NWR: Ulcerative Colitis

I do know a teacher at my school has that condition. She actually has a handicap legal parking pass due to her condition. You may want to look into that in case you ever need to use the restroom immediately.

Yes! I have U.C. also! I was diagnosed 26 years ago, have been hospitalized a few times because of severe exacerbations, but for the most part-I have been in remission most of the time! I have had to take prednisone sometimes, or use small hydrocortisone enemas to cool off the flare, I can't take sulfa based meds like asacol. The one thing I can say about having U.C. is I know where every bathroom is in most stores, malls, hospitals etc!

I suggest watching your diet still, refined sugars, white breads and some red meats cause me intense pain and diarrhea(sorry if tmi). You will have to listen to your body and avoid foods and stressful situations which can cause flares. I know it is tough to be diagnosed, but this can be managed! Please feel free to pm me or I can give you my FB name.

You will be okay!

It can absolutely be managed. And if medication is the way, it just is the way. There are orals, mentioned above, injectables and infusions. I've had many many patients tell me they "got their lives back" after starting Remicade or Entyvio. Work with your doctor. Be compliant. Report side effects. And mostly, give your treatment plan time. Your body didn't do this overnight. It will take time to recover. You also don't have to go through it alone. There are support groups, I suggest asking your doctor, not necessarily jumping on the first Facebook one you see. See a therapist. They can give you tools to cope with being a mom and having a chronic illness.

You're going to be fine. I promise. <3

My FH has it and he is finally getting good treatment from Cleveland Clinic. Its been a rough road. My best advice, coming from someone who doesnt have it but is very close to someone who does, is find out your triggers and be aware of them. FH's favorite foods are his triggers unfortunately. However, everything will send him to the restroom multiple times it just depends on if it starts after 1 bite, half way through the meal, or he can make it through the whole meal. Ive been worried about the amounts of meds he takes daily, it can't be good for anyone but it helps. Look into something that isn't pills, if that makes you feel better. FH was in a study, because he turned into Crohns, for Entivyo. After he stopped responding since he was getting the placebo we found a new doctor. Entivyo actually started to clear it up and started remission (for the study he was given 2 doses of the med then it could have been the placebo or the med). Entivyo was highly recommended by the new doctor especially after the results. But insurance wouldnt approve it so he started Humira injections yesterday.

My father has had UC since before I was born (I'm 32). For the most part I never notices, except when he had to find bathrooms. It didn't stop my parents from going on vacations or road trips. Recently he's had some issues, but its due to the combination of other medical conditions and medicine mixing. He's also in an experimental trial that involves IV treatments that will become less frequent until he hopefully doesn't have to take anything.

I was diagnosed with UC a few years back. I am a teacher so being uncomfortable and having an urge to run to the bathroom is not an option. I take medication on a daily basis. I take balsalazide two times a day and a suppository most nights. I have to say, the medicine helps but I feel like there are other factors I need to be mindful of. Drinking a lot of water everyday is a must. Regular exercise really helps too. Lastly, there are some food I know I need to eat regularly- apples- and food that I can't eat a lot of or it effects me- sugary food gets me. Stress definitely has a big event on me. I try to plan things out so they don't pile up and try not to stress over little things. A lot of stress causes big flare ups for me that won't go away until the stress level lowers. Doing these things, I feel great most of the year. Some I was diagnosed, put on medicine, and figured out what my body can take I've only had one flare up. That was due to stress when my job was changing, planning wedding, and a few deaths in the family. Once stress leveled out I was back to normal. Good luck!

My best friend has it but she has learned what her trigger is and does not take meds. Her trigger is processed soy, which it turns out is frequently used as a filler.

I have colitis! My senior year of college, I got super sick after a breakup. Apparently, the stress of that mixed with final exams sent me into a flare. I lost 15 pounds and couldn't keep any food in my system. I had never been that bad before, so I ended up having to go to the hospital and get a colonoscopy. Since then, they've tried SO MANY drugs for me. Recently, I got really tired of them putting me on meds, so I am currently trying to fix it myself be eating better, putting less stress on myself, limiting alcohol, etc. Meds don't fix the problem, and mine isn't bad enough (thankfully) to need meds all of the time, so I decided to stop them. Something I really noticed that is a trigger for me is caffeine!! I can drink like one 20 oz Coke a day, but any more caffeine than that, and my body goes nuts! Also, anything with gluten will destroy me. I try to stick with gluten free beers and pastas and just not do bread, but it is really hard!! I've also cut back on dairy, and that seems to have worked wonders! Just a few suggestions!

Thank you, everyone. I appreciate the input. I guess this is more common than I originally thought. I was prescribed Rowasa enemas for 30 days and 2 mesalamine (lialda) pills per day. I have to follow up with the GI doctor in 2 weeks. I am concerned about the effects the medication will have on my organs, but also what the inflammation will do if I don't take it... so it's kind of a double edged sword. I feel a little bit better knowing I'm not alone. I just want to live a long, healthy life.

I don't have UC but I do have severe gastrointestinal issues, and have since I was 17 (now 26). I have G.E.R.D. with a hiatal hernia and two stomach ulcers that bleed when I stress out. I have recently had another endoscopy and colonoscopy, and I'm FINALLY healing! First time off my medications since I was in high school.

You can eventually fall into remission with the right treatment and medication, so I promise it will be okay! Time is key here as well, and finding an excellent gastro to take care of you!

@Colleen - I used to do approvals for Entyvio. Message me on Instagram, maybe I can help, if he still wants to use it. My IG: aemcee28

Not UC, but Crohn's . Go buy "the autoimmune solution" by Amy Meyers and read up about the autoimmune protocol. Though the protocol is tough at first, it literally saved my life and am on no medications. Follow "Autoimmune Wellness" on FB, they have great tips and recipes to keep you on track. Also, the easiest/best cookbook I've found for AIP is the "Healing Kitchen"; all of the recipes have simple ingredients that are relatively inexpensive. I honestly can't say enough great things about AIP, it is so worth it and will give you a quality of life you never thought you could have. Good luck!