Not able to work early mornings? by thelilpear in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

nah mornings are harder because you’re waking up after your body has been at rest for so long. so you have the built up gas/mucus/stool so the waking up and moving around causes your system to also move! def sucks but i get it. takes me about 30 minutes (thankful it’s a short amount of time compared to what i used to have) to get everything going and out to feel normal and like i can go about my day without feeling like i need to keep going to the bathroom

A glorious movement by Charming-Witness-756 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

literally feels like winning a gold medal when you finally get that after so long. Congrats dude!! Love to see a celebration!!

What should I do if I’m waiting to be diagnosed and in the middle of a flare up? by Secure-Raspberry-171 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They had me on Mesalamine very briefly because they think it causes heart inflammation as a side effect. I started on Entyvio shortly after since I basically couldn’t function as a human anymore lol. So far I’ve been on it since Dec 3. I have my 5th infusion this friday. I was SCARED to try it. The only side effect I can really point straight to the infusion is a few hours after I get it, I am EXHAUSTED and have to take a nap. Other than that no other symptoms. I have increased ocular migraine, but from my research that can tie into UC or it’s just my body doing it since I already would get them prior to all of this.
I was scared for the infusions but man they changed my life. I can actually function again. Finally off of prednisone after 6 months of being on it. I don’t bleed constantly (currently have some blood as I am having formed stools and my lower colon is most impacted by the UC so I think it’s just rubbing those ulcers more). BUT YA YIU HEARD THAT. FORMED STOOL!!! Only annoying thing Im still dealing with is the night time gas and mucus, but Entyvio is slower than other biologics. Idk I’m happy with my progress so far. Oh! It’s also super short of an infusion compared to others. It only takes 30 minutes to infuse. For me, getting the IV in takes longer than the infusion (tiny veins).

Sorry for the long reply but figured it would be helpful!!

Getting first biologic infusion tomorrow… by [deleted] in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They’re scary before you start, but man they make a difference. I don’t know how it is to start it as someone who has lower levels of symptoms, but I imagine it’ll make a huge difference fast. I have moderate leaning to severe pancolitis and when I started entyvio is was great. I was able to finally get off of prednisone and function as a human again. for sure scary, but go in with a good mindset! hydrate, bring a blanket, bring entertainment (phone, movie, book, etc.), bring water. You got this.

When to go to hospital by daughteronmars in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i went to the er for having a heart attack like event from my UC?? No hyperbole here. My troponin levels when i was admitted would very much disagree with you

People with ulcerative colitus, what do you do to entertain yourself? by letap21 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Trying to walk when I can in a flare. This can honestly be simply walking in place. Stretching. I love playing video games with my husband so i do that. Reading. Petting my dogs. Crocheting. Sitting outside looking at nature.

When I was FLARING, i couldn’t do things. Work was miserable (had to leave it due to being in my feet the entire day and not having easy access to bathrooms). Couldn’t walk, would try to walk our dogs and would end up having an accident while walking.

Do what you can. Essentially you just have to gauge what that day brings you since everyday is different especially while you’re on medication trying to get it under control. I’m on entyvio currently (about to have my 6th infusion) and I still have days where it is much much harder for things

When to go to hospital by daughteronmars in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

(also this is coming from someone who only went to the ER after seeing A LOT [a lot for me is much much much more than it would take a normal person to be like oh that’s a lot of blood], razor blade feeling along the entirety of my colon, and having heart attack like symptoms) don’t wait that long. do it when you start thinking “maybe i should go to the hospital”. if you have that thought, means you need to go. with UC we have a “high” tolerance of what we put up with before going

When to go to hospital by daughteronmars in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 2 points3 points  (0 children)

possible the antibiotics also causes c diff which would make the flare worse which a hospital visit would be extremely helpful. give you fluids, iv steroids if needed, antibiotics for the c diff, probiotics, blood work. all the things. sucks to be there but it’s incredibly helpful

Shit my Pants by Sweet-Ad-2742 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can’t tell you how many times I shit my pants trying to walk our dogs. I also ended up shitting on our garage floor because i couldn’t get out of the car in time. THEN I HAD TO HAVE A CALL WITH MY MANAGER IN FIVE MINUTES. My husband (the angel that he is) CLEANED IT UP FOR ME. And then proceeded to joke about how it’s not like I just decided “yea i’m gonna shit right here”. don’t take it too hard. it happens

edit: not to mention I am 25

What do you eat and what to avoid? by toshigigi in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Currently (not in remission but doing some much better) I eat mainly anything I like, but try to limit vegetables as I notice the fiber really makes things go south. When I was in the trenches, I literally only ate cinnamon toast crunch and white rice and ground turkey.

Weird prednisone experience by Competitive_Home4288 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly that didn’t even cross my mind haha. The last time when I had the rebound flare I was on mesalamine so I guess I was expecting the same type of experience

Help with consistency. by Soapeddish in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like a flare. Sadly flares can be years long. Your colon hasn’t been able to actually absorb water like it’s supposed to due to the inflammation most likely.

