Hi Guys,
My name is jen, I am a 28yr old female, diagnosed with UC 3 years ago. Currently I do not have insurance and the only medication that I am on is mesalamine enemas- which run $420 for a 20 day supply.
My symptoms did not creep up or slowly develop, they came on all at once and hit me like a ton of bricks. I had just finished a course of antiiotics (clindamycin) and heavy duty NSAIDs (flourbiprofen and naproxen) following some dental work. The following week I was on vacation -in the middle of Disney World with my family when disaster struck. I had the most treterous cramping and ran to find the nearest bathroom, to discover I had leaked blood/ mucus already. I filled the bowl with large blood clots and mucousy tissue.
My symptoms did not let up and I saw an internest as soon as I arrived home. Not C- diff. Stool cx negative. Had biopsy taken via colonoscopy. Diagnosed with UC.
No family history, always healthy as a horse. Oral asacol sent me into pancreatitis. I typically only use the mesalamine enema when I am flaring. I have been in remission one time- it lasted about 2 months this past summer after spending 2 weeks at my cabin.
My diet does not seem to have any effect on my symptoms I have tried elimination, gluten free, etc. No change. I am suffering from bloating, severe abdominal pain and passing large amounts of mucus and blood. It is actually difficult to pass stool, but when I do it is either liquid or ribbon stool. I have had several episodes of stool incontenence with this flare which is new :(
I am now severely anemic (hgb 7.2) and have developed pica- I cannot chew enough ice in a day, and I actually have cravings for the smell of gasoline- how awful! (now I don't go out sniffing gas but I crave the smell of it, the thought of the smell makes my mouth water- how gross!) Oral iron makes me vomit but I have had some success with flinstones + iron. I also eat red meat and cream of wheat.
Well, that's my story. I am currently fixing to try DIY FT, let me know if you have any tips or stories about this. I am so glad to have found this forum- and who would have thought the UC group has more members by far than any other disease group. I am sorry for my fellow sufferers but it's nice that there is a network of people that understand.