Newbie

    So this is my first post, hence the Newbie title. I'm hoping, with this blog, to shed some light on my own disease by journaling my adventures in living with Ulcerative Colitis. I was diagnosed not long ago, in March 2011 and have had some ups and downs since then. I'm lucky to have lots of support from family and a few of my friends, though I must say a few friends that I thought would stick around have not. It's interesting what you learn about other people when you must begin facing your own personal struggles. 
    To start with, I was diagnosed with a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) called Ulcerative Colitis (UC). There are two types of IBD - one being Crohn's disease and the other is UC. Many people have at least heard of Crohn's disease thanks to the ever present circle of never ending bathroom - oh my god hold my hand over my guts while I look worried Humira commercials on TV. Usually when I explain UC I start with Crohn's so people have something to connect to. There are also several types of UC - I have what's called Pancolitis. This means my entire colon is effected. My doctor labeled my disease "moderately severe" 

at diagnosis. This basically means - pretty bad but not the worst in known history. The story of how I got to this diagnosis is short compared to some who suffered symptoms for years before finally finding out what was wrong. I began to notice around Halloween of 2010 that foods were "moving through" faster, my stool was less formed and I would have bouts of severe bloating for no apparent reason. By the beginning of 2011 I was having 10+ 'bowel movements" (I guess you could call them that) a day and was starting to feel the effects of chronic diarrhea like fatigue, weight loss and dehydration. Finally by the end of February 2011, I was spending the day packing my apartment I would soon be moving from with my Mom, after the 10th time having to run to the bathroom in about an hour, she gave me no choice and took me to the hospital to get checked out. Mind you up until this time I NEVER had health issues. I never even had blood drawn from my arm. I was always the picture of health and only not quite 27 years old. I stayed at the hospital for a few hours, was administered about a liter of IV fluids, had several blood tests, stool tests, and urine tests. The ER doc told me I must have some kind of infection in my GI tract because my white blood cell count was high and said they would know for sure once my stool cultures came back in about a week. He then proceeded to demonstrate how to wash my hands after using the bathroom...since I had never done this before in my 27 years of life, I was thankful for this knowledge...(sense the sarcasm?) I was discharged and thought that was it. Take the antibiotics he prescribed and feel better in about a week....If only...

    Things only continued to get worse and not a week after the ER trip I was at the office of a general practitioner with now more than 30 bowel movements a day, severe weight loss, blood and mucous in my stool, and so dehydrated that my eyes were "gooey". I was also so weak it was all I could do just to walk. The doctor took one look at me, listened to my story and immediately called a gastroenterologist (GI) and got me in to see him about 2 hours later. There I met the GI doc...little did I know, this guy would be my new best friend...after all..he's seen places on me that no one else but my Mom and Dad have seen. I once again relayed my symptoms and he told me he suspected Ulcerative Colitis and ordered a colonoscopy to take place 3 days later. He also started me on Prednisone - the evil little pill that now rules my butt (and life at times when I'm on it). 

    March 3, 2011 - a day that will live in infamy - at least for me. My colonoscopy and subsequent diagnosis of UC. I showed up with my Mom as directed at the crack of dawn - starving and completely devoid of all material of any kind in my guts. I was EMPTY! But still somehow felt like I needed to poo. I got checked in and soon was taken back to the lovely little changing room and put on the beautiful gown they generously supplied for me, got hooked up to all the little bags and pumps and machines to monitor me while under anesthesia, and shortly afterwards was wheeled back to the "scope room" to begin the procedure. All the while my Mom (also my rock) was trying to be strong and hold it together while watching her youngest and only girl be whisked away by a few really nice people in scrubs. The room they took me to was dark except for the monitors and a tiny little lamp on a desk where my GI sat, feverishly scribbling in my chart. "Hellooo Kathryn.." he says in his fun little diluted Irish accent...I would get to know this voice quite well. The nurse rolled me over to my side, gave me a brief rundown of what would happen then told me they would start the "drugs". FYI: Michael Jackson knew what he was talking about...anesthesia is ammaaazziinngg! In about 2.25 seconds I was blissfully sound asleep. 

    From what I was told about 30 minutes later I began to wake up - back in the little changing room with my Mom and GI and a definitive diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis. Honestly, after 5 months of suffering I was relieved to finally know what was wrong. I remember being very stern with my GI for some reason. "So it's colitis?" I slurred - "Yessss" - "And you're going to put me on medication?" - "Yessss" - "And the meds are going to help" - "That's what we are hoping for." - that sat well with me and I think I nodded off for a few more minutes. Then went back to my Mom's house and got comfy on the couch while she went to the pharmacy to fill the first bottle of my new prescription - Asacol. The little brownish red pill that has yet to leave my side at all times. I have been taking 12 of these per day until about a week ago when I was prescribed the same medication, just bigger. Now I take 6 a day but each pill is double the dosage (800mg as opposed to 400mg each). At the time I was also taking four 10mg prednisone tablets in the morning. So I went from no health issues to 16 pills a day in a matter of a few months...and have never looked back. 

    So that's how I got my start in the IBD club. I think I'll save the beginning stages of managing this disease for another day. It's such a long, involved story even though it's only been 2 years and 2 months since my diagnosis. Since then, I've been fortunate enough to come in contact and find so many others dealing with various forms of IBD that are truly inspiring and brighten my every day. I have to say the IBD community is the silver lining of this disease. Even though most of these people are far, far away, through contact with them I know I would never have to walk this road alone, even if I was not so fortunate to have the support I do from my family. And that makes me smile. 

So that's an introduction to my colon from a newbie blogger. We'll see where this goes. 

If there is anyone out there that has questions about IBD, has it and needs an ear to listen, or is interested in any form of IBD awareness - feel free to get in touch with me. While I'm not full of resources I would be happy to help in any way I can. 

-Kate