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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/21/2013 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
Need to vent a bit here hope no one minds.......Right/left side UC since 2011.

I have just finished with a colonoscopy/endoscopy and the doc says its not good news. Things are getting worse and he thinks surgery is the next option. Im scared to death at 40 to go through with this as I have heard to many bad vs good stories. Sorry to those that have had this done but I am the 2% of the surgery people that will prob have complications......I am on remi now but not working as effective as it was 6 months ago, so now they are trying a double dose. I had my first double last fri and Im still 10-20 times a day with alot of urgency(the part that sucks the most.)

Part 2. I am military and currently facing a medical release from the Canadian army 16 yrs in. I am strong fit and able to go to work 98% of the time (more than most that are not sick with UC.) My worst phone call ever the other day was as follows; release Nurse your file has been sent to Ottawa and you should be prepared to be released this summer there are budget cut backs so they are getting rid of everyone that does not meet medical standard. (my reaction WOW.)

I was suprised to here her say why dont you get the surgery then you will be cured and you can fight to stay in??

My reaction violation of my basic human rights??? Im afraid of the surgery!!! what a joke these people are. Served overseas, served my country, served in a war zone (ghan) served a 2 week notice thanks Canada............. 

Posted 1/21/2013 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
P.S my health started to go down hill after Afghanistan.....2 years later diagnosed with UC. since then have had nothin but prob with bowels......gall bladder removed due to infection 2011, stomach ulcers 2011, never ever had a prob before this tour and the army medical system says well its a hereditary disease not caused by your tour in afghanistan sorry goodbye..............................no one in my family has anything like this? 
Posted 1/21/2013 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi toiletcamper-
Welcome to the forum. Hope you can find some info here that will help you. I think surgery should be the last option.

You can find a lot of info under the U.C. Resources tab. The 11th post contains a regimen described by InSoFla. I mention this post in particular because there are many natural/alternative treatment possibilities.
In InSoFla's case, meds were not successful and surgery was suggested. Paleo diet is mentioned but is not the only diet that has helped people. Most books on the subject recommend eliminating lactose, gluten and sugar and identifying any other food that seems to cause problems.

I take probiotics, l-glutamine and slippery elm daily as well as generic meds (oral and rectal).
A year ago, my GI suggested that I have a colectomy (colon removal) and I refused. I am feeling a lot better now and am glad that I made that decision. IMO, doctors are too quick to suggest surgery.
I think both countries (Canada and the U.S.) could do more to help military personnel.
I wish you the best of luck.
Posted 1/21/2013 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry that you are suffering. I applaud you for what you have done for your country. They do use many chemicals during war they do not know the long term effects of. I hope you can get the help you need. They should not make you stop doing what you love just because you have a disease.
Posted 1/21/2013 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
I don't want to talk you into surgery but I must say that from all of the stats I have read, surgery is successful the majority of the time and just about everyone who has ever had it wishes they had done it a lot sooner and not gone through all of the dangereous meds and not lived with UC for all of those years. No one wants surgery but I think your fears of it are not realistic.
Posted 1/21/2013 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
"served in a war zone (ghan)"

Camper served in a war zone, yet he is scared of surgery. lol

The bag is one scary thing.


...cough...I'm scared too...cough..
Posted 1/21/2013 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Canadian army said that? We live in the same country that sounds unveleivable for me. You gotta keep trying theres plenty other methods one of which is diet, which i bet will be near impossible to follow in a war zone. At least theres a Timmy's :)
Posted 1/21/2013 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone who is not extremely cautious about surgical removal of the colon should read posts on the Ostomies forum.
IMO, be very afraid!

I don't place much faith in statistics provided by the very institutions that make $ off the practice of surgery.

Cutting out an organ is not a "cure" (unless we're talking about cancer) and colectomy often leads to ongoing issues.
Seems to me that standard medical practice leans toward "removal" if there is a problem. Thank God we don't have heart issues. :-)

IMO, if you don't make a serious effort to try diet restrictions, enemas, etc because they seem like too much trouble, you are making a serious mistake.
Just my 2 cents.
Posted 1/21/2013 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Ya, I guess I should respond to somedude.......
there is a big difference between being scared of being killed in a country like afghanistan and scared of being a medical frankenstien because the ostomy is infected, or I develop pouchitis, or all the other things eveyone has problems with. My luck with this disease as far has not been good so why expect good results from the surgery?

I now live an active life 4 wheelin' snowboarding, and whatever other dangerous crap I can do....Im scared to lose all that because Im in the hospital all the time.......im scared im going to be a burden to my family.....to my son, my wife........so am I scared ya absolutely!!!!,

P.S, Im a Combat Engineer served 8 months in Afghanistan, and 4 in Pakistan im not just some base hobbit, so if the implication was that I have not seen the terrible and horrific things war has done to my friends and the afghan people than your dead wrong.....

Posted 1/27/2013 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
I've been faced with surgery many times. Been told that I would kill myself if I didn't have it. Thankfully I found a GI that gave me the inspiration and strength to get back into remission. I have had 1-2 year periods of symptom free remission, with periods of flares since then. I am so thankful for those times of remission, when I can live a normal life.

I actually named my son after the GI who saved my colon. Haha...true story.

Sometimes it pays to shop around. Find a GI who is as proactive in your fight as you are. There's going to be new and better things for UC in the future. I think there are a lot of people like me, that feel if they can postpone surgery long enough...something big might be discovered. Once you take the surgery step...there's no turning back, and no way of knowing what might have been.

I commend you toilet camper. You will never regret fighting the good fight. Sometimes surgery is inevitable...as you know. Til then...keep fighting and hold on to your faith. This forum has a ton of great ideas. Hopefully you find something that works for you.
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