HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Any Success?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/30/2010 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone have a success story? so many stories of life being so altered that it doesnt sound fun at all. I need to be able to hear that life does change, but not so drastically that I wont be able to leave my house, see my friends, go to the gym, enjoy my child, enjoy my spouse, travel, etc, etc....

Success? Anyone?
Posted 8/30/2010 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
hi hmv -
I suspect that the best success stories, even among those who are members here, aren't so evident because those folks are out doing things rather than sitting about with their computers. Keep that in mind - this is likely a skewed population, self-selected, folks who want advice because their UC is active to whatever extent. (At least that's my guess.)

But I've looked at your question and don't want to leave it unanswered as if there are no happy stories!

Since my diagnosis, I: have made significant professional advances, have had several great jobs, have conceived, given birth to, and raised two boys who are now 17 and 20. I have, with my husband, renovated two fixer-upper homes, took up singing lessons and then have given recitals and now teach privately, and lived out a childhood fantasy by taking horseback lessons, became not-so-bad at attempts at everything from jumping to barrel racing (did English for a while then switched to Western.)... I'm sure there's more, but.... here ya go for starters.
So..... my message is, yes, life can be good, even with UC!
Posted 8/30/2010 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, You are right. I would imagine that they are out doing things too. Its just been a rough couple of weeks (Im the same "New to the Diagnosis" poster. ) I was/am feeling a little defeated and depressed and need to figure out how to get out of it! I miss running, I miss exercising, I miss feeling free to eat and maybe have a beer/glass of wine. But these may be self imposed restrictions....
Posted 8/31/2010 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I am a success story :-)
I was diagnosed with UC over 10 years ago and had a progressively worse life, year after year. I faithfully took all the meds I was Rx'd but nothing ever got better, just worse. My active life became less active, less going out. I basically changed myself because the symptoms required it.

I've written about it pretty often here but long story short: diet modification put me in remission and at this point my symptoms are virtually gone. I tried The Specific Carbohydrate Diet several years ago with no improvement. Jan 2010 my DH read an article that made me give it another try. The article was directed at gluten intolerance being under-diagnosed and tests being unreliable. Bingo.

For some people surgery is the ultimate answer. I think I am lucky or hard-headed, OK both. Why didn't it work the first time? I dunno, just profoundly thankful it worked now. I thank God for Elaine Gottschall who passed on several years ago for developing the diet for her daughter. She has helped so many people.

I don't know what will be your rescue but I hope you find it. Never give up hope.
Posted 8/31/2010 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I'm another success story. I'll be glad to email you the unabridged version, if you like, but I went from being desperately ill - docs told me there was no hope I'd ever be better, unless I had my colon removed - to living a normal, healthy life. I used limited meds, as necessary, to control symptoms, but it didn't take long for me to figure out medications alone weren't the answer. I collected a library of IBD and general digestive health books and learned everything I could. For me, remission came through rebalancing the gut ecology (getting rid of bad gut bugs and restoring good through probiotics), taking natural supplements to reduce inflammation and promote gut healing and through dietary modifications. It took me over a year to work my way out of a constant flare and probably another year to get back to a normal level of health, so this was by no means a quick and easy recovery, but was SO worthwhile. Other than eating much healthier and taking supplements, I lead a completely normal life. I remarried, I travel, I lift weights and kickbox, I work full-time and I don't have to wonder where the closest restroom is. I've passed the 10 year mark since my diagnosis and my last scope showed a healthy colon.

My advice is to educate yourself. There's a wealth of material out there and you can't count on your doctor to make you aware of all the treatment options. You must be your own health advocate.
Posted 8/31/2010 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
I think I am a success story. While living with pretty severe UC, I was able to establish a very successful career and marry a great guy (even the first husband was a good guy). I'm also a pretty good golfer!
I have many great friends, who think I am a strong woman and a role model...and don't even know I have UC!
Posted 9/1/2010 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Kim123 is another member who's successfully managed her UC and has returned to health. She still drops in occasionally and you can search her user name for her posts.
Posted 9/2/2010 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
I also suggest not beating yourself about taking a break from the activities you normally would do because they are good for you (like exercising). Sometimes you need to rest and not try to accomplish anything for a while, to heal. Know that you'll be able to get back to it when you feel better.
Posted 9/2/2010 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
hmvpdx I too have had my share of success, I found that my UC came from using anti inflamatories used after 4 back surgeries, another whole lot of hell. At any rate
upon stopping them I had 4 months of remission with no drugs it came back with the new anti inflamatories because of back pain so stopped again, I am treating it once again and sure I will see remission once again. Other than that live a normal life with minimal BM's / day keep your chin up relief is probably just around the corner
Posted 9/7/2010 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thank You to everyone who posted success stories. I was diagnosed on Aug 23, but Sunday the 5th, I went out and ran in a relay run. 7.3 miles, 64 minutes. By far, for me, a personal best. I felt good, I didnt have the usual (what I used to think) Runners D, no cramps, etc. I darn near cried my last mile. It was a Oregon Wine Run, and I had a glass of wine in my finishers glass with my partner and I couldnt have been happier. Later that day, I had a normal (yay!) Bm, and ate Pancakes. Im still tapering the 'Roids, but feeling good!

Again, Thanks To Everyone!! Keep Em coming! Success is just as much a part of UC and flaring....
Posted 9/7/2010 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hooray for you! Glad to hear you're feeling better and that life can be good even with UC!
Posted 9/8/2010 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
i am a success story as well. i went on a 4-hour drive to new jersey over the holiday weekend and stopped 2 times at rest stops each way. normal bm's every time. this pain-free, trouble free trip is something haven't experienced in over 12 years.

i started using supplements from a company owned by a great lady, Heather who's suffered IBS since age 9, and an extract from the aloe vera plant ( turns out they not just for burns on the skin, that juice worked for me internally !). and Serovera AMP 500, an extract from Aloe Vera.

just wanted to share as a thank you for allowing me to participate on this forum. i've always had nothing but the most sincere intentions.

Post Edited (bthsp25) : 9/8/2010 7:55:33 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/8/2010 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
One more success story. I was diagnosed 3 years ago, within months after finishing my surgical residency. I was 31 and at the top of my game. UC hit me like a ton of bricks. I lost 35 pounds within 3 weeks and found myself on what felt like deaths door. I did not find relief with any of the traditional oral medications used for UC and was finally brought into remission with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and Remicade. I have been off Remicade (stopping after developing antibodies and severe side effects) for a year and maintain remission with the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and VSL#3.

It is very hard to go through such a dramatic change of health in such a short amount of time. You are in the middle of a storm, one that likely gave no warnings. I learned some very valuable lessons from this process. It has made me a better physician. I participate in these posts as a way of "paying it forward" and offering the combined insite of a physician and a member of the UC community. I suspect the comment about few success stories following these posts because they feel well, have no symptoms and have moved on with their lives is very accurate.

You must know that you can make it through this storm. It will take patience and tenacity but it is possible. Good luck.
Posted 9/8/2010 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks again for all your success stories; it certainly makes it easier. @napacabs; I appreciate you saying it has made you a better physician. It was hard to be on the receiving end of the UC diagnosis in front of the Dr; have so many questions and almost no answers. And to be in the hospital and being feeling so bad; UC hit me too like a ton of bricks. Also, I knew NO ONE who had this or anything like it.

I ordered the Specific Carbohydrate Diet book, and am going to ask my Dr about the VSL#3.

I am getting stronger and more determined every day. Thanks again, Everyone!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply