Fatigue, anemia, etc.

I'm new to this forum, but found it to be the most active and helpful the past few months. So I have had UC since 2006 and last year had 4 separate hospital stays. I've had floating fatty diarrhea for months (with blood and mucus), abdominal pain that can be severe, and right now I've been so tired and lethargic the past week I'm almost unable to care for my 2 year old.

I see my doctor next Friday.. since the pain is coming and going I feel like it's not a "true" flare, maybe.. I don't know. I've also had a total pancreatectomy with islet transplant, no spleen, gallbladder, or appendix, and I am going to have a biopsy on my liver to check for autoimmune hepatitis.

I guess I just don't feel like I'm sick enough to be in the hospital, but I seriously cannot function at home. I get left sided back pain so I'm thinking my colon is inflamed to the backside instead of the front. The pain is enough to make me nauseated, as if I wasn't already. I'm staying hydrated and pretty much avoiding food. But I just don't know anymore. I know a lot of people have it worse, but am I really supposed to just suck it up and deal with constant pain and being so tired I forget to feed my pets?

What meds are you on now? (Can you see how to add that to your signature?)

You sound really poorly! I also think having a child to look after whilst trying to manage this disease is very very difficult. I'm fairly new to the disease myself, but I do think avoiding food will just be making you terribly weak, I hope you come back and tell us what meds you are taking.

Sorry everyone I've been busy! I am on 4 Lialda and Canasa. I cannot take steroids due to my islet transplant. I take vitamins, fish oil, probiotics. It was worse the other times but the last couple days my stool has gone from slightly formed to watery. I'm not digesting fats and try to avoid them but there's a film of oil in the toilet. I get constipated easily but have quit the miralax to no avail. So no blood at the moment but left sided pain is keeping me from sleeping much. And the BMS at night. Probably 10-15 a day. Not constantly but it's sudden enough to run to the toilet at high speed. Acid reflux is terrible right now. I ate a bit last night and was on the toilet every 15 minutes for the next 3-4 hours so I'm not too thrilled at the prospect of eating. Nausea is also getting to me. So I guess I'm just going to wait and see. My mom or husband will drag me to the er if it gets out of control. They've done it before lol. Sad that we get so used to misery it becomes normal.

I have done low residue diet and limited dairy as well. I don't have a gluten sensitivity and I'm not lactose intolerant either. I'm off to tend to my daughter now but will check in later! Thanks for the replies, I appreciate it! :)

You know, I'm up for anything. All I want is to be able to be the mom I want to be. I'm unable to work due to the neuropathy but plan to get my psychology degree and try working on a consultant or very part time basis. I plan on becoming a published author so that's an option too. I'm just tired of being sick. Have been since 19, pancreatitis and uc showed up at the same time. My symptoms may be milder than some and I know that.. but for me I'm just done. Biologics if my surgeon okays it. My dad went on humira for his psoriasis and he has improved so quickly his doctors were actually shocked. No side effects. I've had to quit college (I was toying with pre med), stopped exercising which I love, and unable to work from the neuropathy and back pain. Ot, my old insurance company claimed the rhizotomy to get rid of the back pain is not medically necessary. I'm on state insurance now and I'm on a flippin mission to get my life back! Whatever it takes and my specialists are all at the University of Minnesota and I absolutely love them! Recommended over the Mayo any day.

I'm going to do some research on biologics so next Friday I can be confident in what I want.