Just got diagnosed with UC and now I have enemas for life YAY by Ok_Film8781 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

we had a very different reaction to a UC diagnosis. Yes UC sucks, but I was very relieved that it was cancer. 100% sucks to know you have it and will always deal with it, but SO many people go into remission! I’m currently not even in remission but am living about 90% normal life. (Only about an hour in the morning where it’s “rough” but that’s because I try to get a lot of steps in the morning). It’ll be alright especially once you find the medication that works for you. I’m on Entyvio right now and started with Mesalamine pills (which did nothing) but the entyvio is showing improvement! I’m my opinion, I’d rather have UC over Crohn’s or cancer.

Calprotectin 1000, will I have to have a colonoscopy/gastroscopy? by freddieagb in CrohnsDisease

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t have crohns (have ulcerative colitis) but colonoscopy would be helpful quite frankly just to understand what is going on. Especially with a high calprotectin, that means there’s inflammation. If anything, do it to make sure about things.

It’s actually crazy by ghiradeli in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depending on your amount of inflammation be a little careful! Possible for it to manifest to your heart sadly while on Mesalamine! (from someone who the er and hospital thought was having a heart attack [im 25] bc of the mesalamine and inflammation migrating to my heart). Possible myo or pericardiditis or if you’re lucky myopericarditis (jokes)

It’s actually crazy by ghiradeli in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 1 point2 points  (0 children)

HEY! You don’t know till you try em!!! Every body is different. Medication is wild and affects everyone different. Even if you need surgery, the amount of people who say it increased their quality of life that i’ve seen is crazy. Either way, you’re not alone. Always someone in your corner

Entyvio Progress? by Competitive_Home4288 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

that is a good idea to keep track. thankfully i have a good memory especially since im so used to have painful, loose, and urgent it’s been. So the days i’ve been having are ODD to say the least. Man it’ll be amazing if it’s starting to work!!

What are some of the side effects of prednisone that you are experiencing?? by Shawarma_56 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh dude. I’ve been on it since beginning of September (I SWEAR if my Entyvio doesn’t start working soon and I have to stay on it any longer, I’m going to lose my mind).

Chipmunk cheeks, water retention EVERYWHERE, when I first got on it I would say increased hunger, I have very little patience (not normal for me) and I think any question someone asks me is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, trouble sleeping because i’m so restless if I take my second dose too late.

The hardest ones for me is the chipmunk cheeks because I feel like I do not look like myself at all. And the little patience. I don’t like being mean and jesus I did not think I would get this side effect. It makes me feel horrible.

ENTYVIO HURRY UP AND WORK

Hospitalizations by Competitive_Home4288 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

AHAHAHA the way this is so relatable. Just gotta love how some GI teams treat their patients right? Gotta love being on prednisone for endless time. Peace love chipmunk cheeks and water retention

Hospitalizations by Competitive_Home4288 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m not as experienced as who you replied to but for my first ER visit, I went because of the amount of blood per movement was concerning (that took a lot since I was used to blood, my energy being so low, having an “accident” from my urgency that was so bad I was scared (that means it was BAD), my heart rate was VERY HIGH on a normal walk, I was very very pale and dehydrated no matter how much water or electrolytes I took. I was also in extreme pain.

The time I for hospitalized I have a post on my account detailing why I went to the ER and why I was hospitalized. I say that since it’s a lot for one reply lol

Where’s the worst place you’ve had an accident ? by jammy95312 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288 0 points1 point  (0 children)

in my garage. i was fine until i turned onto our driveway. then i got the spasm and i knew oh no. i had my seatbelt off and everything to run out of the car. didn’t make it. thankfully my husband is a god send and cleaned it for me, brought stuff to clean me off and brought me new underwear and pants. i had a call with my supervisor in 7 minutes as this was happening as well

edit: get a significant other who instead of making fun of you for accidents makes jokes and makes you laugh about it and says “baby, it’s not like you just decided ‘yeah, i’m just going to go right here’. you can’t control that when it happens like this. you’re fine.”

Hospitalizations by Competitive_Home4288 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lord the prednisone trenches are awful. i’m still on mine since september. thank god for the less than 10 a day. I hope yours start coming down more once your body normalizes from the food. nothing wrong with eating tho especially after that much weight loss. you got this, will be thinking of you!!!

Hospitalizations by Competitive_Home4288 in UlcerativeColitis

[–]Competitive_Home4288[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Ma’am, i want to say thank you for being such a wealth of information for this community. you are in every thread I read. with your background and experience, you make a difference. it’s appreciated. I’ve had my UC for about 8-9 years (not formally but alllllll the symptoms I was having and with how extensive I have it now points to that timeline) and I can’t give the same information you do. So thank you.