My Diagnosis

It's almost my birthday and it sure is hard to get old!

I was just diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis, a chronic autoimmune disorder 

that causes inflammation in the lower six inches or the colon, 

leading all sorts of uncomfortable conditions such as bloating,bleeding and 

a lot of ugly stuff.  It is one of the Inflammatory Bowel Disorders in the same

 family but not as severe as ulcerative colitis.  

(This is not IBS, irritable bowel syndrome).

The body tries to heal itself by creating inflammation but goes overboard

which results in all the symptoms.  For me it's more very uncomfortable rather

than horribly painful, no sharp pain at all but a pain the the patootie nevertheless.

There is no known cause, other than it is typically hereditary and if not

the same disorder, something else autoimmune.  Also, while stress does not cause

it, stress contributes to the severity of the symptoms.  So, even if there

was no stress before, now the stress is wondering if it will ever clear up

and I can go back to normal, or as normal as I ever was!

My gastroenterologist sat with me for an hour during a follow up visit

after I had my a colonoscopy.  He explained everything, drew pictures,

went over my actual photos taken during the colonoscopy and calculated

my typical fiber intake by reviewing the last couple days of meals.

(I was thinking of adding my colonoscopy photo to Facebook, 

Can you imagine reading:  "Kathy changed her profile picture" Ewwwww!)

Now I have known I have diverticulosis for a few years. He tells me everyone

will eventually have it but it just depends on how old you are when it becomes 

a problem. It's where little pockets form in your colon and can capture bits of

hard material such as seeds or nuts, leading to infection and inflammation.

Their newest theory is to not worry about what you eat but I know I can never

eat popcorn again and most nuts.  I've been in terrible pain in the past and would 

prefer to avoid it in the future. This led me to shy away from a lot of whole

grains and fibrous foods.  That; however, does not work well with 

my IBD problem.  So we changed my diet.

I have to eat between 12-15 grams of dietary fiber daily, either

from supplements such as Citrucel or from counting the grams

in certain foods.  He provided me with a list of many foods that 

have a good fiber content so I have been tracking it daily using

13.5 as an average intake.  To the side I have added a column to say

how I am feeling, hoping to pick up a pattern.   You can see I 

am ahead of goal so have some wiggle room if I want to vary

from the items I have chosen.  Animal products- meat or dairy- has no

dietary fiber but I can eat an egg in the morning but may pair it

with a one small oatmeal packet or later in the morning, a 

Fiber One oatmeal cookie which is loaded with fiber and delicious. 

I have found that this diet makes me full.  I don't snack a lot

other than the fiber cookie or bar that I schedule in the day.

Some that suffer from colitis are put on oral medications but they can't treat

mine that way so for three weeks (!!!!) I have to use a medicated enema which

is done at night where afterward you have to lie down for hours 

so bedtime is the best time.

Yes, I have to do this myself and it is not easy!

Thankfully, I have insurance because the medication retail value

is $450 for 3 weeks, and you might need a second set of treatments.

I can't imagine.

I keep telling myself that it could be MUCH worse.

This could require other solutions but rarely ever turns into cancer.

I have also found several other people who have similar problems,

some are my co-workers and I had no idea. Not that I want

them to feel bad but it's nice to be able to discuss it and what

works well for others.  I tend to tell my boss and co-workers

everything so in case something happens, someone at work will

know what is going on with me.  

To complicate matters, after my leg problem where I pulled

ligaments, now the opposite foot is killing me, having a large

lump in the middle of the top of my foot.  It is either arthritis 

from all this darned rain (it will never quit, will it?) or I have

stressed the good leg too much when it was compensating for the bad.

I believe I need to travel to England and go to one of those

rehabilitation centers you see in vintage movies where they are

wrapped in warm blankets, stretched out on chaises lined across porches 

that overlook the sea.  They would bring me tea

and some of those nice cucumber sandwiches on rye

that have capers and thinly sliced onions topped with a dressing.

Yes, that is exactly what I need but with my luck, it would turn

into an Agatha Christie novel and I would discover the body in my

closet!  Sigh.

Next steps-

I will be going to Denny's on my birthday for that Grand Slam breakfast,

even if I have to use my husband's boat to get there through the 

heavy rains that are expected during the next couple of days.

You see, the free breakfast, which has become my birthday

tradition, is only good ON your birthday.  Not the day before or after.

So, breakfast and coffee it is.  I'll not make my fiber goal on Friday!

After that, I'll worry about healing.

I need a break

or a frozen mango margarita*!

(*only from On The Border restaurant which they do not have here)