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Posted 4/6/2010 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
I am such an idiot.

So I started prednisone almost two weeks ago. Immediately within two days my symptoms disappeared. Then I got stupid and decided to order alfredo Saturday night and drink non-alcoholic beer. BAD IDEA. Sunday pain came shooting back and Monday there was more blood than there had been in the entire flare. Constipation came back as well.

Throughout last week, I made progress again, getting the blood and the pain almost gone by yesterday. Averaging one BM a day. I even had a BM that was 99% normal yesterday (large formed stool and almost no blood). Sooo excited.

Earlier yesterday I decided to try to eat two burritos from Taco Bell (separate meals). Only got beef in them, but the spices were enough. Horrible pain and gas last night, lots of blood today.

I'm so EFFING frustrated with this. I keep making progress and then screwing it up. I could probably be better by now if I wasn't such a darn idiot.

On top of all this, ALL of my friends keep asking me "when can you drink again?" I'm 25 and all the social events I engage in involve drinking.

I JUST WANT THIS CRAP TO BE OVER!!!

Sorry, I needed to vent >:|
Posted 4/6/2010 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
You poor dear. Look for healthy alternatives is all I can say. I realize eating and drinking is social, but there's too much suffering after. Think about when you're out of a flare, you'll hopefully be able to return to these foods.
Posted 4/6/2010 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
Been there done that.
I am convinced that my brain and my gut DO NOT COMMUNICATE with one another.
It took several episodes like the ones you describe for me to be strong enough mentally to resist the little voice saying "You can drink a glass of wine. Just one. It's not bad." and "Yes, have a cup of coffee. I NEED caffeine." Liar liar. My gut then paid the price for these transgressions.

I am feeling so much better after 3 months of food control. If I thought I could never eat certain foods I love again it would make me crazy. So I take it one day at a time. Today I won't have a glass of wine. Today I won't have ice cream.

I truly believe UC can be cured and/or controlled and I will be back to normal someday. Until then I enjoy feeling less anxious about what my colon will do every minute and that is worth giving up foods that hurt.

P.S. Get some new friends. The ones you have are clueless about how much UC affects your life. There are lots of ways to have fun without drinking. Find some people that know how to do that.
Posted 4/6/2010 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
If I move to new friends, then I have really let my UC run my life. These people have been my friends for years and I can't simply just get new ones. They don't continue to ask me about drinking to annoy me. They just want me to be able to engage in the fun with them again.

I think for awhile they didn't understand that this is a terminal disease and not a one time thing (i.e. I just got a stomach ulcer or something) so they feel like it's supposed to just heal with medicine and be over. We all know UC isn't that cooperative. :/
Posted 4/6/2010 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry, I didn't mean dispose of those friends. Rather get some "new" friends that you can have fun with without drinking. Maybe there is a sport you'd like (tennis? jogging? gym workout?) that is not food/drink oriented. Or there's yoga, step-class.
I have friends that operate in different circles: tennis friends, artsy friends (painting), etc.

Although it would be ideal not to have UC change your life I was in denial for many years that it HAS changed my life. Once I stopped the denial I was able to start figuring out how to get things better. Just call me Cleopatra (Queen of de-Nile).
Posted 4/6/2010 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
     All I can say is...this disease has got to be the PITS for you young people. I am 63 yrs old and still disgusted with being careful what I eat....still eat things I shouldn't too.  Good thing I never was a drinker or much of a spice eater.  I do love a bowl of spaghetti with my homemade sauce now and then...can't do that eithermad
Posted 4/6/2010 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
Spicy foods and alcohol are two of my favorite things. I'm in hell right now, lol.
Posted 4/6/2010 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
I do understand.  At age 69 - been there, done that!  My husband and I had to "find" other friends to do things with when he had to give up alcohol due to medication for heart disease.  All I can say is - it is simply a decision only you can make.  Don't throw your old friends away, of course - make them understand.  Most of ours did!  My husband drank soda and we still had fun! 

ElaineNY

Posted 4/6/2010 9:21 AM (GMT 0)
UC isn't a terminal disease.....it is chronic and there is no cure.
One can possibly die from rare severe complications....but it's not considered terminal.

You're flaring, that's why you have the symptoms you do. It's not from what you ate or drank. Drinking or eating can exacerbate some of your symptoms....it won't cause you to get worse.

Common sense goes a long way. SEems you have to find your balance in order to function with UC. Unlike friends, it'll never leave you..lol.

quincy
Posted 4/6/2010 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Since having colitis and now gluten and dairy intolerances, my social life has definitely changed. We don't dine out very much and we don't get together with our friends who were big social drinkers very often.

Since you seem to have gotten very sick after eating pasta and tortillas, you might want to try going gluten free for a week or two and see if that doesn't alleviate some of your pain and discomfort.

There is one beer that is gluten free and most red wine is. It would just be a matter of making different choices... not eliminating everything.

