Charlie from New York City. I am 32 years old. I am married to my high school sweetheart. We have no children as of yet. We are both attorneys. No, we do not always argue with each other but when we do, we usually need a judge or a mediator to intervene. Just kidding.
My hobbies include traveling, reading, cycling, music, crossword puzzles and sudoku. My favorite shows include Lost and Heroes. I am also still very much into cartoons much to the embarassment of my wife. What is it with men and cartoons you may ask? Jonathan Lethem's Men and Cartoons and Fortress of Solitude explains it all.
I was diagnosed with UC in December 2002. I originally thought it was a stomach bug but after two weeks of 15 to 20 liquid BMs a day, I finally went to a GI specialist, who diagnosed me with mild to moderate UC. I was precribed Asacol, Cannasa and Rowasa, none of which seemed to do the trick. A week later, prednisone was introduced into the regimen, and it was a miracle. Little did I know then all the nasty side effects of preds.
Friend introduced me to the SCD shortly after my diagnosis. I complied with the diet for almost a year and was in remission for nearly a year and a half. Second flare in April, 2004 requiring hospitalization.
I've had about 5 flares since diagnosis. My last one which started in December 2007 was probably the most severe, requiring lots of prescription pain meds and missing work for 2 weeks. I did not respond to 50 mg of Prednisone, 75 mg of 6MP, cortenemas, Canasa, and 4800 mg of Asacol. Added Remicade to the laundry list of meds in February, and as of about a week and a half ago, my BMs are back to normal (1 to 2 solid BMs per day).
Actually, my morning BMs are now unusually large, long and in a single solid piece. Anyone else have this same horrifying yet gratifying experience after recovering from a flare up? I think it may be the result of the steroids administered at both ends that perhaps has over-strengthened my colon.
Current meds: Prednisone 25 mg (tapering off 5 mg per week), 75 mg 6MP, 4800 mg Asacol (4 pills 3 times per day), Canasa suppository (one in the morning), Colocort enema (one at night), Probiotics (half hour before breakfast and dinner), Olive Leaf Extract, Vitamin B Complex.