new member,need advice please

           I have UC and Endometriosis, anyone else with both conditions? Endo diagnosed in 1995. Started having intestinal problems after endo surgery. Diagnosed with UC in 1999.Intestinal problems were chronic diarrhea,always feeling like I had to go but nothing came out, sometimes I had seconds to get to the bathroom, going 5-7 times everyday. GI said symptoms were not result of inflamation in colon, they were what caused inflamation. Does that make sense? GI gave me Asacol,it worked ok but still had some symptoms. Had to stop taking it cause it was to expensive(single mom,denied insurance because of UC. Well its 2008, I am 10 times worse. Chronic pain everyday and intestinal issues. I have read all about Endo and UC they seem to have similar intestinal issues and they both cause chronic pain. I dont know anymore which one has gotten worse.My daily routine if I want to leave the house is take Imodium advanced a few times a day and dont eat till I get home. I scope out the stores for bathrooms as soon as I walk through the doors, and look for stores as I drive down the road.     I know none of you are docs but, I need advice. I've been taking propolis extract and Aloe vera juice(lily of the desert) for almost a week now, have'nt seen much difference yet. Does this stuff work for UC?  I have to go herbal because of no insurance, maybe someone knows of a better choice?  I have read Accupuncture is effective,anyone know about this?     I have never told anyone all that before, that was really hard. Sorry it was long.                                                                 

I have tried the acupuncture, and it is very expensive.  I have only gone twice, but the only difference I see is that now I wake up very early in the morning to go.  I'm not too happy about that.  Have you asked your doc about getting some samples of asacal or colazal.  My gi just gave me a card for 100 bucks off a month of colazal.  I don't know what other promotions or coupons there are, but it is worth a call into your dr office. 

We all understand scoping out bathrooms and making sure there are places to stop along your way to any destination.  We all live like that here, and we understand.  There really is not anything you can do about that.  I take a change of clothes with me in the car (just in case).  I have never needed it (knock on wood) but it does give my brain a rest.  I also tell myself that if I have an accident the worst thing that will happen is that I will be late, and I can live with that. 

Good luck, and I hope this helps.

hello again,

from what i understand with acupuncture (and with other holistic treatments), is that an initial course of 10 weeks is advised, once a week because the effects are cumulative over time. Lemonhead - after my first two sessions I was actually quite the opposite to you and nearly comatosed with tiredness. My acupuncturist advised me that if that's what my reaction was, then my body obviously needed more rest; however on the third session, he changed positions of some of the points specifically to give me more energy, and it did work; so I wonder if the treatments you received, those points to give you more energy were used?! I decided to try acupuncture after having seen a naturopath for a number of months who is quite convinced that it was worth a try. Perhaps if you can find a local naturopath for even just one visit, they will be able to recommend supplements that may be of help.

Sorry to read that you have an insurance problem that's keeping you from sound medical treatment. I think that Rio & Beth are pointing you in the right direction. There was another person writing to this site last spring, as I recall, who had endometriosis + UC, but I don't remember what name she used. / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 Colazal daily for maintenance of remission)