Dear friends.....NEW and OLD

[Carol Arnett]

I haven`t posted for so long I hope I remember how.
Welcome to all of you who are new to this family. I apologize profusely for not being here to welcome you and be of some support.
I can`t be of much help in many ways because I haven`t had some of the problems that most of you have...i.e. food intolerances, etc.

A year ago in July my younger sister died suddenly and unexpectedly and I have to admit to the human failing of wallowing in my grief and loss for almost a year. I also injured my back in August and that finally just cleared up in the past 3 months.

I was beginning to feel normal again when I was hit with something I haden`t experienced for 4 years. Yes. good ole D! I was going up to 50 times a day for 2 weeks when my doctor put me in the hospital on Aug. 4 for 2 weeks. I didn`t realize just how wonderful remission is.

While in the hospital (felt like prison must) it was discovered that in addition to LMC I also have Ulcerative Colitis and a malabosorption problem. Consequently I am on a low fat diet and am starving. LOL.
Seriously, I am finding more and more foods that I can eat so expect to gain the few pounds I lost back, in time.

I don`t remember ever reading about anyone with multiple types of Colitis. Does anyone else have the same problem?

I am on Asacol...800mg 3x a day until I see my doc in 4 months. It is causing me to be very light headed and I walk around like someone drunk for a couple of hours about 3 hours after I take it. I also don`t remember some of the symptoms some of you have had with that. I usually just go to bed until it clears up. I have a call in to my doc to see if I can reduce the dosage at this time.

Between my GP and Gastro doc, they sent me home with RX`s for Asacol, Entocort and Sandostsatin, which is an injection in the belly. I called the Pharmacy to find out the prices and almost fainted. The Sandostation alone was $3700.00. They all totaled more than $4,000. I have no RX insurance so I elected to just take the Asacol which is what they started me on at the hospital. So far, so good. No D.

I hope today finds everyone here feeling well. I have only one suggestion and that is for Jodi. Did you know that your doctor can give you a script for an appetite enhancer? I don`t remember the name but mine gave it to me 4 years ago. I gained my weight back in no time.

For those of you who know Harry...he is doing very well and hasn`t had any new problems for over a year.

Shirley, I was so, so sorry to hear about Bill. I have come so close to losing Harry so many times that I can certainly empathize with you. They say that time heals but I don`t believe that is so....it is LOVE and I know you had plenty of that for your man. My heart goes out to you.

I have been reading all posts, except while in the hospital and I wish I had shared in all your sorrows and triumphs. I won`t be lazy any longer. Love, Carol

[Tessa]

Hi Carol

Welcome back.


I am glad that you are feeling better now and away from Hospital.
You seem to have been through a very "busy" time.

Take care,
I will love to read your posts again.
Love
Tessa

[tex]

Hi Carol, and welcome back!

It's great to see you posting again. I'm so very sorry to hear about your sister, but it's good to know that Harry is doing well these days. I'm also sorry to hear about the UC diagnosis. Another member, ErinD, was diagnosed with UC early this year, but I don't recall if she had LC or CC, before that.

It sounds as though you may be having neurological reactions to Asacol - you really shouldn't feel that way after taking it. Ask your doc about Lialda - it has the same active ingredient as Asacol, but it's a newer med, and it might not cause those adverse effects for you. Or, you might consider the Entocort. Though it's more expensive, it is more effective in treating IBDs, and side effects are not common for most patients, (though I believe that Barbara had neurological symptoms from it). The Sandostatin is a med developed for a couple of very specialized issues, and using it to treat UC would be an off-label use, I believe. I'm very surprised that your doc would prescribe it, as an initial treatment for UC, (especially at that price - what planet is he from?). LOL.

Thanks for the update, and please keep in touch, in the future.

Love,
Tex

[Mars]

It's wonderful to see you again Carol! You're missed when you aren't here!

I'm also glad to hear you are doing better than before you went into the hospital. It's great knowing that Harry is doing good too.

Welcome back and stay in touch - we are all here to help you through the good and bad times!

Lots of love and
Mars

[barbaranoela]

Hi Carol===Im happy Harry is doing well----and I hope U get to feeling better soon--
---and I feel terrible that I havent called u in such a long time----do forgive me for being so lax--

Luve Barbara

[JLH]

Hello, Carol. It's nice to meet you. Thanks for the welcome. I hope I see you soon again.

[starfire]

Hi Carol,
It was wonderful seeing a post from you. I can certainly understand your "withdrawal" since I am experiencing sort of the same thing. It's not just "withdrawal" from the board.

Thank you for your kind words............... and I'm so very glad Harry has been doing OK. You certainly have enough on your plate without more being added.

I hope you will be able to control the colitis (both kinds) with as little problems as possible. Hard to believe you have been "blessed" with two kinds of the misirable disease.

Please take care and I'm very glad you are posting again. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Love, Shirley

[sunny]

Hi Carol....glad you're back!! You have been missed!!

[annie oakley]

Hi Carol!!!! Boy have we missed you! So Glad Harry is doing well. I hope you continue to post.
Love Oma

[JJ]

Hi Carol....great to hear from you! JJ

[Liz]

Hello Carol,

Welcome back. I have been a bit slack with posting lately too for various reasons. So sorry to hear about your sister.

It sounds as though you have really been through the mill.

I think it is possible to have more than one type of colitis. i suffered the big D for many years before being diagnosed with CC in 2001. When I asked my GI if it could have been CC all along he said no, that it was a new development.

Love

Liz

[MaggieRedwings]

Hi Carol and Welcome Home!

So missed your posts and glad to hear that Harry is doing well.

Don't be a stranger and so sorry to hear about your sister and also your new diagnosis.

Love, Maggie