Just did a Colonoscopy

So yesterday I had this exam done and I'm a bit overwhelmed. I haven't gotten the results back but the Dr. said it was Colitis. We are both waiting for the biopsy to see what kind.

My Colitis started back in 2010 during the World Cup. I had a rough weekend of drinking beer and eating poorly. Then on Monday I had a curry from a local restaurant and it just went down hill from there. I vomitted, nausea, and a burning sensation in my abdomen. I figured it was some sort of stomach virus or gastritis. I took Zantac and Kaopectate and it cleared with in a week. I took it easy for a month, bland foods, no alchohol. no nothing.

I was fine for 2 years with no problems what so ever. Then last year I was doing a rib-off challenge locally in my community and while doing the sauce the pain in my abdomen came back. I did the same remedy as before and I was fine within two days.

Now through out this time I realized that spicy foods or hot sauce were the culprit so I began not to use them since 2010. Last week I was at a bbq and I ate a few too many chorizos and the next day the pain came back. So I decided to go get myself checked out because I was worried. I've had 3 flares in four years and the last one was different than all the others. I suddendly had the urge to go to the bathroom for the first 4 days and D throughout all of them.

Im beyond worried after reading so many posts these last days. I have come to terms with this knowing that every case is different. Im scared of taking meds with the lasting effects it will have on my liver and pancreas. Im scared of not taking meds and having this disease spread throughout my whole colon and end up with surgery later on. Overall I'm worried and scared of what the rest of life will look like. I have been healthy my whole life and BAM this happens. I'm writing this on this forum because you have all gone through what I'm going through and more. The next few days I will be receiveing the bad news with the biopsy and I have to start making changes. What, I don't know. I just know that this is going to be one crapty ride.

- Griff

First off, don't blame what you ate for getting UC because the cause of UC is unknown. Spicy foods and alcohol bother everyone's digestive system; not just those with UC. Hind sight can be 20/20, if only I hadn't done X then I wouldn't of gotten UC; it's just silly.

If you are confirmed to have UC, then daily medications are something you are going to have to get used to. UC never goes away, and you must take your medications in order to stay healthy. The first class of medications they prescribe for UC is anti-inflammatories, AKA meslamine, AKA 5ASA (e.g., asacol hd, lialda, canasa, Rowasa, and others). They are very safe, have been used a very long time, and they help relieve UC related symptoms. They are mostly topical, with 90% of the medication being flushed out of your system when you poop. The rest comes out when you pee (it can slightly change the color of your pee).

Noncompliance with your medications makes you 5 times more likely to have a uc flareup, which is full blown return of symptoms (diarrhea, blood, pain, etc.). Some stop their medications when they feel good, and then uc returns with a vengeance, spreads, gets more severe, and so forth. Often due to uc getting worse without medicinal treatment, you need stronger meds than you had in the 1st place. Long story short, don't ever stop taking your prescribed meds. You get used to it, it becomes part of your morning routine much like brushing your teeth is.