In 2008, while pregnant, my daughter started feeling 'poorly'. We just assumed the pregnancy was responsible. After the birth of her child, she never regained her strength and became weaker. She also bled when she went to the bathroom and hadn't had solid stools in quite awhile. Finally, after a visit to the ER, she was diagnosed with UC. Unfortunatly, her infection had progressed so that she had to be hospitalized for a week. I'd never heard of UC before this. Thus began my daughter's journey with UC, she was 18. Now, at 20, she's having another 'flair up'. Her Dr. said a colectomy may be in her near future.
0 of 2 people found this story helpful.
Story 2 for Asacol
Jamie B
Michigan
Scared to death!
Date: January 23, 2010
I was diagnosed with UC two years ago. I have a very stressful job and schedule to keep each week, and low and behold one day my body broke down! I had rectal bleeding, diarheria, fatigue, followed by nausea after these attacks. I had been a fairly healthy person for many years and couldn't understand why I couldn't get on with life! I decided to go to bed early and exercise more hoping to "clear things up." After a hospital stay and another colonoscopy, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. At that point, I was using the bathroom up to 14-16 times a day. Upon diagnosis, I felt better knowing what was bothering me and now I could focus on my condition and treatment. I saw several doctors and finally found my way to a gastroentrologist, who set me on a path of medication, rest and elimination of stress. After nine weeks, I was able to return to work and was in remission for almost a year. Soon, I let my hectic schedule and my Type A personality spiral me into another session of UC, that I am treating now. Fortunately, I have been diagnosed and I don't have to worry about "what's wrong with me?' I know what I have. Now, I am more calm about my treatment and recovery/remission so that I can return to work soon. I have a job that doesn't allow me to have bathroom breaks, at random. I need to wait for my break. This causes additional "stress" and therefore compounds the condition, many of us face. I have accumulated "sick days" in my bank for many years and I am thankful I have those to use today. I was always a steadfast employee over the years, and never abused the system with absenteeism. This has helped me overcome additional stress in my recovery today.
5 of 5 people found this story helpful.
Story 3 for Asacol
John M
My UC is really bad in the morning
Date: June 18, 2009
I am having 6-7 bm's a day but I seem to be really bad in the morning. I seem to go a lot from 7am-10am , 10am-noon ( better but usually 1-2). After I eat in the afternoon I usually go maybe 1-2 until I go to bed at 10-11pm at night. I just had a my doctor look again and said I look good but there is some irritation on the low portion of my colon. I am overall happy but I find myself nervous in the morning and reading more about the lower portion I probably do have fears that I will soil myself. I am in outside sales and I do my best with it but just looking for some advice or any one else out there with the same problem. I try and not let it effect me but I constantly think about it and get really nervous in situations where I know there is not a bathroom not readily available. Like I said in the afternoon I really do very well and the tension goes down alot.
41 of 48 people found this story helpful.
Story 4 for Asacol
Jeff W
PA
Strict Diet Helps
Date: February 5, 2009
Over the last few years I have found that being very structured with what, when, where I eat helps manage my UC. I stay to the same basic schedule of food using the same recipes each time, I also have worked out dishes at local and a couple of chain restaurants that do not contain triggers for me. It took many months of logging everything I ate, where I bought it, etc but it has given me a very valuable tool in managing my UC.
39 of 48 people found this story helpful.
Story 5 for Asacol
Carol S
Largo, FL
Mother and daughter with Ulcerative Colitis
Date: January 30, 2009
My story of Ulcerative Colitis started many years ago, when I was 10 years old my Mother died of Ulcerated Colitis. Her Doctors were unable to get it under control and she only weighed 87 pounds when she passed away. Many years later while on vacation I became very ill, I was bleeding plus very dehydrated that when the paramedics arrived they said one more hour left untreated I would have died. During that hospital stay I had a colonoscopy plus other tests and I was told I also had Ulcerated Colitis, in fact exactly 45 years to the day of my Mothers passing is when I left the hospital. It has been over 5 years now since I was diagnosed, I did have some flare ups but working closely with a great Gastroenterologist, and along with diet control I am able to lead a normal life styIe. Modern technology has come a long way and it is up to each individual to take advantage of it along with your Doctor.
