Hi Everyone,
I was diagnosed in 2008 with Ulcerative Proctitis + possible IBS. A course of Salofalk helped me at the time, and I've had to use it again for a minor flare-up in 2009, but smooth sailing after that.
In this past year, I started to get more signs that things were getting bad again (including anemia in spite of taking iron supplements, occasional blood, etc.), but I didn't really pay much attention, because I was battling my evil bladder. I have been dealing with bladder conditions for more than a decade now -- Interstitial Cystitis that was severe at one point but is controlled now, AND, in the past couple years, chronic UTIs. Fun combination. So, I tended to ignore my bowel issues, since keeping my bladder happy demands my full attention. Looking back now, I really should have paid better attention to my gut sooner...
Christmas Eve, I suddenly went into the worst flare I've experienced yet, and it's slowly getting worse. Aside from worse left-sided pain than usual and all the typical symptoms (diarrhea, some blood, mucous, bloating, etc.), there are joint pains, eye issues, pain in the upper stomach area and occasionally on the right side, exhaustion, and terrible nausea. Frequency is up to 6-10 times per day on average (sometimes a bit more), when it's normally 1-3.
Almost all of this is new to me, and I'm a little freaked out by it all. Salofalk is just barely taking the edge off the symptoms, allowing me to sort of fake my way through most work days, but I am exhausted and in pain, and each time I think it's finally getting better, it seems to take a downturn the next day...grrr!
I've been to my GP a couple times, and will be seeing my GI on Feb 5. I'm keeping a list of symptoms so I can be as thorough as possible in that appointment. I'm not sure if all of this is normal for Ulcerative Proctitis, or if there's something else going on or what, but I am frustrated and feeling pretty lost as to how to approach all of this.
Which is why I'm here.
I see a lot of folks here who deal with so much, and you're inspirational. I look forward to learning from you!
-Masks
I was diagnosed in 2008 with Ulcerative Proctitis + possible IBS. A course of Salofalk helped me at the time, and I've had to use it again for a minor flare-up in 2009, but smooth sailing after that.
In this past year, I started to get more signs that things were getting bad again (including anemia in spite of taking iron supplements, occasional blood, etc.), but I didn't really pay much attention, because I was battling my evil bladder. I have been dealing with bladder conditions for more than a decade now -- Interstitial Cystitis that was severe at one point but is controlled now, AND, in the past couple years, chronic UTIs. Fun combination. So, I tended to ignore my bowel issues, since keeping my bladder happy demands my full attention. Looking back now, I really should have paid better attention to my gut sooner...
Christmas Eve, I suddenly went into the worst flare I've experienced yet, and it's slowly getting worse. Aside from worse left-sided pain than usual and all the typical symptoms (diarrhea, some blood, mucous, bloating, etc.), there are joint pains, eye issues, pain in the upper stomach area and occasionally on the right side, exhaustion, and terrible nausea. Frequency is up to 6-10 times per day on average (sometimes a bit more), when it's normally 1-3.
Almost all of this is new to me, and I'm a little freaked out by it all. Salofalk is just barely taking the edge off the symptoms, allowing me to sort of fake my way through most work days, but I am exhausted and in pain, and each time I think it's finally getting better, it seems to take a downturn the next day...grrr!
I've been to my GP a couple times, and will be seeing my GI on Feb 5. I'm keeping a list of symptoms so I can be as thorough as possible in that appointment. I'm not sure if all of this is normal for Ulcerative Proctitis, or if there's something else going on or what, but I am frustrated and feeling pretty lost as to how to approach all of this.
Which is why I'm here.
I see a lot of folks here who deal with so much, and you're inspirational. I look forward to learning from you!
-Masks