Just been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis

[Rich101]

Hi, I have posted on various other threads. But would just like to share my experience with others.

I started having symptoms 9-10 weeks ago, at this stage normal stools, but with a slight amount of blood and mucus.

I went to see the doctor who gave a quick examination, and said it was prob piles.He prescribed me stool softeners. DS

So off I went, but the next day I passed a small blood clot, stools were slightly runnier but not diarrhea yet.
Went back to the docs, who then decided it was not piles, and that I required a camera up there for investigation.

The appointment was 4 weeks away and in this time the symptoms became worse, more diarrhea, blood mucus, pain on passing formed stools at times.

Had a consultation at hopital mid june, and they then booked me in for a sigmoidoscopy.

Again during this time my symptoms did not improve, going to the toilet 4/5 times a day by now, blood, mucus, diarrhea, tiredness, urgency, gas.

So roll on another 3 weeks, and finally today I had my sigmoidoscopy, and have been diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis. I am gutted that I have this incurable disease but at the same time relieved it was not worse.

I have been prescribed some drugs to reduce imflamation, so I am going to see how that goes first.

I would really like to speak to people about there experiences and knowledge of Ulcerative colitis, as I am yet to know someone who has..

Rich

[diane07]

Hi Rich,

I haven't got it but i did look after one of my elderly ladies who had the same thing, she took meds every day for it and led a pretty normal life, i do know there were certain medicines she couldnt take because of it.

Nicola who owns NMP has crohns, so she will no doubt be able to understand how you are feeling.

di xx

[nomorepanic]

I have it Rich but you probably don't want to read my story on here about it as it will scare you more.

What drugs are you on?

Can I ask how old you are as well.

I am sorry you have this disease - it is not nice and you will need to make some lifestyle changes to help it as well.

[nomorepanic]

I mean I have Crohn's as Di said not colitis

[Rich101]

Thanks for the replies.

I am 28 now. And have just been prescribed salofalk enemas.

The consultant seemed confident with that medicine, so Im keeping fingers crossed it can ease my symptoms.

I know its going to be a long journey for me, and have done my own bits of research. Its just a minefield of information on the internet. Some of which is quite worrying, but at the same time, I have read some positive stories on the ways people have got into remission.

I have been having symptoms for around 10 weeks now, and praying that it has peaked, and the drugs will start to heal me.

I did mention to my consutant that around 3 years ago I quit smoking, (because I was joining the police force and wanted to be in peak condition), that after that I started to develop mouth ulcers. No other symptoms at this point.

And this still happens now, and she said it is possible that it was the start of my colitis, but did not show any other symptoms, and was of a very mild nature then!!!!! And she went on to say that U.C and quitting smoking has a link and that somehow the smoking can in some way protect the mucosa of the bowel.

And there I was thinking I had quit for health benefits.lol

Im not saying this is the primary reason for my U.C as Im aware it could of happened anyhow. But it would be very interesting to find out more.

How long have you had Crohns Nicola?

Do you have periods of good remission??

[nomorepanic]

Ahh yes I remember now that my Crohn's consultant said that smoking with Crohn's is a No No but with U.C. it is ok. I thought that very odd lol.

I was diagnosed in Dec 2007 and was ok until Sept 2008 when I had a massive flare-up and was in hospital for 2 months, had a drain in my abdomen for 7 months draining abcesses and was off work for 9.5 months. At the same time I had a heart attack so they could not operate as they would have normally done.

I am on some serious medication now that seems to be keeping things at bay.

I was diagnosed very late in life at 41 which is unusual but I think I had it for many years before that.

I am on a low fibre diet as well and cannot eat more than 1 portion of fruit and 1 portion of veg a day and some foods are a complete no-go (like Oranges).

I hope you get a diet sorted that helps yours too.

Happy to chat anytime about it anyway

[Rich101]

Yeah they say its most common between 16 and 30,

It sounds as though you had a really rough ride, hope things carry on improving for you.

I have suffered anxiety before but I dont think it was quite on the same level as yours.

The strange thing is that I feel fine in myself at the moment, and have done for the past 10 weeks with symptoms. Worry and anxiety have probably got me down a bit. And apart from feeling tired I feel okay. So praying it has been caught before it had chance to get worse.

Thanks for chatting

[Rich101]

Hi Lolly,

I must admit the vast differences of peoples experiences is remarkable.

10 years lolly, thats great. Did you ever take medication????

At the moment I am on salofalk, which seems to have helped a little already. fingers crossed. And over the next couple of weeks I am going to cut out insoluble fibre, citrus fruits, spicy foods, and any hard to digest veg like cauliflour, cabbage,sweetcorn, nuts ect.....

This weekend will be a experiment too, as I have a stag do!!! So will be having a few beers. And will be interesting to see if this has an effect on my U.C.

To be honest whatever it takes to get this disease into remission, I will do. And I think by next week I will be a bit more informed as to what I can and cant have.

How do you find enough to have in your diet lolly, with the exclusion of breads and pastas. Are you okay with cereal?

[HarvestMoon]

My sister had Ulcerative Colitis. I'm glad you got it checked out and diagnosed because she didn't and was rushed into hospital after collapsing. Touch and go as to whether she would survive for a while but she did. That was probably about 25 years ago and she's still going strong although she did have to make some lifestyle changes.

Good luck.

My god, where did those 25 years go?!

[nomorepanic]

Lolly - I was on sulphasalazine - it made me so ill. I was sick constantly and they had to keep admitting me to hospital as I was that poorly with it so they could put me on a drip to rehydrate me and inject me with anti-sickness drugs.

In the end they had to take me off it.

I am now on a drug that is not even licensed for Crohn's and is used for leukemia!

I am surprised they keep giving you colonoscopies as I have never had a successful one done and they say I don't need one doing.

Can U.C. be cured as such? I know that Crohn's can't.