalamine suppositories. I take IBGard for gas and bloating. My gastro doc recommended Benefiber. I took it one night and spend the night in pain and hardly slept at all. I’m holding off trying it again until this flare settles down some. I am always seeking ways to head off these flares but as of yet, despite keeping logs, I can’t nail it down.
UC is miserable when it flares and knowing that I will have it forever makes me sad. Anxiety usually come with the flares and that make it even worse. I have a great doctor but all the newer better medicines are ridiculously expensive to just “try” so I am stuck using the same thing I always have and it doesn’t always work, like this time.
I usually get a colonoscopy every 1-2 years – those are now just a good nap for me but the prep, good grief, can’t they come up with a better way to do that? Id like to try the scans but again it is all so expensive and insurance doesn’t want to cover anything.
I guess for me, the biggest concerns are not going on road trips (which I love). My anxiety keeping me wound up in a flare, or having a flare so bad that I have to be hospitalized (as of yet, I have never had to do that in 30 years) but especially now, in the time of the pandemic.
I am hoping to learn from all of you – what do you do? How do you still enjoy all the things you enjoy when NOT in a flare? Is there something I can try or do that won’t cost me a small fortune? I would honestly be happy to just lose the abdominal pain and the frequent bathroom trips, but then who wouldn’t?
medications/ treatment ideas:
I use heat and IBGard to help with the abdominal cramps. I have stopped drinking coffee as I discovered that was triggered me badly (10-20 bathroom trips before noon). No other ideas how to calm a flare.
submitted in the colitis venting area
