- Joined
- Nov 15, 2012
- Messages
- 1
Hi,
I am sitting in my apartment in Berlin, Germany and I was doing some research on my laptop regarding UC forums. I was diagnosed in Los Angeles last year in June. It started with a bad stomach flu and I decided to go to the ER. They put me on an IV and prescribed me antibiotics. After some days being on the antibiotics, I started to develop UC like symptoms. At first, I thought that I couldn't shake my stomach flu and both my wife and I got so worried since there was now blood in my stool hence I went back to the ER. They referred me to a gastroenterologist and the rest is history. I did some research on antibiotics and I suspect that the antibiotics could have something to do with triggering my UC. It is apparently possible for antibiotics to kill the "healthy" bacteria in your colon.
I was put on the common medications, i.e. Canasa, Proctofoam, and Asacol. It helped and I started to feel better but then, in September, I had a horrible flare up that put me in the hospital. I was still a baby dealing w/ the condition and I felt so overwhelmed, scared, and lost. I was put on the wonder drug aka Prednisone taking 10 mg and it did, well, wonders. I was in remission and feeling great.
My wife and I moved to Germany last year in October 2011 and this experience has been extremely difficult on us and our relationship. We both want to go back to the States and my wife is not happy here at all. I started flaring in January 2012 and could not shake it. I started taking 40 mg of Prednisone but not even that put me back in remission. 40 mg! I was frustrated. I tried different medications that I had received from doctors here in Germany. I started to get depressed and could not believe that here I was flaring for MOST of the year! I knew that once the urgency started, I had about five minutes to make it to base or there would be a terrible accident. I had no control and I couldn't believe that here I am as a 30 something year old male having accidents. The urgency is not only a mere urgency but it is truly painful, embarrassing, and paralyzing.
I had my 2nd colonoscopy, which was done here in Germany to verify the American diagnosis and it is now also confirmed here in Germany. I received 5-ASA that I need to take 2x/day as a 1.5g (that's a lot!) dose (2x/day) and Betnesol, which is a Corticosteroid that I take as an enema. Uncomfortable yes but highly effective. After the colonoscopy here in Germany, I was flaring constantly and I was even afraid to leave my house for errands in fear that I wouldn't be close to a bathroom. I felt so handicapped and weak! I assume that my colon was inflamed due to the invasive procedure. However, I am finally feeling a little bit better again and I am able to do things.
I am about to become a father and I want to be healthy for my daughter, for my family. I want to be able to do things with her, to take her swimming, to the zoo, for ice cream, and so on but I am worried that my UC can put a monkey wrench in all of that. I am seriously considering surgery in the future, i.e. a J-Pouch procedure. I would also really advise people to be very careful with antibiotics. Doctors are so quick to prescribe antibiotics w/o knowing what it could do to YOUR body. It's easy to have 20/20 vision in hindsight and I wish I could turn back the clock and NOT take those antibiotics at that time.
Thank you for reading my story and thanks for your time and consideration.
Bouncingdude
I am sitting in my apartment in Berlin, Germany and I was doing some research on my laptop regarding UC forums. I was diagnosed in Los Angeles last year in June. It started with a bad stomach flu and I decided to go to the ER. They put me on an IV and prescribed me antibiotics. After some days being on the antibiotics, I started to develop UC like symptoms. At first, I thought that I couldn't shake my stomach flu and both my wife and I got so worried since there was now blood in my stool hence I went back to the ER. They referred me to a gastroenterologist and the rest is history. I did some research on antibiotics and I suspect that the antibiotics could have something to do with triggering my UC. It is apparently possible for antibiotics to kill the "healthy" bacteria in your colon.
I was put on the common medications, i.e. Canasa, Proctofoam, and Asacol. It helped and I started to feel better but then, in September, I had a horrible flare up that put me in the hospital. I was still a baby dealing w/ the condition and I felt so overwhelmed, scared, and lost. I was put on the wonder drug aka Prednisone taking 10 mg and it did, well, wonders. I was in remission and feeling great.
My wife and I moved to Germany last year in October 2011 and this experience has been extremely difficult on us and our relationship. We both want to go back to the States and my wife is not happy here at all. I started flaring in January 2012 and could not shake it. I started taking 40 mg of Prednisone but not even that put me back in remission. 40 mg! I was frustrated. I tried different medications that I had received from doctors here in Germany. I started to get depressed and could not believe that here I was flaring for MOST of the year! I knew that once the urgency started, I had about five minutes to make it to base or there would be a terrible accident. I had no control and I couldn't believe that here I am as a 30 something year old male having accidents. The urgency is not only a mere urgency but it is truly painful, embarrassing, and paralyzing.
I had my 2nd colonoscopy, which was done here in Germany to verify the American diagnosis and it is now also confirmed here in Germany. I received 5-ASA that I need to take 2x/day as a 1.5g (that's a lot!) dose (2x/day) and Betnesol, which is a Corticosteroid that I take as an enema. Uncomfortable yes but highly effective. After the colonoscopy here in Germany, I was flaring constantly and I was even afraid to leave my house for errands in fear that I wouldn't be close to a bathroom. I felt so handicapped and weak! I assume that my colon was inflamed due to the invasive procedure. However, I am finally feeling a little bit better again and I am able to do things.
I am about to become a father and I want to be healthy for my daughter, for my family. I want to be able to do things with her, to take her swimming, to the zoo, for ice cream, and so on but I am worried that my UC can put a monkey wrench in all of that. I am seriously considering surgery in the future, i.e. a J-Pouch procedure. I would also really advise people to be very careful with antibiotics. Doctors are so quick to prescribe antibiotics w/o knowing what it could do to YOUR body. It's easy to have 20/20 vision in hindsight and I wish I could turn back the clock and NOT take those antibiotics at that time.
Thank you for reading my story and thanks for your time and consideration.
Bouncingdude
That's terrible. And I hope you're able to make it back to the states soon!
