Hi! My name is Bill. It's great to have a resource like this where we can share our stories and vent to others who understand!
In March of 2010, at the age of 50, my wife and I came down with a bad stomach/intestinal virus and were sick for a couple of weeks. Hers went away but my symptoms worsened and the diarrhea soon became more watery, bloody with a lot of mucus. I started losing a lot of weight. I lived with the symptoms for over a month before I finally went to the Dr. I eventually had a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with UC. I couldn’t believe it. I know others with UC and how disruptive it was to their lives.
Like most people, I've had off/on bouts of diarrhea in my life. In 2000, I had a fissurectomy and another one in 2009. Lucky for me, butt issues seem to run in our family. My Dr never mentioned the fact that chronic fissures could be a sign of Crohns.
Since 2009 I've tried several diets, eating regimens and various medications including prednisone, steroid enema, Lialda, remicade and balzalazide. My Dr told me I was a "medical failure" and steroid dependent and that I needed surgery to remove the colon so he sent me to a surgeon in May 2012. After looking at my history and doing an examination the surgeon told me he was 99% sure I had Crohns! I had accepted the fact that I had UC and needed surgery and was preparing myself for that; I wanted to just be done with this! He ordered a (very expensive) blood test called Prometheus which came back inconclusive. He then recommended that I go to the Cleveland Clinic for another opinion so I went last month and they confirmed that I have Crohns. I’m going back this week for and more "in depth" examination. :yrolleyes: I am thankful that I at least have an accurate diagnosis before they started removing my insides because the Dr at the Cleveland said that surgery IS NOT in my near future.
I am currently taking 13 mg of prednisone and weaning slowly, 9 Balzalazide tabs a day, Canasa and started Humira in June 2012. I am pretty much in remission; however, I'm experiencing ongoing rectal pain and discomfort and think I have a fistula. I guess I'll find out this week for sure.
This is a terrible disease. Dealing with this has made made me a stronger person and has put a lot of things into perspective. I have a new compassion for anyone suffering with any type of disease. There are so many worse off than me. I thank God that I have arms, legs and a wonderful family and friends who support me.
In March of 2010, at the age of 50, my wife and I came down with a bad stomach/intestinal virus and were sick for a couple of weeks. Hers went away but my symptoms worsened and the diarrhea soon became more watery, bloody with a lot of mucus. I started losing a lot of weight. I lived with the symptoms for over a month before I finally went to the Dr. I eventually had a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with UC. I couldn’t believe it. I know others with UC and how disruptive it was to their lives.
Like most people, I've had off/on bouts of diarrhea in my life. In 2000, I had a fissurectomy and another one in 2009. Lucky for me, butt issues seem to run in our family. My Dr never mentioned the fact that chronic fissures could be a sign of Crohns.
Since 2009 I've tried several diets, eating regimens and various medications including prednisone, steroid enema, Lialda, remicade and balzalazide. My Dr told me I was a "medical failure" and steroid dependent and that I needed surgery to remove the colon so he sent me to a surgeon in May 2012. After looking at my history and doing an examination the surgeon told me he was 99% sure I had Crohns! I had accepted the fact that I had UC and needed surgery and was preparing myself for that; I wanted to just be done with this! He ordered a (very expensive) blood test called Prometheus which came back inconclusive. He then recommended that I go to the Cleveland Clinic for another opinion so I went last month and they confirmed that I have Crohns. I’m going back this week for and more "in depth" examination. :yrolleyes: I am thankful that I at least have an accurate diagnosis before they started removing my insides because the Dr at the Cleveland said that surgery IS NOT in my near future.
I am currently taking 13 mg of prednisone and weaning slowly, 9 Balzalazide tabs a day, Canasa and started Humira in June 2012. I am pretty much in remission; however, I'm experiencing ongoing rectal pain and discomfort and think I have a fistula. I guess I'll find out this week for sure.
This is a terrible disease. Dealing with this has made made me a stronger person and has put a lot of things into perspective. I have a new compassion for anyone suffering with any type of disease. There are so many worse off than me. I thank God that I have arms, legs and a wonderful family and friends who support me.
