I went into pregnancy mostly in remission and felt really fantastic throughout the 9 months. All hell broke loose after having my daughter and I flared violently for the next 2.5 years. It was a...
I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's a constant battle for me to keep from getting sucked under, as well. Sometimes the magnitude of having a second full-time job keeping myself alive really...
I've been experiencing irregular heart beats and racing heart the last several years, but I couldn't tell if it was related to UC or the various meds I'm on. The last several months I've had a lot of...
Welbutrin XL definitely helped me with symptoms. A lot of my accidents seemed to be brought on by panicking, which the bupropion tamped down. I recently was experiencing a racing heart and shakiness...
It has been incredibly healing for me to tell people about it and explain what it is I'm dealing with. When I'm flaring I withdraw from life and activities, which can make people think I'm mad at...
Oh, and Old Hat, such a good point about drinking. It's crazy how much I have to drink on this drug or I get headaches. I probably need to increase my water consumption even more....
Thanks for the feedback. It's really hard to figure out what symptoms are connected to what. Is it the drugs? Or UC itself? Good suggestions....
Hi everyone, Does anyone else on balsalazide have trouble sleeping and an increase in anxiety? Any tips on dealing with it? I've been on balsalazide for four months now and I definitely see an...
Am I missing something here? We aren't supposed to take Tylenol? I thought we weren't supposed to take ibuprofren?...
Hey, be really careful with the topical clindamycin. Even topical is contraindicated for UC (which a lot of dermatologists don't know). I got C. diff while using that and nearly died. Also topical...
Hmmm, probably not pregnant, but I suppose that's always a possibility. Eek! And I haven't been tested. I wouldn't be shocked if I had a vitamin and mineral deficiency since I was flaring for 2.5...
Hi Everyone! I've been on generic Colazal for almost three months now and it's working great! My urgency is virtually gone, poops are normal, joint pain is resolved. Wooohooo! Unfortunately, I'm...
Congratulations! That's exciting. I'm thinking I might have to try something similar....
And p.s. I really have been there a LOT. This might make you laugh: http://www.salon.com/2011/04/26/when_nature_calls_mortifying_disclosure/singleton/...
No matter what, please don't beat yourself up. This is NOT your fault. Chanting can help...sometimes. But you haven't failed if it doesn't help. I've taken to wearing Depends when I'm really not...
When I'm flaring, protein is good, white rice, bananas, toast, and weirdly enough, beans and rice. I can't eat any raw fruit (besides bananas) or veggies, garlic, or anything spicy. I can't eat...
deltaforce, I don't know if I was allergic to Rowasa because of the sulfites or the mesalamine. But I bet that will become more apparent after I try balsalazide. My G.I. said he'd never had anyone...
I'm about to start balsalazide and I'm just wondering what other people's experiences have been with starting this drug? Is there a ramp-up period? What side effects did you experience? I just did a...
I have had major problems with accidents so I feel for you! One thing that has helped me is deep breathing and chanting during moments of intense urgency. It isn't your fault and it is the nature of...
Thanks for your help, imagardener2!...
I'm not on any oral meds and I've never taken mesalamine before. I am allergic to sulfites so that could definitely be the issue. I just wasn't sure if there was a ramp up period for Rowasa or what...
I just started Rowasa enemas a week ago and for the last four days have felt just awful. Four days ago I had acute vomiting and D and since then have continued to have D. Since last night it's been...
I went to my GI today and he said he wants to do a sigmoidoscopy first before he prescribes anything, since it's been almost five years since my colonoscopy. So...we'll see on Monday. The worms are...
Cool, that's good to hear. The worms were amazing, after an initial adjustment period. I would go back on them in a heartbeat, but they're $1000 a month and the type I was on are somewhat hard to...
Thank you so much for the advice! Do you think I'll need to do prednisone too, or just the mesalamine? I've only take prednisone. I've never taken mesalamine or any other drug. So I'm scared,...
Hi there, I'm heading to my new GI on Thursday because I'm flaring and natural remedies aren't cutting it. My main problem is urgency and frequency. I'm going 6-7 times a day with a lot of urgency...
I got pregnant right away and felt great throughout most of my pregnancy, but I flared like crazy after I had my daughter. There was definitely a connection between lactating and flaring for me. I...
Good idea! Voila....
Oh man, I'm so sorry. I flared so intensely after having my daughter. It was godawful. I was probably going 30 times a day in the first week. Every single time I tried to breastfeed I had to run to...
Oh, and my baby was born very healthy and 7 pounds, one ounce, full term (4 days past my due date). She has very healthy guts. We've given her probiotics since she was 10 days old....
I guess not high by UC standards, but pretty high. Between 3-9 capsules of 8 billion cultures most days, then 1-3 50 billion cultures when I was feeling more iffy, and 1 100 billion packet a day when...
I hate mine. I really need someone responsive who has a mind for holistic care. Any leads appreciated!...
Lots of sleep (so hard when you have a toddler), yoga, anything you can do to lower stress. Diet, particularly staying away from fried, spicy, oily, or sharp. No coffee or alcohol for me, either. And...
It seems to help me with both digestion and pain....
No, I'm not on prednisone. And I've had my potassium checked. It really seemed like the diuretic affect of the drug was increasing my bm urgency as well. Lots of diarrhea, urgency, etc., especially...
I managed to stay off meds for my whole pregnancy. Just took high doses of probiotics. But I flared like crazy after I gave birth. Just a heads up that lactation can exacerbate flares, and the...
Has anyone taken spironolactone? I was on it for the last six months or so and I think it made my UC symptoms worse. Just wondering if anyone else has taken it and what their experiences were?...
I've had good luck with cabbage. I tend to crave it when I'm flaring and it always seems to help....
Ah, gotcha. Sorry, I didn't notice the word "human." I didn't even know they were offering human whipworm. Can't that spread to other people, though? I haven't heard much about human whipworm....
Hey Dietcoke--I've been flying to Boston to get my worms through a clinical trial Harvard is doing (not for TSO with UC, for TSO with peanut and tree nut allergies, which I also have). Before you fly...
I can't drink at all or I bleed and have d instantly and for the next day--even when I'm basically doing ok. I suggest you go out anyway and get comfortable with partying sober. You've got a long...
Hi Y'all! I'm currently doing a course of TSO and was wondering if anyone else has taken them? What were your experiences and symptoms while on them? I'm trying to separate which of my symptoms are...
This is so exciting! Please keep us posted. I'm considering trying the home version with my husband as a donor, but would really prefer doing it with a doctor....
The book's not quite done, superdoo615. Hopefully it will be out in a year or so. Thanks!...
Yeah, some of the comments were just ridiculous. The editor warned me that Salon.com commenters can be pretty harsh, but it usually doesn't reflect the way the piece is being received overall. I've...
Hey guys, I actually wrote the piece you posted here. I'm glad you liked it! Right after I was diagnosed I found this amazing community and learned a lot by hanging out here. I learned about...
Yeah, I've had to run to the bathroom right in the middle of sex before, which is horrible, and humiliating. I would definitely say overall my sex drive is pretty low these days, but like a lot of...
I'm one of those people with UC who battles with trying to lose weight not gain. Sigh. In my very first flare I lost about 8 pounds. I've never lost any weight since and it's actually really hard for...
I can't drink any alcohol at all. Even a few sips of wine or beer or hard alcohol means an entire night in the bathroom. Giving up all booze and coffee sucks, but for me these are my two biggest...
Wow, it's nice to hear I'm not alone in this. I keep trying to get away with 7 or 8 hours and then beat myself up when I'm exhausted. I really need about 9 I think....