34 years old, had this 11 years, out of remission

Hello,

I was 23 years old when I started having issues with constipation. At first, it was only that, but a few years later I started passing blood. In 2004 this was accompanied by painful canker sores on my tongue, to where it was hard to speak (I work with the public, which made this even less comfortable because I have to talk a lot).

In 2006, the canker sores had opened in my throat, putting me out of work for a few days and into the emergency care clinic to find out what was wrong.

Around 2008 I became almost silent at work because talking irritated the sores. The bowel movements never became normal, but the pain and bloody diarrhea went away to where I felt like I could handle it. The key was just to not push too hard and let the muscles do their work.

In 2010, I thought I had food poisoning from eating pizza that wasn't cooked all the way, and the symptoms returned, but only for about a week.

In Fall of 2011, it was all back again, and worse than ever. For a solid month I've passed almost nothing but blood and loose pebble-like stools, and become weak and cold.

I scheduled a doctor appointment tomorrow, so I'll find out what they say then. In the meantime, I don't have hemorrhoids, but it feels like there's a mass obstructing my rectum and when I try to pass it, the whole thing pops out and I pass more blood, which sounds like urine as it hits the toilet water.

This is not fun. I've read that UC can become colorectal cancer after too many years without surgery; that's now my main concern. Could the mass be cancer? I don't mind losing my hair, as it's thin anyway. I just want this pain and abdominal burning to be gone. I haven't had a normal bowel movement since I was in my late teens.

I've read that UC can become colorectal cancer after too many years without surgery

Here's what I read at digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colitis/#cancer

"about 5 percent of people with ulcerative colitis develop colon cancer. The risk of cancer increases with the duration of the disease and how much the colon has been damaged. For example, if only the lower colon and rectum are involved, the risk of cancer is no higher than normal. However, if the entire colon is involved, the risk of cancer may be as much as 32 times the normal rate.
Sometimes precancerous changes occur in the cells lining the colon. These changes are called "dysplasia." People who have dysplasia are more likely to develop cancer than those who do not. Doctors look for signs of dysplasia when doing a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy and when examining tissue removed during these tests."

So yes, we have to be watchful of colon cancer but because we UC'ers have colonoscopies more often than the general public I wonder if we have higher survival rates because colon cancer is slow-growing and if caught early is not fatal.

Have you taken any meds during the previous years mentioned? When did you last have a colonoscopy?

I'd be curious to hear what your diagnosis was. Your post never really says. With the involvement of the upper GI, is your doctor certain you have UC and not Crohn's?

The appointment on the 21st of October revealed that it is UC, and a referral to a specialist was made (Nov 2 is the appointment for that).

Three days later, I started having really bad stomach pain, not cramps but something else. It felt like trapped air. Went to the doctor again yesterday, and they diagnosed me with Gastritis. Taking Prilosec (generic) for that.

Much of what isn't known will be revealed by the November 2nd sigmoidoscopy. With those results in hand, my doctor said he would begin treating me for Ulcerative Colitis. I can't wait... Hopefully it will improve quality of life. I had to give up singing because I got these ulcers on the sides of my tongue.

Between the two issues, I'd say the Gastritis has felt much worse. The UC is never really painful, just annoying. With Gastritis, I can barely lie on my side and sleep. The less sleep you get, as you know, the weaker your immune system.

Post Edited (Pram) : 10/27/2011 2:42:03 PM (GMT-6)

Thanks, Summerstorm!

The symptoms have changed slightly, now it's dull stomach pain all the time, with sharp, stabbing, gut-wrenching pain in the center of the stomach level with the belly button for 10 seconds, about 6-8 times per hour.

I just want to have a stomach that doesn't hurt again. After 10 days of this, it's getting old.

UPDATE: It's not Ulcerative Colitis. It's Crohn's. I was in the ER today because I saw blood in my stool. The doctor put a stomach relaxant in my IV. First relief in 12 days of pain. Also got Vicodin. Seems every negative thought results in stomach spasms. The latest felt like a tree was growing down into my legs from the middle of my stomach. Why would I feel stomach pain in my legs??

Post Edited (Pram) : 10/31/2011 12:01:51 AM (GMT-6)