Intro:
My name is Frank, I’m turning 39 in March, married with a two year old son. I live in Milwaukee, WI. I was diagnosed in late July, 2013 after having a colonoscopy. I would say my first symptoms occurred around April, 2013. So I’ve had this condition for almost a year. I hope I can learn from other patients and get and provide support.
Some more about me:
I have a rewarding career in sales for a family owned company in Milwaukee, WI. I’m a sports junkie, a soccer player and avid golfer. I would think my friends and family would describe me as loyal, trustworthy, optimistic, with a sense of humor and sarcasm.
Symptoms:
Current and recent symptoms are mainly times when I have frequent bowel movements with little to very little output. Loose, watery stools can be the norm and can occur for me as much as 3-4 times a day.
Caught it Early:
I was diagnosed with UC in July, 2013, but it was not conclusive as to whether the colitis was chronic or self-limited. Had blood-work done the following month with IBD results coming back negative. I was on Lialda prescription that was 2 a day for two months, tapered to one a day for a month, to being totally off it for a month with a follow up appointment. I’ve been off Lialda for over 6 weeks now. Found the Lialda to be VERY effective for my condition. Since the Holidays, the troubling bowel movements have returned. My GI thinks that either it’s acute again, or at the beginning stages of a chronic UC, so I’m a patient whose course is still to be determined.
In the follow up appointment, my GI suggested that if my symptoms persist, that I will have to be on the Lialda for the long term. My wife and I have discussed this and we’re hoping that I can carry on without the Lialda.
We’ve looked carefully at foods that can trigger my symptoms, and try to remove them from my diet altogether. The standard trigger foods like raw veggies (especially broccoli), heavy dairy- full fat products, fried foods, and any multi-grain high fiber foods are some that I avoid. Also, I’ve limited my coffee intake to one a day, and removed any carbonated beverages from my diet. Alcohol? It’s fine as long as I don’t overindulge, though somehow lighter beers are a problem but amber ales aren’t as bad. Whiskey is fine. As long as I limit alcoholic beverages to 1-2 drinks I’m okay.
UC has changed my life as it has raised awareness in how I treat my body. I’ve been more conscious about what I eat, and cravings for foods that would normally trigger my symptoms have gone away. My biggest concerns are getting to a point where I’m hospitalized for ulcers, or that my condition physically prohibits me from doing the things I enjoy. I might be lucky, as I believe I caught my symptoms early. To put it in my wife’s words, “we need to get good foods for your butt.”
Medications:
I found Lialda to be VERY effective. I was on a tapered prescription for it and did not have one single issue once the medication took effect (usually takes about 2 weeks).
Recently, I have been taking an organically bound multivitamin (Mega Food) in combination with a probiotic supplement (Florajen). It’s only been a few days, so time will tell if this combination is really helpful. So far, so good.
written by Frank
submitted in the colitis venting area
I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in July of 2013 after a colonoscopy.
