Ulcerative Colitis

**stevensinger** · 01-24-2008, 08:23 PM

I was just diagnosed with this two days ago, and yes it sucks. I am looking for support from fellow jeepers does anyone out there have this awful disease.

mpd8488 · 01-24-2008, 08:48 PM

My little brother has Crohn's disease and we believe that my grandmother had ulcerative colitis. One of my best friends has it and a couple of my other friends have Crohn's. Once you get your body into a new routine to manage the disease you can live a completely normal life. There is a remarkably strong community of support out there for the disease (I believe there are even some message boards, search google) and a lot of research is being done into them. I think there is a promissing new drug coming to the market for U.C.

It seems like an oddity at first, but chances are you probably know a couple of people who have it and they have gotten to the point where it doesn't really affect them much anymore.

XJ2Timer · 01-24-2008, 08:53 PM

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease back in 1985. The area of my intestine affected is where the large and small intestines join. Those first years were terrible. It was trial and error finding out what foods gave me problems. For me I try to avoid gassy foods and foods high in fiber especially raw vegetables. Where the intestine gets inflamed it can narrow and scar. Scarred intestine can not move food through like healthy intestine. High fiber can cause cramping and bloating as your system is trying to move things through a narrowed spot. I have also found that stress and tiredness can aggravate my condition. I have been lucky that I can manage my Crohn's mostly without medication. Once a year I may have a flare up where I have to take a one month course of Prednisone. I did find out last year that my Crohn's has spread some into the small intestine. But it has been 22 years so I don't want to complain much. I have not needed surgery except at the beginning. I was misdiagnosed with appendicitis and had emergency surgery. Oops. Docs took the appendix out anyway so that mistake couldn't get made again.
Everyone is different and Crohn's can occur anywhere in the digestive system so what works for some may not work for you. There are several websites on UC. There is also a newsgroup if you have access to usenet. alt.support.crohns-colitis
Let me know how you are doing.

**mattman8706** · 01-24-2008, 09:39 PM

dude I got that and the Crohns!
they are also testing me for something else...

join the club!!!

**stevensinger** · 01-24-2008, 09:47 PM

Thank you for the support, I am taking asacol two pill three times aday. Also 40mg of Prednisone. for 6 months. I would like to join a benefit or create one to help people like us and get donations for a cure. Has anyone had surgery to have complete colon removed? I am just wondering what the worst case scenario.

**mattman8706** · 01-24-2008, 09:54 PM

no I was actually just diagnosed with this stuff a month or so ago.
Have you had a colonoscopy yet?

**stevensinger** · 01-24-2008, 10:07 PM

Yes, two days ago I found out.

**mattman8706** · 01-24-2008, 10:16 PM

We are both new in this.

I had these pains and stuff for a year and a half and I went to lots of different doctors and they didnt find anything until like a month ago
it sucked!

ridendirty · 01-24-2008, 10:27 PM

IBD club member here also. Dont sweat it. There are 100's of thousands of people who have it all their life and never get diagnost. Their symptoms are just minor. There's a lot worse diseases out there. Just make sure you have good health insurance. Some of the meds and treatments can be quite expensive. I've had it for probably 20 years. No surgeries and currently no meds. Just a little discomfort every now and then. If you do ever have complications, find a CCFA associated DR. They keep up with the latest treatments more than a family practitioner.

I REPEAT, DO NOT LET THIS GET YOU DOWN!!!

**stevensinger** · 01-26-2008, 10:01 AM

Thank you for the support RubiRed, Matt, and the rest of yall. I have great health insurance, and my Dr. is a Gi practice one of the best here on the east coast. I am on meds now and pain seems be going away. But i have weeks of recovery to get thru, I will keep yall updated thanks so much it means a lot to me.

NYCXJ90 · 01-26-2008, 10:06 AM

I don't care if you have ball cancer. I've seen what you have at home.

