Bio:
Diagnosed with UC in 2009, but had it about a year before that. Grew up in Canada and spend most of my life there. Became a US citizen and have lived in the United States for ten years. I have a 17 1/2 year -old son, a 15 1/2 year-old daughter and a five 1/2 year old daughter. My children were all born within two months of each other. I live in Minnesota, I’m 44 years old and I have another post which was my first one when I was trying to decide between removing my colon and Remicade injections once a month or so. The doctors thought (at Sanford in Fargo) I would need either of those as I was very ill for about six months and hospitalized, lost weight and was not responding well to the medication they were giving me, which was various forms of medication such as Lialda, Asacol, Rowasa, and Balsalazide.
Wendy in Hawaii
Symptoms:
Currently I have almost no symptoms except when I eat too much or something too harsh for my body.
Wendy’s UC Story & Update:
The doctor (surgeon) said that I should see a psychologist/psychiatrist because I was so scared to go forward with the
surgery to remove my colon. The doctor’s assessment alarmed me as I did not think I was overly scared. I thought surgery was not a great idea, but I was investigating the idea as I was so ill for so long I was becoming desperate. I ended up (to make a long story short) going to Mayo Clinic. The doctors and patient advocates refused to refer me to Mayo Clinic but I just went ahead and made my own appointment without a referral. Lucky for me, I have awesome insurance. Mayo’s conclusion was that, after a CT scan and colonscopy, I showed no signs of UC at all. I should keep doing what I was doing and if I experienced any issues to call them and they would treat me from there. I treated myself with Hawaiian Astaxanthin, Kyoto Chlorella, Spirulina Micro-Algae, Calcium and Vitality 6 from Melaleuca (Vitality 6 conta ins various vitamins and probiotics, calcium again and other things. They didn’t think I needed to see a pshychologist or psychiatrist and that I did the right thing. I do watch what I eat very closely though. I rarely eat meat, I do eat eggs, I do not eat large meals, sometimes I eat things that are bad for my UC, but I am very careful about it. Just thought I would update you on this situation. I was also allergic to the medications they were giving me at the doctors (Lialda, etc.). Found that out through Mayo Clinic. So, I would encorage people to really pay attention to what they are doing with their doctors. They do not know everything. However, if you’re really ill, do what you have to. I did take
prednisone when I had to, otherwise I may have never gone into remission.
Where I’d like to be in 1 year:
Maintaining my health as it is.
I treated myself with Hawaiian Astaxanthin, Kyoto Chlorella, Spirulina Micro-Algae, Calcium and Vitality 6 from Melaleuca (Vitality 6 contains various vitamins and probiotics, calcium again and other things.
written by Wendy
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I’m 51 years old and the mother of three with a husband. I’ve written several stories over quite a few years on this site. And in 2019 I decided towards surgery.
