Ulcerative Colitis

[Tbird]

ulcerative colitis diagnosed - any advice on managing this from some who has it? it seems the statistics aren't so good for needing an operation 25 - 40 percent need the surgery according to what i read.

has anyone been service connected for this and how?

[Tbird]

i've been going through my smr's i found a note in my medical records dated back 1990 of probable IBS which i believe was misdiagnosed Ulcerative Colitis and should be good for my claim, what do you think?

also have non service connected ibs, but i think with this document i can at least get that turned around.

i am thinking this is going to make my claim go easier, i hope so!

[tagandbag]

Tbird, I had it for about a year and it was due to stress to the max and probably diet, because I was not eating properly. It went away pretty much, but I still have occasional IBS, but I haven't look at the possibility of it being service connected. All I can say it was not pleasant. It is something that you have to watch very closely. I have an old Greek friend that told me in old greek times if you had bowel problems, diahrea, etc... they considered it as your death sentence. I said come on this is the 21 st century. But anyways you need to have any conditon with your bowel system check out by an MD, most of the time it is a diet change.

T&B

[Tbird]

well i went to the doctor yesterday to get the results of the biopsy and the doc told me it was confusing, could be ulcerative colitis or ischemic colitis, he started me on mesalamine and took 20 vials of blood to test for various autoimmune disorder. i'm just a bit frustrated and a bit overwhelmed i thought when i went tot he doctor yesterday that he could tell me yes it's definitely ulcerative colitis or it's not, now i don't know. not knowing is the worst for me. i came home and just felt so down.

i've been trying to read about ulcerative colitis and ischemic colitis and he's got me on a new diet for 3 months and says i must quit smoking as it only will make it worse, that's a tough battle but it looks like one i can't avoid. i guess i was feeling hopeful before i went to the doc, the hospital had discharged me with some meds and they really seemed to help, but doc says don't take those because it could make it worse.

i'm confused, depressed and tired. i've been dealing with this for over 19 years and i think it's really beat me down. now don't worry i may feel like i've just had a beat down, but i always get back up and i am sure i will after this. i don't know to much about ischemic colitis, i did spend a lot of time researching ulcerative colitis and was just getting a handle on it mentally, now we don't know which colitis i got.

sounds silly i know, but for some reason the whole ordeal is really getting to me.

[carlie]

Tbird,

Sorry the results provided no definitive answer.

Do you want any help with research ?

carlie

[Tbird]

i could use a phone call from a supportive voice if you have time.

Tbird,

Sorry the results provided no definitive answer.

Do you want any help with research ?

carlie

[Pete53]

Tbird:

My wife has it and she has finally developed her own routine to deal with it. If you take some of the fiber supplements and restrict dairy it seems to help. She has never had a definite diagnosis but the Docs love to do a lot of testing. The blood tests also rule out or look for another thing that is like colitis. I can't remember the exact name but it is spruel or something like that but very rare.

From our experience you have to really manage your diet if you have it.