newbie...sort of

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:46 pm

Hi! I'm new to the board, but not so new to MC. I was diagnosed at age 14, after suffering from MC symptoms for as long as I could remember. I'm 23 now, so you'd think this would all be old hat to me at this point, but that's not really the case. As a result of being diagnosed so young, and in the midst of my first horrendous kidney stone experience (another joyous medical problem that will haunt me forever, yay), I never really took responsibility for learning about my condition and didn't take much of an active role in my care. Adjusting to having to take a daily medication (asacol, and later pentasa) was particularly rough for me in my irresponsible teenage/college days and I've been less than compliant with my meds (cringe). Needless to say, my symptoms have never really gone away, and I've basically spent my whole life with lots of D and lots of discomfort. Since feeling sick has just always been the status quo for me, I've never pressed my doctors for more information on different treatments that might give me better results. This is particularly shameful, given that I'm in the process of applying to medical school right now and an aspiring doctor should probably take more responsibility for her own health. But now, perhaps spurred by the excitement and stress of medical school applications, I'm finally making the decision to take control of my MC. I'm really interested in learning about dietary changes that have helped people -- my doctor has never discussed anything like that with me and I'd much prefer something like that over medications.

Apologies for all of this rambling. I'm looking forward to learning from all of you!

Post by **tex** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:17 pm

Hi Rach,

Welcome to our internet family. I'm sorry to hear that you've been having to deal with this for so long, but I'm glad to see that you've decided to take charge, and get it under control. Yes, you can get your life back, if you're willing to make the necessary changes in your lifestyle.

Congratulations on deciding to pursue a medical career. As intense as medical training can be, you certainly don't need MC symptoms dragging you down, so hopefully, if things go right, by the time your first semester begins, you will be feeling better than you have ever felt in your life.

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

Tex (Wayne)

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 5:57 am

Welcome Rach,

Do you know any of the foods you react to? Have you done any testing with Enterolab? If not, that might be a good place to start. It really helped me get the "big things" (gluten, dairy and soy in my case) figured out . . .then it's just a matter of fine tuning the diet.

Good luck with your medical school applications - I hear that's a nightmare.

Mary Beth

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:28 am

Rach. Maybe you'll want to become an enlightened GI someday.......

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:03 am

and so glad you found us!! I'm looking forward to more posts from you. What an exciting time in your life!! So sorry you have had MC for so long. I maintain on asacol but am pretty faithful about taking it. sometimes I miss a dose or two. I can usually tell that I have.

Shirley

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 7:52 am

Hi Rach and

Good luck with your med. school applications! It will be fun to have another doc around here. And just maybe you can shift the paradigm and become a doc who specializes in the dietary management of disease. Now that would be unique! Most of us here have gotten better because of the info on this website and NOT because of our docs.

Look around, read, and ask any questions you may have. You will see that it is possible to learn to manage this disease and regain your original quality of life.....or at least very close to it. I have been in remission (without meds) now for years - about 7 or 8. Wow- it has been so long that I've forgotten when I was diagnosed.

Love,

Polly

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 7:24 pm

Thanks for all of your warm welcomes! I'm interested in having some testing done through enterolab, but I live in Maryland and apparently Maryland residents can't order testing straight through clinical labs. I'll be looking into that though.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 7:50 pm

Hey Rach!

I live in MD too! Cockeysville. Where are you? I can't remember if I used my insurance or paid out of pocket for Enterolab's tests - it was quite some time ago. Where did you hear that about MD residents?

Polly

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:52 pm

Hi Polly!

I live in Silver Spring, but I have quite a few friends that live in your neck of the woods...Timonium and Towson specifically. According to Enterolab's website, "The states of New York and Maryland do not allow their residents to purchase medical testing directly from a clinical laboratory." So I'm guessing that means I can't personally order the testing for myself, but my doc can do it for me? I'm going to the doctor next week, so we'll see what happens with that.

Rach

MaggieRedwings · Post by **MaggieRedwings** » Mon Jun 22, 2009 6:33 am

Welcome to the family Rachael. Sounds like you have a an exciting life planned and look forward to hearing more from you.

Maggie

no-more-muffins · Post by **no-more-muffins** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 9:55 pm

Just saying hi Rach. I am a newbie here too. I find it interesting that MC doesn't just affect "older" women like most of the medical people say. It seems like the doctors don't find it a lot in younger people because they aren't looking for it.

As far as the diet goes, I started on a gluten free diet the day after my endoscopy (checking for celiac) and while I definitely have a long way to go before things are all better I can say that I have noticed a change already.

And congrats on the decision to go to med school. I think you should become a gastroenterologist so you can set some people straight!