The Deep, The Dark, The Doo Doo Hole – An Adam Update

Hey UC’ers of the World,

I want to give you all an update on how things are going since my Oct. 2, 2008 colitis diagnosis.  AND, most importantly, you all should know that there is some serious good life after a diagnosis, and it’s most definitely NOT the end of the world.  Not even close.  The year after my diagnosis I was on medications the whole time, but I’ve been off medications for 87% of the time since.

But first, thanks to everyone again on the newsletter who participated in the Colitis Work Survey.  It was a huge success because of you.

So here’s the update on me:

• I’m feeling great
• Work is going pretty good
• I’m crapping 1-2 hard poops daily 95% of the time (today was one of those disappearing snakes that magically slides out of view down the toilet…you know what I mean)
• I’m medication free
• Not taking any probiotics
• I’m just about 160 pounds (which is a great weight for me at 5 foot 9 and 3/4 inches…)
• My daily exercise is between 3-6 miles of walking (about 10 km for the metric folks) per day
• I’m sticking hardcore to the SCD diet EVERYDAY and mixing in some new recipes (like last nights chicken fajitas with lettuce wraps, Michaela kicked some serious butty with that one, thx wife)

Next on my Health Calendar – Colonoscopy Time:

Just about a few weeks ago, I felt it was time to get another colonoscopy.  Holy Crap, its been almost 4 years since my original scope job from when I was diagnosed.

So, I started searching for a GI doc in my local area of Berkeley, CA.  And guess what, I found my man.  The medical office I called is a large GI medical group, with 9 friggin docs!  That’s alot.  They want me to do a consult first, instead of going straight to a colonoscopy.  I was trying to save some money by skipping that, but they wouldn’t allow that.  So, I told the receptionist my UC story, and that I was interested in a doctor who was “THE MOST HOLISTIC” or at least the GI within the group who was open to alternative methods of treating UC.  If you’ve already read my book “Feeling Crappy to Feeling Happy”, you’ll know I’ve seen plenty of the “western medicine” oriented docs and had little success with their suggestions.  Long story short, she told me there was a gasto doc who had experience with “fecal transplants”.  BINGO!  Instantly, I told her, that’s my man. So, although I was hoping to skip the consultation which I expect will cost me about $200-300 big ones, I’m pretty pumped to meet with a medical doctor who is on the alternative path.  I’m pretty interested in telling him my story too, and with some luck, maybe he’ll be interested in doing some chatting on the site, wouldn’t that be interesting.  So, that appointment is scheduled for a few days from now, and I’m hoping to get the scope done shorty thereafter.  I’ve got my big summer camping trip coming up (and you better believe I’ll be busting out a video again this year for you all, hopefully with some nice trout from the Stanislaus river once again:)

Is there Hope for People with UC?

Of course the answer is a BIG FAT YES!

As much as medication free, feeling good, summertime excitement, brithdays and BBQ’s, and everything else that is part of getting past a UC diagnosis is great news, it stills bums me the hell out knowing that so many people are living a difficult and sometimes hopeless life right now.  If you are one of the UC’ers, or family members of a special UC’er, keep your head UP!

It’s not the end of the world.  And there are many options for everyone.  You all have hopefully read through the surveys that have been conducted on the website with regards to surgery.  If not, YOU SHOULD.  I haven’t had surgery, but I know many people who have, and nearly all of them are happy as hell they moved that way.  So as much as that is an “extreme decision”, it’s an option.

What’s the Deal with Feeling Crappy to Feeling Happy and the Colitis Package?

For the growing number of people who have purchased my electronic books, it’s now been downloaded in 14 countries which is pretty cool.  I intended to write the book for actual UC patients because that is who I felt would benefit the most from the 160 page main book and 100 plus page book of the recipes of the food my wife and I make daily.  But, it turns out, I was wrong.  Many of the emails I’ve received have been from not only patients but parents, friends, and even grandparents of UC’ers who wanted to know my whole story of going from feeling very crappy to happy once again. (I wish my grandparents knew how to surf the internet… come on grandma Tillie.)

For anybody who is wanting to purchase the ebooks, here’s some customer reviews that were submitted recently:

I am almost finished reading this book, although I will read it continuously. I finally feel connected and understood. I am in a flare and trying to get back to life. I took your advice and bugged the doctors right away. They are quickly learning my name.

My family thinks the book is really funny. I know they understand me better because of it. It seems like a normal account that a funny story to me.

I appreciate the frank, honest writing. There are not a lot of places to talk about the symptoms of the disease without being embarrassed.

I look forward to getting into the cookbook. I am sure I will be able to hold food soon.

This is a must-read for UC patients and families. Thanks for your courage and direct approach. It is a real help to me.

Kathy H.

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Hey Adam,
I ordered your book last week and read it in one sitting! Great writing….interesting…funny. You don’t take yourself too seriously, and your desire to truly help others is so obviously genuine.
It was such an easy read!
I have found your book to be the most helpful to me of anything I’ve purchased to read, or have read online so far! You’re so down to earth.
….and your website is AMAZING!
I relate all of the posts you’ve written and the stories of other people to my own symptoms and I have found it SO helpful!
I am just at the tail end of my most vicious flare….nothing requiring hospitalization, but brutal nonetheless.
Like the girl who introduced you to the SCD….you have been a godsend to me!
I too am on the SCD now and am doing really well! (….in addition to my tapering Prednisone…… :) )
Thanks Adam!
Lynn

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To wrap this all up, I’m pretty pumped for the summer coming (and winter for the south hemi UC’ers too) and if you can imagine it, I’m also pretty excited to get a brand new GI doc taking a look up “The Deep, the Dark, the Doo Doo Hole” super soon.  I wonder if he’ll let me film the procedure…that would be pretty strange eh… Does anybody know if dairy cows ever get colonoscopies?

– Adam Scheuer

To learn more about Feeling Crappy to Feeling Happy and the Colitis Package, click here

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