I’m 27, healthy eater, hard worker in the corporate world, and active soccer player. Never thought something like UC would happen. This site gave me confidence when i was feeling down. Hopefully this post does the same for you.
Some more details:
I like playing soccer
Symptoms:
Symptom free at moment
Michael’s Story:
Hello. I was diagnosed with UC about 10 months ago. I’ve been symptom free for about 6 months now. I’m writing this post to give others hope that it does get better.
I was going through a really stressful time at work and I believe this triggered the Ulcerative Colitis. I also had some really big, important decisions to make and this added more anxiety to the mix. It started as small streaks of blood on the stool and then larger streaks. Eventually the stool became looser and the blood more prominent. This escalated until I was going to the bathroom more than 15 times a day, straight liquid that was red, with urgency and unable to sleep fully through a night. It was one of the worst periods in my life. I didn’t want to eat, interact with people, leave home, or risk doing anything that would keep me far from a bathroom.
After colonoscopy and diagnosis I was started on lialda. This didn’t seem to improve symptoms so eventually I was prescribed prednisone. Amazingly, after a few weeks of taking prednisone, eating more healthy food, and exercising every once in a while, symptoms started to get better. My work situation became less stressful and I believe this helped tremendously. Over the course of a few months my symptoms faded away completely.
I can’t overstate how miserable I was at the peak of my bad symptoms. It felt like blood was literally pouring out of me. I didn’t think it would end or I would ever get better.
The reason I decided to write this today is because if you are like me, I just wanted to hear from someone that had been in my situation and successfully got out of it. So here I am today, healthy, and I just want you to know it gets better.
How I Treat My Colitis:
Well balanced diet. No spicy foods, limit alcohol, limit caffeine, limit sugars, limit fructose. Exercise but don’t overdo it. Don’t stress out… This only makes it worse. Prednisone worked for me… I hope it works for you.
written by Michael W
submitted in the colitis venting area
I’m 27, healthy eater, hard worker in the corporate world, and active soccer player. Never thought something like Ulcerative Colitis would happen. This site gave me confidence when i was feeling down. Hopefully my post does the same for you. I’m the 1,135th person to share a colitis story on iHaveUC.
Thank you so much Michael for sharing your story, it is GREAT to hear from people like yourself who have found remission after only 10 months since being diagnosed.
Truly an inspiration to others who are newly diagnosed and hoping to get back to normal bowel movements and normal life.
Quick question I have is with regards to your exercise program. What is your routine with that? Are you still playing soccer?
Best to you and happy holidays. Keep us posted on how things continue for you and happy 2015 just around the corner.
-Adam
Thanks, Adam! Yes, I’m still playing soccer. And FYI I played soccer while having UC right up until the symptoms got so bad I couldn’t be far from a toilet for very long. Anyway, my exercise routine isn’t exactly the same week to week. Nowadays, I do try to play at least one semi-competitive soccer match once per week. If none are scheduled, I’ll go for a light jog or simply walk a couple miles a few times a week. I haven’t gotten back into the gym yet… but I do pushups sporadically throughout the week… nothing too strenuous. This works for me but may not for everyone else.
Thank you Mike for sharing your story. Big shout out to Adam for your dedication with this site. It is so helpful!!!!!
Happy 2015.
Great to hear Michael’s story and glad for him that he’s in remission. But, and I stress the but, Prednisolone has put him in remission and I think Michael and other’s really need to be concerned about Prednisolone because it’s not a long term solution and has a lot of highly adverse side effects that may hit him later on.
My GI doc says, if Prednisolone was new to the industry and was about to be introduced, it would probably be stopped and prevented from being introduced to the general market mainly due to its huge adverse and negative side affects if taken on medium to long term basis. Anyway, that’s just my two pennies worth and would urge each person to do their own due diligence on whatever they feel comfortable taking.
Abe – Totally agree with you. Everyone should do their own research and discuss with their doctors. Prednisone is a serious drug and not a long term solution. I wrote this post not to prescribe a treatment for UC but rather to give hope to people that may be struggling. It got better for me and can for you too.
