Hey, I am 21 and was diagnosed with lymphocytic colitis.
My diagnosis came following being admitted to hospital over 20 times in the space of a year, for at least a week each time.
I was suffering from tachycardia, hypokalemia & chronic dehydration and diarrhea.
My specialist made it his priority to get my heart rate down, and deal with my other problems accordingly, finally getting to the diarrhea.
There were days when I would go to the loo over 30 times a day, I was constantly exhausted and suffered from overwhelming craps/pain in my abdomen & lower back.
I was diagnosed following the study of 6 biopsies from a colonoscopy.
Since being diagnosed life has been hell, instead of my symptoms getting better over time, they've worsened. To the point where I am no longer able to work, I cannot even remember the last time I had a decent nights sleep, I'm scared to leave the house incase I cannot make it to the toilet in time. I'm in constant pain, not to mention the discomfort and bloating.
But worse than any of these, I find is the embarrassment. I am lucky enough to have an extremely supportive partner, who has stood by me through all of this. Like I mentioned previously I am only 21 and I feel like no one understands just how much this is affecting my quality of life.
Over the years I've tried numerous drug therapies:
Budesonide
Prednisolone
Asacol
Azathioprine
Loperamide
Codeine
Colestyramine powder
Fybogel
Not to mention the different diets, I've tried lactose free, gluten free & I'm now on the FODMAPS diet, I'd never heard of it before and I've only been on it for 3 days, and haven't yet noticed a difference, but I'm praying to god it works.
It's got to the point where I'm also on anti-depressants alongside my regime of tablets everyday, and I feel like it's just never going to end. I just want to live a "normal" 21 year olds life, be able to go out to work, drink if I want too, eat what I want, sleep through the night & not live in constant fear and shame, is it really that much to ask?
My diagnosis came following being admitted to hospital over 20 times in the space of a year, for at least a week each time.
I was suffering from tachycardia, hypokalemia & chronic dehydration and diarrhea.
My specialist made it his priority to get my heart rate down, and deal with my other problems accordingly, finally getting to the diarrhea.
There were days when I would go to the loo over 30 times a day, I was constantly exhausted and suffered from overwhelming craps/pain in my abdomen & lower back.
I was diagnosed following the study of 6 biopsies from a colonoscopy.
Since being diagnosed life has been hell, instead of my symptoms getting better over time, they've worsened. To the point where I am no longer able to work, I cannot even remember the last time I had a decent nights sleep, I'm scared to leave the house incase I cannot make it to the toilet in time. I'm in constant pain, not to mention the discomfort and bloating.
But worse than any of these, I find is the embarrassment. I am lucky enough to have an extremely supportive partner, who has stood by me through all of this. Like I mentioned previously I am only 21 and I feel like no one understands just how much this is affecting my quality of life.
Over the years I've tried numerous drug therapies:
Budesonide
Prednisolone
Asacol
Azathioprine
Loperamide
Codeine
Colestyramine powder
Fybogel
Not to mention the different diets, I've tried lactose free, gluten free & I'm now on the FODMAPS diet, I'd never heard of it before and I've only been on it for 3 days, and haven't yet noticed a difference, but I'm praying to god it works.
It's got to the point where I'm also on anti-depressants alongside my regime of tablets everyday, and I feel like it's just never going to end. I just want to live a "normal" 21 year olds life, be able to go out to work, drink if I want too, eat what I want, sleep through the night & not live in constant fear and shame, is it really that much to ask?
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