Sick of this crap (literally!)

Hi there! My name is Angie.

I am 32, happily married and have 3 young children. I suffer from moderate-severe ulcerative colitis. And as if that wasn’t enough, the joint/tendon pain and arthritis I experience at times is insanely intense. (I also get rashes and blisters, as well as terrible mouth sores) I know…it sounds more like Crohn’s but I’ve had all the testing possible and 3 different opinions from 3 different doctors and all say it is in fact, UC. I was originally diagnosed in 2002, the symptoms were off and on but never as severe as this past year and a half. I had my 3rd child a year ago and during my pregnancy I found myself in the hospital several times because of severe joint pain. I am extremely fatigued all the time as well. I’ve decided to take a break (against my doctors’ will) from trying new UC meds and give the SCD a try…I’m still on sulfasalazine and prednisone. I am also currently experiencing a pretty bad flare, which has been ongo ing now for almost 3 months. I’m praying the SCD will help. I am scared to death to try the “big guns” as my doctors call them (remicade, humira, etc.) because my father died young of leukemia and lymphoma and if you are aware of these drugs, you should know that a risk of developing such illnesses exists. I did try imuran for 3 days and instantly developed terrible joint pain and headaches…so I stopped. I am trying to live day by day with my symptoms but it isn’t easy…I just look at my children and remind myself to move on. Adam, thanks for developing this site. I just discovered it today but it has already given me hope!