My endoscopy/colonscopy results.

[Bervda]

I have severe Ulcerative Colitis, possibly to the extent that it's Crohn's Disease. I'll be taking several forms of medication for essentially the rest of my life, with a one out of four chance that I'll need my colon removed. The 5% of people who get colon cancer because of this disease doesn't make me feel much better, but at least my odds of not having that happen are a tiny bit higher.

I go back to the doctor yet again on Monday for X-rays to make sure the the ulcers having travelled into my small intestine.

[copypastepuke]

good luck dude.

so it is a good thing that you got this done now instead of later right?

[Modok Gas]

Hope you feel better and if it had to happen, I'm glad you found out sooner.

[NickBurgess]

Good luck! Sorry about your troubles.

[artimoff]

I really need to get this done.

[Bervda]

so it is a good thing that you got this done now instead of later right?

In theory, yeah.

[TonyFleecs]

Yeesh. Really Sorry to hear that.

Not that everything on this board has to be about comics, but isn't that what Millar has?

[Bervda]

Yeesh. Really Sorry to hear that.

Not that everything on this board has to be about comics, but isn't that what Millar has?

Great, I'm going to end up like that guy. :rollout:

[Caley Tibbittz]

Best of luck -- and you're already lucky to live in an age when diseases like these are very manageable. And in your shoes, I'd do a bit of research into any naturopathic options for this as well, any diet and vitamins that might help.

[Bervda]

Best of luck -- and you're already lucky to live in an age when diseases like these are very manageable. And in your shoes, I'd do a bit of research into any naturopathic options for this as well, any diet and vitamins that might help.

On an unrelated note--I had no idea that you were such a talented artist. Best of luck to you.

[TheKraken]

I have severe Ulcerative Colitis, possibly to the extent that it's Crohn's Disease. I'll be taking several forms of medication for essentially the rest of my life, with a one out of four chance that I'll need my colon removed. The 5% of people who get colon cancer because of this disease doesn't make me feel much better, but at least my odds of not having that happen are a tiny bit higher.

I go back to the doctor yet again on Monday for X-rays to make sure the the ulcers having travelled into my small intestine.

Was diagnosed with colitis back in '99. A different doctor looked at the same results and told me I had Crohn's in '01. Ask your doctor about a drug called Remicade.

http://www.remicade.com/global/index.jsp

I did an IV drip of Remicade for three 2-hour sessions, once a month from 10/01-12/01, and I don't take any pills anymore. My condition still flairs up under extreme stress and when I'm sick ('cuz it's an immune disorder), but other than that, I've been pretty normal for almost 5 years. Now, none of my doctors ever believed that the treatment would last this long, so odds are my case isn't nearly as bad as they thought it was. But it's supposed to basically end your symptoms for at least 8 months, I think.

I was seriously depressed when I was first diagnosed, but living with it isn't as bad as it sounds. You'll be ok as long as you take care of yourself.

[GabeLogan]

Man that is rough news to digest man. My best friend has Ulcerative Colitis pretty bad. Not quite to the extent you have it but I totally understand what you are referring to. Good luck with everything and I hope the doc give you some better news soon.

[Bervda]

Was diagnosed with colitis back in '99. A different doctor looked at the same results and told me I had Crohn's in '01. Ask your doctor about a drug called Remicade.

http://www.remicade.com/global/index.jsp

I did an IV drip of Remicade for three 2-hour sessions, once a month from 10/01-12/01, and I don't take any pills anymore. My condition still flairs up under extreme stress and when I'm sick ('cuz it's an immune disorder), but other than that, I've been pretty normal for almost 5 years. Now, none of my doctors ever believed that the treatment would last this long, so odds are my case isn't nearly as bad as they thought it was. But it's supposed to basically end your symptoms for at least 8 months, I think.

I was seriously depressed when I was first diagnosed, but living with it isn't as bad as it sounds. You'll be ok as long as you take care of yourself.

Seriously, thank you. This is something I'll keep in mind once I've started this new medication.

[TheKraken]

Seriously, thank you. This is something I'll keep in mind once I've started this new medication.

No problem, man. Don't let it get you down. It can be frustrating, I know, but it'll only mess up your life if you let it.

Before I saw a doctor and was first diagnosed, I was kind of in denial about what was happening to me. I thought I just "happened" to be eating things that didn't agree with me every day or something. I lost about 30 pounds in 2 weeks. It was pretty scary. But the medicine mostly worked. They also recommended me a variety of vitamins, too, to supplement the pills. Between medicine, steroids, and vitamins, I was eating about 17 pills a day. But after awhile, it just becomes another part of your routine.

[Bervda]

No problem, man. Don't let it get you down. It can be frustrating, I know, but it'll only mess up your life if you let it.

