New to all this.

Hi all :)

I'm a 23 year old male from the UK and have been just-about-diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. I believe that I have been suffering for about a year, but have only experienced two particularly bad flare-ups, one in feb/march this year, one right now.

I've had very little support so far but I'm under the impression that it will come after my first colonoscopy. I have been prescribed some rectal foam enemas but if anything they seem to make things worse.

Whilst I don't have MUCH in the way of cramps, I have absolutley horrific bowel movements 4-5 times a day which are inconvenient, embarrassing and painful. I am losing a lot of blood through these which obviously makes me feel rather lethargic.

Changes in diet occasionally result in positive effects but these are too minor to be considered significant.

I'm lucky to have a very supportive girlfriend and a reasonably understanding boss but to be honest I'm pretty miserable about the idea of suffering from a chronic illness. I suppose I'll get used to the idea.

Not sure why I'm writing all this but as I'm so embarressed about the whole affair it's nice to be able to be open about it.

I have my first colonoscopy booked for the 20th. I will be conscious but sedated. How is it? Obviously I'm somewhat terrified but I'm sure I'll be reprimanded for this :P

Would be great to hear back from some of you.

Rob.

yeah that's it... That's all i've been offered. I take fish oil and iron supplements but to be honest it's hard to tell whether that really helps or not. I'm more scared about the actual procedure than the prep as i'm used to having diarrhea all the time... Is it that much worse?

Hi and welcome! I didn't think the colonoscopy prep was all that big of a deal. I mean, at the time, I was having URGENT diarrhea 15+ times a day, so the prep wasn't really any worse. The c-scope itself was a breeze, because I was really sedated.

I'd start taking a probiotic while you're waiting for your c-scope. Most of us on here are on them.

The prep isn't so bad. For my second colonoscopy i took ducolax and mirolax mixed with gatorade, and it was just like drinking a lot of gatorade. There are tons of people here that can help with everything from stress to alternative meds, and it seems that there are a lot of new members in the last couple weeks that are going through the same thing. Remember we are all fighting this disease together. It may not be easy but we are all here to help out. Welcome to healingwell.

I just had a colonoscopy about a week and a half ago. It is probably my 15th colonoscopy...I lost count. The prep is the hardest part for me. It isnt painful or anything, just inconvenient. Not being able to eat all day, then flushing out your innards = just a bummer of a day.... The actual procedure isnt so bad and it is relatively fast. The meds they inject you with make me feel like a junkie getting ready for my fix - the stuff is great...my last colonoscopy was a conscious sedation...it was not painful but it was a bit uncomfortable...the meds made it so that I really didnt care much however... You might have a few days afterward where you bleed a bit more and have some more watery stools due to the biopsies, but it clears up...mine has gone back to my normal flare routine.... I just focus on the excellent medication I will be getting in my IV, and it makes the anxiety leading up to it, and the time during it, seem irrelevant...

I imagine after your colonoscopy results you will be put on the proper meds to deal with your condition... When I was first diagnosed years ago I used to be very embarassed to the point I developed a social anxiety issue... Easier said than done but try to keep calm about it, try not to feel singled out and just try not to worry about it - nobody else actually thinks about it the way we do....we have the disease so it is on our minds 24/7, whereas most other people dont even give it a second thought... I joke about it with myself now, and the people around me, which really helps.... It is great to have supportive family / girlfriend / etc...really helps a lot...

One thing I have learned about diet changes -the effects are usually not immediate. You may experience some small results at first, but it seems to take quite some time before you see what the real effects are going to be. I have found that with stress as well - it seems that high stress can trigger a flare, and even though you remove the stress, it can take quite some time for the results.... I feel that food is the same way - if something is bothering you, and you remove it, it can take time for the results - and it differs with each person - so you have to get pretty scientific about it, and have patience...