Posted 11/24/2011 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone!
So my story...
2009 September, I felt a bit sick and had diarrhea which lasted about 2 weeks. Went to a Gastroenterologist who said was probably IBS and recommended Immodium. Never took any drugs and within another week I was back to normal.
2010 August, almost a year later I got sick again, I noticed my stool covered in mucus, shortly after it would turn to diarrhea. Had a couple days of alternating D and C, a little bit of blood, headaches and feeling feverish, lost some weight. No meds, no doctor, cleared up within a week or two.
2011 March, felt sick again same mucus on stool which turned to D. Again a couple days of feeling feverish with some bad cramping and C. Frequent and sudden urges to go. Ventured out on the worst day to get something from the store, felt like I was walking on the moon I was so light headed and out of it. 1 week later back to normal.
2011 August, same as before, started feeling sick, noticed the mucus and soon had D. This time the cramping and C was very bad, I later read how people hurt their hands from punching walls - now I know why, that wall had it coming though, horrible wallpaper. Lots of mucus, and then a fair amount of blood, always after a movement. Again had a couple days where I couldn't leave the room and felt feverish. Slowly started feeling better, but unlike before a week passed and I still didn't feel 100%. Another week later I thought things were going better and went out one morning only to have an accident. Still no drugs and no doctors, went off what the first doc said, IBS.
1 month later as symptoms continued I researched online for a good doctor, wanted to get everything checked out, my dad has Crohn's so I thought that may be a possibility.
Factors that came into play with me waiting 1 year to see a doctor, every time I got sick people around me were saying how they were sick too, they had the flu, or they got food poisoning, so I just figured I had the same thing. I stayed sick a little longer than they did, but I would soon feel normal. Then when I finally got serious about finding out what was happening with me I went through a change with insurance, which delayed things another month.
After a colonoscopy doc said 'Colitis, likely IBD-pancolonic involvement. Still awaiting biopsy results. Pictures showed inflammation and some ulceration. Gave a prescription for Asacol. I felt good after the procedure, literally doing cartwheels on the way home. However, my mind wasn't totally clear and I went and shelled out about 300 bucks on some Asacol when I knew I didn't want to take medication. Have the bottle sitting on the shelf, not ready to take it.
Currently focusing on my diet, going to find a sort of SCD that works for me. Will follow in my fathers steps, who has been drug free for a few years now, all thanks to diet. I was raised vegetarian, but I may start finding some meats as I will be eliminating many things from my diet. My next step is to experiment with gluten free, probiotics, green juice, bananas, yogurt, metamucil, omega-3, berries, nuts, various vegetables...
I've noticed that EVERY time before I got sick I was doing the same thing... I would travel for work, and the food I would eat would either be restaurant or catered food, and I would just eat whatever was there (vegetarian). I would also drink fairly heavily (socially) mostly mixed drinks. Generally a bug would go around and everyone got some form of sickness, next thing I knew I was in a flare.
Staying positive about it all and hoping it's just a wake up call to eat healthy!