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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/20/2010 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hi , i don't usually post things but am at a loss and dont really have anyone who understands to talk to.

I have been seeing the doctor for about 3 months with abdominal pain,diarrhea with blood and mucus present,anemia,frequent,urgent use of toilet. i had blood tests that showed i was anemic and that i had inflamation present.

about 4 days ago i had a sigmoidoscopy, the doctor said i was very inflamed and he took some biopsys. he said upon first look he suspects colitis. I have to wait a week for the biopsys to come back and am also awaiting another appt to have a colonoscopy with sedation and im very worried. I do not know anyone who has colitis or crohns and dont know if this is normal. Please if anyone can share there story with getting diagnosed i would really appreciate it.

I have also been suffering dizzy spells and muscle aches for the last couple of days is this normal for colitis sufferers ?

Also does anyone else stuggle with work ? have been taking a lot of sick days work being very understanding so far.

Posted 10/20/2010 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, and welcome to the forum!
First let's get your diagnosis confirmed.... but the symptoms sure sound familiar. The blood, mucus, frequency, urgency, inflammation.
I was diagnosed so many years ago.... I'd had UP (proctitis, limited to the rectum) and it responded well, I thought, to meds.... then suddenly I had lots of blood, urgency, a bunch of poops... I worked in a large building and part of my job was to do rounds... I remember running from restroom North to restroom East to restroom West etc.... being in pain in the bathroom.... then pulling myself together, putting on my smile, and continuing rounds. I thought I was dying, and sort tried to tough it through. But also we were trying to conceive and I couldn't. So... I got dxed, found out I was anemic... a good GI and some time later, we had two kids.
Life hasn't been perfect, but UC has not controlled my life, either.
I think taches are pretty common.... Dizziness.... maybe someone else here can speak to that? Could the anemia or general blood loss bring that on?

Once you have a colonoscopy, the doc will be able to see how far the inflammation goes, whether it's in just part or the whole colon. You'll be prescribed meds.... probably 5-ASA meds, Asacol or Salofalk (where are you located...?) That family of meds is generally very safe for us to take for years. I've been on them 27 years in all (we stay on them for maintenance even when symptoms are absent, generally.) A lot of us here really promote the "treat from both ends" approach, and while it takes a little bit to get your head around that, squirting some med up the backside so the medication actually coats the colon makes a lot of sense.
Whatever your meds, you can find lots of how-to's and support here!
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