The Cure – Get Your Life Back!

Introduction:

My name is Juliette and I’m a 19 year old female. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis about two years ago on my 17th birthday. So sad! I was born and raised in California but moved to Colorado about 7 months ago. I love God, classic rock, fashion, being active, I love my family, have an amazing boyfriend and hope to become a dental hygienist one day (once I can actually start going back to school, which will be soon now!!!!).

Symptoms:

My current symptoms are NO pain, NO blood, smaller and less bowel movements, the stool is more formed, and a little gassy. HAH!

MY COLITIS STORY SUMMARIZED…..of course!

When I was first diagnosed with UC two years ago, it was quite mild and I was doing fine with Asacol HD. Once in a while when I’d get a flare I’d be put on Prednisone and it would really help. My doctor had told me to stick with a “low-residue” kind of diet which consisted of white bread, canned peaches, jello, white rice, etc. NO FIBER. So, for the past two years I’ve been mostly on that diet with not a lot of fruits and vegetables (unless it was cooked) and not much whole wheats and grains. That’s what my doctor told me. He also said that diet had nothing to do with it, that UC was just an autoimmune disease. So I would basically eat whatever I wanted and cut out more of the fibrous foods. Well, that explains the fact that for the past 6 months now I’ve had the worst flare-up ever. Prednisone stopped working for me, Asacol stopped working, I was in such bad pain and losing lots of blood. My doctor told me that I now have a severe case of UC and my only two options left are Remicade infusions or surgery. Im only 19 and to have my life split on this decision was horrific. I was recently in the hospital and decided to take Remicade, even tho I was rooting for surgery. I wanted my colon out of me! It was sooooo painful. In the hospital, they gave me fried chicken, bread, mashed potatoes and gravy, milk, cake, whatever my heart desired because like every doctor has told me, diet has nothing to do with it. I came back home feeling ok, but it only took a couple days til I was in pain and bleeding all over the place. I was through! I decided to take MY life in MY own hands and not have the doctors treat me like a guinea pig. The doctors are so stupid. I do not understand why they do this. ULCERATIVE COLITIS IS ALL ABOUT DIET!!! Thats the answer. The doctors don’t want you

to believe that so they can keep you on their drugs and take your money. Thats what it is all about. Don’t let them do that to you! I was changed by this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGKn7JC_ch8&feature=youtube_gdata_player. PLEASE WATCH! And by Dr. Weil’s Anit-Inflammatory Food Pyramid (http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/PAG00361/anti-inflammatory-food-pyramid.html). It just all makes sense. I am still in the process of healing because I have just recently started the diet, but all my pain and blood and heartache is GONE! I have my life back and am so excited to see what this does to me in the long run. Please try these foods and diet before surgery and the harsher drugs. NOTHING w orked for me but this! Take control of your life and do your own research. Don’t let your doctors suck you dry and kill you. Do it for your life! I know it will help anyone. If it could help me, it can help you.

Colitis Medications:

Asacol HD- worked at first but stopped. I’m hoping to get back on this soon.
Prednisone- worked great at first but stopped as well. HATE THIS DRUG!!!! I’ve been on this since day 1 and it’s scary.
Imuran- Made me worse!! It felt like it was killing me. I was bleeding A LOT on this.
Remicade- Was able to get my symptoms down a bit, but with the wrong diet, the symptoms all came back.

written by Juliette

submitted in the Colitis Venting Area