**PanthersFan** · 01-26-2008, 10:16 AM

Back in 1990, I woke up from what I thought was going to be an appendectomy with a Crohn's Disease diagnosis, right at the point where the small @ large intestines meet, as some others have mentioned (they did take my appendix out "while they were in the neighborhood"). I've been pretty fortunate. I've had one other surgery for scar tissue causing blockages. Other than that, and dealing with low iron levels, I'm OK.

It can be depressing, but I have an understanding wife. I avoid raw fruits and vegetables (I have a salad occasionally, and pay for it with some pain). I also avoid whole grain breads and cereals.

The guys at work think it's great, because my diet, recommended by my doctor, is the opposite of what they are told to eat. As long as I eat what I'm comfortable with and make sure I chew thoroughly, I'm OK.

Crowing · 01-26-2008, 10:17 AM

Crohn's here. Diagnosed about 1.5 years ago. I was ****ting a little bit of blood sometimes for about 6 months before I went in. I just kept thinking "oh, it'll go away in a week here". It actually took me about 2 months to get a diagnosis for it once I saw a doctor because I got referred to different ones about 3 or 4 times.

I take Lialda...which I guess was just released sometime this past summer. I was taking Pentasa before that...and let me tell you, taking pills 4 times a day gets a bit annoying. Now with Lialda, it's just 4 pills in the morning. It really doesn't affect my life at all.

Also, like some others have said I have it right where the small & large intestine meet and then also in my lower rectum.

element981 · 01-26-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevensinger

Thank you for the support, I am taking asacol two pill three times aday. Also 40mg of Prednisone. for 6 months. I would like to join a benefit or create one to help people like us and get donations for a cure. Has anyone had surgery to have complete colon removed? I am just wondering what the worst case scenario.

I took Asacol back in 2006 and it almost killed me and it affected my libido. So be careful.

JeepinGirlCT · 01-26-2008, 11:22 AM

I feel for you all that have Chrons, irritable bowel, and the like. I found out 2 years ago that I have Celiac disease, an inability to digest and tolerate gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, oats, barley and rye. The worst part was getting my kids tested since it's a genetic thing. My younger son has it. I had to tell him that we need to eat special food to stay healthy.

Any other celiac folks out there?

01-24-2008, 08:48 PM	#2
mpd8488 Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Williamsburg, Va Posts: 164 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	My little brother has Crohn's disease and we believe that my grandmother had ulcerative colitis. One of my best friends has it and a couple of my other friends have Crohn's. Once you get your body into a new routine to manage the disease you can live a completely normal life. There is a remarkably strong community of support out there for the disease (I believe there are even some message boards, search google) and a lot of research is being done into them. I think there is a promissing new drug coming to the market for U.C. It seems like an oddity at first, but chances are you probably know a couple of people who have it and they have gotten to the point where it doesn't really affect them much anymore. __________________ 1997 XJ Sport 4 door 4.0, AX15, NP231 Stock- no $

01-24-2008, 08:53 PM	#3
XJ2Timer Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 551 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease back in 1985. The area of my intestine affected is where the large and small intestines join. Those first years were terrible. It was trial and error finding out what foods gave me problems. For me I try to avoid gassy foods and foods high in fiber especially raw vegetables. Where the intestine gets inflamed it can narrow and scar. Scarred intestine can not move food through like healthy intestine. High fiber can cause cramping and bloating as your system is trying to move things through a narrowed spot. I have also found that stress and tiredness can aggravate my condition. I have been lucky that I can manage my Crohn's mostly without medication. Once a year I may have a flare up where I have to take a one month course of Prednisone. I did find out last year that my Crohn's has spread some into the small intestine. But it has been 22 years so I don't want to complain much. I have not needed surgery except at the beginning. I was misdiagnosed with appendicitis and had emergency surgery. Oops. Docs took the appendix out anyway so that mistake couldn't get made again. Everyone is different and Crohn's can occur anywhere in the digestive system so what works for some may not work for you. There are several websites on UC. There is also a newsgroup if you have access to usenet. alt.support.crohns-colitis Let me know how you are doing. __________________ 1st one- 1989 Cherokee Laredo. 12 great years 2nd one- 2001 Cherokee Limited. Got it before they were gone.