I am starting this blog today to tell my story about how I am constantly struggling with health issues. I'll start by saying that I am a 22 year old female who is 1 week away from graduating college with a B.A. Degree in Psychology. I have been officially diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis in August 2011, though I have been struggling with stomach issues since my sophomore year in college. I have also been a competitive athlete on my College Swimming and Diving team throughout my 4 years here at school, so having stomach issues was not a fun time when having to put a swim suit on everyday.
Ulcerative colitis is long-lasting disease that inflames the lining of the large intestine (the colon) and rectum. I know pretty exciting stuff. Such symptoms that I have had include; dehydration, severe abdominal pain to the point of not being able to get out of bed, fever, and very VERY sudden bowel movements. Now when I say sudden, let me just elaborate on this for a moment.... their have been several occasions where I could be eating a meal and I will have to get up from the table and run to the bathroom because I am needing to go that badly. Needless to say I don't go to restaurants very often anymore.
So how I found out I had this was also a horrible experience. I went to my normal doctor multiple times during my Junior year of college and she just figured it was college food that was upsetting my stomach, even though at the time I no longer lived on campus and was cooking for myself. So over the summer I went again and she referred me to a doctor who specializes in stomach stuff (gastroenterologist) and he asked me a million and one questions and then decided I needed more blood work and then a Colonoscopy.... oh how I never wish this on anyone. Well, the colonoscopy part wasn't a big deal at all because I was knocked out and when I woke up I couldnt even tell they did anything. But the worst part was having to drink a bunch of laxatives 2 whole days before going. I felt like I was constantly sitting on the toilet. Not a very fun time.
So after I did that he also had me go and get an upper GI done. This is when you drink a really nasty chalky mixture and they take pictures of it going down through your stomach and intestines. This wasn't horrible, it just took like 2 hours. So after all my tests came back I went back to him and he told me that I indeed had Ulcerative Colitis. He prescribed me my first medication which I only took 3 pills in the morning. This worked for a little while but then started only helping me for my breakfast and nothing else, and my symptoms were going back to the way they were before. So I went back over thanksgiving and got prescribed my new medication that I am on now which I take 2 pills before every meal. Now this usually works but their are times when it doesn't.
So I just wanted to go into an introduction today, see how this goes. Then I plan to go into more day to day stories about different challenges I face being a 22 year old who now can't eat or drink half the things I use too. Restricting me from doing things more people my age can. Hope you all Enjoy!! <3 <3
No comments:
Post a Comment