What are your plans after prednisone? It’s not a long term solution in many opinion and has a lot of side effects but I glad you are feeling better!
Just do all the research you can about prednisone*
Diane – you are exactly right that it’s not a long term solution and the doctors told me that up front. Now that I’m off the medication, my plan is to try to minimize the stress in my life and have a healthy, balanced diet.
Great Michael! I had similar positive outcomes from prednisone many years ago. But, this disease can progress, so cutting the stress, following the SCD diet, exercise and tending to the symptoms as soon as they start is really important otherwise you may end up taking stronger drugs and not getting over the bout so quickly. Good luck. UC unfortunately is not a one bout disease.
Thank you for the note Elinor. I’m glad you have had success overcoming UC multiple times. Your advice is really appreciated. I won’t forget it.
I am in Remission for over 6 months now. I had lost 35 lbs and was bleeding very badly. After going on this site I read a message that told me about Probiotics and L-Glutamine. I went on these over the counter pills and after 2 weeks I started to gain my weight back and stopped bleeding. My Doctor had told me I had 2 choices, take out my large intestine or go on Humiera, I looked up Humiera on the web and it had very bad side effects. I believe you should always find out what side effects meds have that doctors order. I can now go out and not be afraid of pooping in my pants. I advise everyone to go on these wonderful pills. God bless and lot’s of good thoughts for you.
My regimen too!
How wonderful, Dianne…how truly wonderful.
Because of you Bev I am in remission. I read it on one of your messages. I owe my good health to you sweetie. Thank you and god bless. Oh yea, lot’s of love and big hugs.
Dianne…I don’t know what to say. Perhaps you and I have the same UC?! I only wish it could work for everyone.
You are wonderful…thank you from the bottom oh my heart.
Love and hugs to you, as well.
Which probiotics and l-glutamine brand do you take? How much per day?
The probiotic is ULTIMATE FLORA CRITICAL CARE by RENEWLIFE…one daily on an EMPTY stomach (I take it when I wake up in the am) and then no eating or drinking anything other than water for at least a half an hour after.
The L-glutamine is powdered FERMENTED by NORTH COAST NATURALS. I take the unflavored and mix it with a bit of 100% juice for taste. I also take it on an empty stomach about an hour before lunch.
Cheers
Michael
It’s great you’re in remission but you never “overcome” UC. What long term maintenance meds are you taking?
I was fine 12 months after diagnosis. 12 months after that I had no colon.
I have decided to get out of the rat race and have a colectomy. I live in Los Altos, CA and I would be interested in referrals for surgeons with the most expertise for this surgery. This is my first post and I would like to talk to others who have opted for colon removal. Wishing everyone a good holiday season and a better 2015! I don’t know if we are allowed to share referrals on this site.
Sharon
I can’t advise on referrals as im in the UK but i can help with any questions you have regarding the surgery.
I had a colectomy in May 2013 and decided against a jpouch and made stoma permanent in April this year
Control your PPAR (Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) and you control your UC.
ASA does this, EVO does this, diet does this, bacteria does this…
Epigenetic control your PPAR> PPAR control your gene expression> genes control your immune system> immune system control your bacteria> bacteria control your health.
Great to hear from all old ucers here.old meaning experienced. Adam its true that it is easy to bring uc under control when the symptoms start rather than a full blown flare.So we must get started as soon as there is a slight symptom with diet probiotics medicines etc etc.
I would strongly recommend you stop taking prednisone and try replacing it with Turmeric containing curcumins and bioperine. It’s a natural herb with no side-effects unlike the prednisone. That is what I did to help me stay in remission. It’s been over a year now since I stopped the prednisone and replaced it with the Turmeric. What a Godsend!!
Which brand of turmeric do you take and how much of it daily?
Better than turmeric is a Bell product called Curcumin X2000 it is made from turmeric but much stronger. It changed my life.