Just Diagnosed

kristinef · Post by **kristinef** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 7:52 pm

Hi!
My name is Kristine and I was just diagnosed last week with lymphcytic colitis. Just thought I should pop in and introduce myself. I am 45 yo and started having D about 6 - 8 months ago. It started out of the blue. When I think back I cannot come up with a trigger or an event that started it all. I am controlling the D for the most part now with immodium. The hardest part for me is the fatigue. I make my living as a freelance fashion photographer and I am always on the go. The fatigue and back pain has caused me to cut back on the amount of jobs I can accept and so my income is down. I am worried that people will not book me for jobs if they think I am sick. So I try to hide it the best I can. It all causes me great stress and has put a strain on my relationship.

I am so glad to have found a group of people who can understand.

Kristine

LindaB · Post by **LindaB** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:41 pm

Hi Kristine, Welcome! I'm brand new to this site also. Just in the few days I have been here, I feel I am getting educated on how to take the needed steps to get this MC thing under control. I'm learning so much and the support here is second to none. I know you will find it the same way. This place is a bright spot in what for me has been a lonely, confusing journey.

LindaB

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:45 pm

Welcome Kristine!
Glad you found us. This place is a godsend for people with colitis. The info you get here will really help and stand you in good stead. And the support is the best thing about it.

Read extensively and ask any question you need to. Everyone here will help and understand.

Christine. · Post by **Christine.** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:48 pm

Hi Kristine,
I'm another Christine from California. You are in the right place. There are so many knowledgable people here that will really help you along the road to feeling much better.
Read, ask and learn!
Chris

kristinef · Post by **kristinef** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:52 pm

Thank you Linda and Lesley for the warm welcome. I have a lot of reading to do. My Dr. didn't tell me anything about changing my diet. Hmmmm... He prescribed Asacol but I decided against that for now. I do ok on the immodium most days.

I looked at the list of recommended Drs and there is no one in California.

Kristine

kristinef · Post by **kristinef** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:54 pm

Hi Christine

We must have been typing at the same time.

Christine. · Post by **Christine.** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:55 pm

You are right. My Dr. Put me on Asacol at first....did nothing. If you find a good doctor let me know.
Chris

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 9:34 pm

When you read you will find there is not much respect for doctors around here. They will not accept that a gastro intestinal disease has diet connections.

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:19 pm

Welcome Kristine!
I too passed on the Asacol. I knew something wasn't right when my GI refused to test me for celiac disease, despite me having all the classic symptoms

. So I tackled this disease on my own, even found Enterolab, before I found the amazing Potty People. I would have saved a lot of time to have come here first! I tolerated Pepto Bismol tabs better than Immodium (which seemed to work too well sometimes), but ultimately it was going Gluten free, dairy free and mostly soy free that stopped 80% of my symptoms. The rest of the healing after that took much longer, but I had my life back.

CathyMaine · Post by **CathyMaine** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 3:25 am

Hi Kristine and welcome! I am new to this forum also and have learned alot of good information. You have a simillar experience to mine and the fatigue is what sent me to my doctor. I hate the drained feeling and will be going back to my PCP this week to try to find something that works for me. Good luck to you!

Post by **tex** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 7:59 am

Hi Kristine,

Welcome to the board. The fatigue, brain fog, abdominal pain, and arthritis-like symptoms are common with this disease, but the good news is that as we get our GI symptoms under control, the other symptoms fade away, also.

As you've discovered, most gastroenterologists still don't realize that diet has anything to do with digestive system diseases, but that's like trying to claim that breathing polluted air has nothing to do with asthma, black lung disease, COPD, or lung cancer.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex

coryhub · Post by **coryhub** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 10:33 am

Welcome Kristine,
You will get the best information from this site. I have been doing my best to adhere to the diet restrictions suggested here for the past two years. My moaning and groaning, and toilet runs have decreased noticeably. For that my family & I are grateful. Bookmark this website because it does contain the best solutions for LC.

kristinef · Post by **kristinef** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:24 pm

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

Cathy - I have started having vision problems lately too. My eyes are red, especially in the morning, and sometimes it seems more difficult to focus. I never would have made the connection between my eye issues and my gut issues until I read your other post.

I was seeing gluten gluten everywhere when I was out and about today and was feeling overwhelmed by the idea of going gluten free. But I'm going to give it a try because I want to get better. I don't normally eat a lot of dairy so that one won't be as much of a challenge as going gluten free.

I just want to get my energy back!

Thanks everyone.

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 8:44 pm

Welcome, Kristine.

You have come to the right place. I have been here since the end of November of 2011. I agree that a gluten-free diet is somewhat of a challenge, but I know I am eating much better foods. My fatigue has lessened a lot already, and I find I am not running to the bathroom all the time.

You will find a lot of information and support here.

I am sorry you had to find us, but you will find it will be your greatest tool in getting your life back.

Paula

kristinef · Post by **kristinef** » Mon Apr 02, 2012 9:21 pm

Thanks Paula. This group gives me hope.