I was very ill in October when I was advised to give gluten free a chance. It has made a huge difference in my health. I was so sick I couldn't tell if I was ill because of the colitis or eating gluten and dairy. Now I definitely know that my colitis is better because of my medications and that certain foods make me very sick.

Good luck.. I hope you feel better.
Posted 4/6/2010 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
If it makes you feel any better TacoHell made me crap like mad loooong before I was diagnosed with UC, and it does it to a lot of people I know. However, I can not eat spicy food with no issues, so perhaps when you're in a good solid remission, you'll be able to as well. Don't loose hope!!! And I also drink (in moderation, no more than two drinks in one evening), but didn't when I was flaring.

Editing because I can NOW eat spicy food with no issues, not can NOT eat spicy food with no issues. Geesh!

Posted 4/6/2010 4:04 PM (GMT 0)

quincy said...
UC isn't a terminal disease.....it is chronic and there is no cure.
One can possibly die from rare severe complications....but it's not considered terminal.

You're flaring, that's why you have the symptoms you do. It's not from what you ate or drank. Drinking or eating can exacerbate some of your symptoms....it won't cause you to get worse.

Common sense goes a long way. SEems you have to find your balance in order to function with UC. Unlike friends, it'll never leave you..lol.

quincy

Diction error. I definitely meant chronic, not terminal, lol.

Thanks for all the support everyone. This site has helped me SOOO much in dealing with my flare. Been pain free yesterday and today. Just anxious about the next BM. I've never been so eager to poop in my entire life, lol

Posted 4/6/2010 4:59 PM (GMT 0)

quincy said...
UC isn't a terminal disease.....it is chronic and there is no cure.
One can possibly die from rare severe complications....but it's not considered terminal.

You're flaring, that's why you have the symptoms you do. It's not from what you ate or drank. Drinking or eating can exacerbate some of your symptoms....it won't cause you to get worse.

Common sense goes a long way. SEems you have to find your balance in order to function with UC. Unlike friends, it'll never leave you..lol.

quincy

So are you saying that I didn't actually prolong my flare with these choices, just made the symptoms worse while flaring?

Posted 4/6/2010 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Many people have issues with food....even if they're not flaring. My issues with some food are obvious....I know it doesn't cause a flare. If I'm flaring, I might bypass some foods or not. But I'd expect to have more bms or discomfort.

You're flaring, am I correct? You're still on prednisone and tapering. Classic for one to have a relapse of symptoms.

You're also on a very high dosage of fish oil...I would suggest you maybe reconsider and either lower it or stop it for now. see if your symptoms improve.

Get on rectal meds...

Take probiotics to help keep the digestive tract flora in good balance.

Use fibre supplements to help with the probiotics and help exercise your colon.

Drinking isn't good for your liver.....you'll have to find the balance with other beverages. It's not a bad thing...you have control and your friends obviously don't if they expect you to drink.

Rectal meds....please try them. It hopefully will help you get off the pred.

Maybe you can set yourself with a better med regimen where you might not need to use pred in the future?

Hope this helps.

quincy
Posted 4/6/2010 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
I've toyed back and forth with the fish oil, haven't seen significant changes in either direction (confirms doctor's opinions that it wouldn't help or hurt it). I just heard that some people feel it helps so I figured it was worth a try.

I've been seriously considering the rectal meds. Going to bring it up at the next doctor's visit.

As far as drinking goes, it's part of my lifestyle. I'm certainly not a binge-drinker and it's limited to the weekends, but I enjoy it and don't want to give it up. I'll put it to you this way, not being able to drink in my weekend social engagements is the most annoying part of a flare for me. That might not make sense to some people or just sound immature, but it's who I am.
Posted 4/6/2010 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Well, we all change eventually....but I'll tell you up straight, you need your liver, protect it! The meds you're on and just from having UC can cause problems.

I understand alcohol....I'm from a family of alcoholics....although the "good" alcoholics. It was a part of my life. But, my body can't handle it. If I could, I would probably have a problem staying from it since I love the taste of wine, etc. I'm an addict by nature of many things.....I get it. You're not short on the justifying, but it's OK to be annoyed that you can't do something you enjoy. Making a decision must makes it easier....truly.

Besides, it's cool to say no....because I don't want to.

Seriously consider the rectal meds...I'd sugest Rowasa (I'm assuming you're in the US.

Fish oil....some of us it doesn't agree....you're also on a high dosage. I'd suggest you try being off it and see if that helps. You'd be much better off taking Vitamin D, probiotics and fibre supplements.

Of course, this is all my perspective.

q
Posted 4/6/2010 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
I get what you're saying, juju, about the drinking. You don't want UC to limit your life, and your life includes (responsible) social drinking. I get that. Heck, I'd miss not being able to have a glass of wine on occasion. I did when I was pregnant, but it was worth it. My doc is ok with my occasional drinking, so I figure if he is, it's ok.
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