Struggling to Get Healthy

Introduction:

My name is Ashley, I’m 26 years old and live in Canada. I was diagnosed with UC in December 2010 while pregnant with my first child.

Colitis Symptoms:

Currently in a flare up with:

• Bloody diarrhea 10x/day

• Cramping

• Nausea

• Loss of appetite

Struggling to Get Healthy:

It all started in September 2010 when I noticed blood and mucus in my poop. I saw my doctor who referred me for a colonoscopy. It was scheduled for February 2011, so I just waited. I got pregnant in October 2010 and the doctor I was referred to didn’t want to do a colonoscopy while I was pregnant and suggested a sigmoidoscopy instead. I had this done in December 2010 and was told I had Ulcerative Colitis.

Being pregnant I was afraid of receiving treatment. I took a 2 week course of salofalk enemas but once I stopped the bleeding returned. My doctor decided that as long as my hemoglobin levels remained normal that we would not continue treatment while I was pregnant. My symptoms were very mild and didn’t affect my day to day activities.

In July 2011, I gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

My husband and I were so excited to have her! Life was perfect…until 10 days after having her. I started having diarrhea 10-15 times a day. This was exhausting while also caring for a newborn so I went to the emergency room after 2-3 days. I was told to do a stool sample and that my family doctor would contact me if there was any concerns from the test. So I waited…and kept getting sicker. I was passing straight blood 15-20 times a day, while trying to breastfeed and take care of my daughter. It was exhausting. Two weeks after my first ER visit I was admitted to the hospital with severe anemia and my colon had almost perforated. I was told the doctors considered moving me to a larger center but they didn’t. That made me happy because I wanted to stay close to my daughter. My family would bring her to see me in the hospital, she was only 4 weeks old.

I was in the hospital for 9 days. I had a PICC line put in so I could have TPN and be on bowel rest. That developed a blood clot after 3 days and had to be removed. I was moved to a liquid diet and tolerated that well and was eventually moved to solid food.

I ended up losing 48 lbs

from the day I had my daughter

to the day I was released from hospital,

which was about a month and a week.

Now, almost 8 months later I am battling another flare up, it’s not as bad but it’s tiring. I just went to the doctor today and was given prednisone again. I also currently take Asacol 4x/day (3200 mg total) and 100 mg of Imuran. I really hope this gets under control, I have only felt good for probably a month in total since I had my daughter and I want to be able to get out of the house more with her. This disease makes me feel so isolated.

Colitis Medications:

I know the asacol and imuran are working somewhat because the flare up I’m currently having isn’t as bad as the one I suffered before. I just need to focus on my diet more to stay in remission.

written by Ashley

submitted in the Colitis Venting Area