Introduction:
My name is Tomacina. I am 24 years old and I was diagnosed with UC when I was 11. At that time, I spent two months straight in the hospital. I wasn’t expected to live, but I survived. My most recent colonoscopy was two years ago. I was hospitalized at that time and then again the next year after. My UC has almost never been managed, so for 13 years I’ve suffered from these symptoms everyday.
Some more about me:
I am a mother of two boys: 3 and 1. I also work full time as a CNA and manage a household. I’m originally from Miami, but we relocated to Alabama and after my parents passed away, I came back to south Florida. I wrote a poem earlier this year when I was at my lowest point in dealing with this disease.
Life for me is not easy. Diagnosed at the age of 3, well actually 11, but just follow me. Only God knows why this came to be. The shit, the pain, the blood, the grief, the tears I’ve shed is a daily agony. I’m not writing this for sympathy, the tenth degree, or “likes” you see, but to show the world this side of me. I don’t want this as my destiny. I honestly just want to be free. Asking “why?” isn’t worth the fee and remaining strong is weakening. Instead of taking this out on everybody, I put my words on this white sheet. So that everyone out there can see that I am living with UC.
Symptoms:
At this moment, I’m symptom free, but when I did have them it was horrible. I experienced probably 10 to 15 bm a day, bloody stool, aching joints, rashes, fatigue, and loose stool. Probably if you name it I had it. My UC, surprisingly, is only on one side, but my symptoms were so bad that at 24, I didn’t think I’d be able to watch my kids grow up.
The Drink
UC changed my life probably the same way it has changed everyone else’s. I couldn’t go anywhere without scoping out where the closest restroom was and if the symptoms were too bad I didn’t even leave the house. My family understood, but only to a certain point. They didn’t understand exactly what the UC was doing to my body. For the most part, however, they helped me and they were there for me whenever possible.
I’m speaking in past tense because for a few months I’ve been symptom free. I literally tried everything and even contemplated surgery. One day, I noticed my brother drinking this new drink and I decided to try it. (He does not have UC.) I tried the drink and it had a nice taste, so I went back to the place he brought it from and got myself one. I started drinking it pretty regular for the taste at first. Then I noticed my symptoms started to deminish. I was experiencing fewer BM’s at first. Then the bleeding stopped. Then overnight as it seemed, I was going regularly without any UC symptoms.
I’m not a doctor and I can’t promise that you will have the same results I did, but after trying everything to get rid of that hell, this drink seemed to work. Call me crazy, but the drink is called Marley’s Mellow Mood. It comes in different flavors, but my favorite is the half lemonade and half tea. I feel like this drink really saved my life. If you’ve tried everything else short of surgery and nothing else has worked, try the drink. It might make you drowsy, so I’d start off drinking only one before bed until you get used to it. Then try one in the morning and one at night. Try it! Try it! Try it! Please. I can’t tell you how happy I am now being able to live somewhat normal again!
written by Tomacina
submitted in the colitis venting area
My name is Tomacina. I am 24 years old and I was diagnosed with UC when I was 11. At that time, I spent two months straight in the hospital. I wasn’t expected to live, but I survived. My most recent colonoscopy was two years ago. I was hospitalized at that time and then again the next year after. My UC has almost never been managed, so for 13 years I’ve suffered from these symptoms everyday.
