Hello all-UC sufferer

[alitammy]

Hello All,
thought I would stop by here and introduce myself, and tell you my story and experiences.

I was diagonosed with UC when I was just 13 years old. After a spell in hospital, and lots of tablets and a low residue diet I did get better, so much actaully that I didn't have any problems for 15 years. But 1 month after having my daughter it returned, and hasn't gone since, that was 2 years ago now.

I wondered if anyone could give me some ideas-I have been to the doc's and he Prescribed Salofalk Enemas and tablets (melazine-sorry about spelling), I use the enemas for about 2 or 3 weeks, and then I am well for about a month and all starts up again. I don't eat oily food, fibre food or too much milk. I started taking Spirulina tablets and ALoe Vera Juice last week and even tried acuputure. I don't get a lot of pain, but the running off to the toilet, not being able to pass wind safely, and the blood is all a worry. I have had a week of enemas now, and they just don't seem to be working as well as before-I'm really worried that I'm going to end up with a rupture or something, and if I go back to the doc's prehaps he will start offering surgery, like removing my bowel and I will end up with a colostomy, which I feel I would not cope well with.

If you have any ideas as to what I am doing wrong etc etc, would be appreicated. I so hope everyone can be great help to each other on this forum.
Tammy.

 

[Cara Fusinato]

The Doctor didn't suggest anything else? It seems a bit different than most of what we hear on the message boards. You may want to read the treatment threads and then discuss those ideas you see with your Doctor in effort to change your routine to hopefully improve things.

 

[Kev]

WELCOME! As for what you are doing wrong, you ARE pre-determining what a visit to your doctor will tell you as a means of avoiding going to see the doctor. See that?
go see your doctor. get tested. If he/she recommends surgery, then decide if thats the best thing for you right now. And, just because the topic of surgery is raised, it doesn't mean that it's a colostomy.. it may be just a resection. I had one, and it was literally a walk in the park. The fact that you are on enema treatment would suggest that your particular colitis is in the lower section only... as enema treatments are just not typical of colitis in the upper areas.. they can't reach... I did the enema thing years ago, but this time, with it spread throughout, my GI has ruled it out. As for diet, you should see a nutritionist who specializes in IBD.. there are so many foods that supposedly aren't good for those with UC, and it is easy to overlook/mistake what's good or bad. Keep a diary of everything you eat, and note how your body reacts. It might take 1 - 2 days for it to upset you..

Anyway, I don't want to sound judgemental, or like I'm an expert. I am neither. I just wanted to pass on what I did in your situation, and what I would advise my kids to do if they got IBD. It's not a case of right or wrong, it's more like trial and error.. from someone who's been there, and done that. OK? And, coming here and saying hello was one of the rightest choices you could have made. Welcome again

 

[mikeyarmo]

Welcome Tammy!

I would recommend you keep a food journal and try and determine if there are any trigger foods that bring on the symptoms every few weeks. Is there something in your life that occurs every so often that could potenitally bring on the symptoms also? Anything you can determine and speak with your doctor about may give them another suggestion for a way to seek treatment for your Ulcerative Colitis.

The treatment section is also great resource as was mentioned, and feel free to ask any additioanl questions you may have.