My UC

Meet Skip:

I’m 57 yrs old ,I’ve had lactose intolerance since I was 26 years old.  I have always been active & healthy .
I’m a Vietnam Vet & served in the US NAVY

Some more about me:

I’m still a kid at heart , don’t feel 57 until I look in the mirror :) I went to collage to be an art teacher,but unfortunately that didn’t happen ,life took me down a different road . I live in N.H. & have 8 grandchildren & 1 great grandchild !

Colitis Symptoms:

Right now I’m on prednisone started out at 60mg a day for three wks so my UC is calmed down .I don’t have a solid stool yet but I’m not bad . I went from 15-20+ times a day to 2-3 times a day .

My Colitis

Right now I’m on prednisone started out at 60 mg a day for three weeks so my UC is calmed down some what .but for three I was in the ER twice. I started with going to the bath room15-20+ times a day 24-7 till I was so dehydrated I had to go to the ER, I was told I had the stomach flu & sent home.The next week was as bad ,but when the blood started I really got scared and went back to the ER ,this time more tests and was told they thought it was UC .  The next week had a colonoscopy and was told I had severe Ulcerative Colitis.  I’m going 2-3 times a day right now, nothing solid but not bad. I really feel like the prednisone was a life saver. So now the Dr. Has me going down 5mg every week .so this week I’m on 55mg next week50mg a and so on till I’m off of them.Also at the same time he put me on apriso-mesalamine 375 mg 4 pills in the am .

I’m just so nervous that once the prednisone is done that ill be right back to where I was. I have also changed the way I eat now . I make smoothies every morning and afternoon, I’m getting more fruits & veg. then I think I ever have . I’ve cut out all fried food , and started reading everything I can on the Internet about what to eat and how to control a flare .   Seeing that I’m only a couple of months into this UC, I’m not sure what to expect, can I definitely expect to get a flare? Is mesalamine going to work? Should I have some prednisone as back up?

I’m going to visit my daughter in Taiwan for three months and I really think I should have some prednisone with me just in case, any suggestions ?

Colitis Medications:

Prednisone 60mg for three wks now reducing by 5 mg every wk . Also taking 375 mg 4 a day of mesalamine. Apriso
Also take a probiotic a day.

I feel like the prednisone was a life saver, though I am having side effects from it: puffy face, breaking out, sleepless nights, irritable, joints ache, but am willing to put up with all this to never have another one of those attacks again!!!!!!

written by Skip

submitted in the colitis venting area