Before I saw a doctor and was first diagnosed, I was kind of in denial about what was happening to me. I thought I just "happened" to be eating things that didn't agree with me every day or something. I lost about 30 pounds in 2 weeks. It was pretty scary. But the medicine mostly worked. They also recommended me a variety of vitamins, too, to supplement the pills. Between medicine, steroids, and vitamins, I was eating about 17 pills a day. But after awhile, it just becomes another part of your routine.

I acted in the same fashion as you. I've had stomach problems my entire life, so I was just assuming that I was sick or something and that the illness was making it worse. I guess in some way, I was right.

[TheKraken]

I acted in the same fashion as you. I've had stomach problems my entire life, so I was just assuming that I was sick or something and that the illness was making it worse. I guess in some way, I was right.


It's kind of a shock to the system when you find out...

Keep posting about the status of your condition, and feel free to ask me anything about dealing with it and such. Heck, I'm ashamed to admit I haven't seen a doctor in years... for all I know, you'll be put on some new treatments I should know about. :)

The worst for me was being re-diagnosed with Crohn's 2 years later. I'd come to grips with my condition by that point. And, true to my luck, I vividly remember sitting in the room, waiting for the doctor, looking at that big diagram of everything that can go wrong in the digestive system. I hunted down ulcerative colitis. Then I looked at Crohn's Disease, and it looked way worse. "Well," I thought, "at least I don't have that." Then my doctor walked in and told me I had it. Pretty crushing. Like a moment from a bad movie or something.

[Bervda]

It's kind of a shock to the system when you find out...

Keep posting about the status of your condition, and feel free to ask me anything about dealing with it and such. Heck, I'm ashamed to admit I haven't seen a doctor in years... for all I know, you'll be put on some new treatments I should know about. :)

The worst for me was being re-diagnosed with Crohn's 2 years later. I'd come to grips with my condition by that point. And, true to my luck, I vividly remember sitting in the room, waiting for the doctor, looking at that big diagram of everything that can go wrong in the digestive system. I hunted down ulcerative colitis. Then I looked at Crohn's Disease, and it looked way worse. "Well," I thought, "at least I don't have that." Then my doctor walked in and told me I had it. Pretty crushing. Like a moment from a bad movie or something.

When my blood work first showed that I was anemic, my girlfriend researched my symptoms along with anemia and said "Well, you'd better hope it's not Crohn's." Now I kind of want to punch her in the baby-maker.

[xanderharris]

sorry to hear this........but keep the faith...at least you found it out earlier rather than later...keep us updated.

[Shannon Chenoweth]

I have severe Ulcerative Colitis, possibly to the extent that it's Crohn's Disease. I'll be taking several forms of medication for essentially the rest of my life, with a one out of four chance that I'll need my colon removed. The 5% of people who get colon cancer because of this disease doesn't make me feel much better, but at least my odds of not having that happen are a tiny bit higher.

I go back to the doctor yet again on Monday for X-rays to make sure the the ulcers having travelled into my small intestine.

Geez man, really sorry to hear this. You might want to try to talk to Mark Millar. PM if you want and I'll see if I can get you two talking.

[Bervda]

Geez man, really sorry to hear this. You might want to try to talk to Mark Millar. PM if you want and I'll see if I can get you two talking.

Millar really does have Crohn's? Now I feel bad for joking about it earlier.

[Shannon Chenoweth]

Millar really does have Crohn's? Now I feel bad for joking about it earlier.

Yes, he does. He was real sick for awhile. Everything he said on Newsarama is completely true.

[King of Mars]

I'm not a real good cheerer upper...but good luck with this, Bervda.

[Bervda]

Yes, he does. He was real sick for awhile. Everything he said on Newsarama is completely true.

I haven't seen that interview. Maybe I'll dig it up.

[The Roman Candle]

I have severe Ulcerative Colitis, possibly to the extent that it's Crohn's Disease. I'll be taking several forms of medication for essentially the rest of my life, with a one out of four chance that I'll need my colon removed. The 5% of people who get colon cancer because of this disease doesn't make me feel much better, but at least my odds of not having that happen are a tiny bit higher.

I go back to the doctor yet again on Monday for X-rays to make sure the the ulcers having travelled into my small intestine.

My dad had a problem like that in his teens, he did end up having his colon removed. He lives a full and normal life, though. He just farts out a hole in his stomach, is all.

[Shannon Chenoweth]

I haven't seen that interview. Maybe I'll dig it up.

It's the recent one he did about Civil War. Part one is the stuff about him being sick and all I believe.

[Bervda]

My dad had a problem like that in his teens, he did end up having his colon removed. He lives a full and normal life, though. He just farts out a hole in his stomach, is all.

Yeah, it's the hole in my stomach problem that scares me shitless (oh, pun, the hilarity).

[The Roman Candle]

Yeah, it's the hole in my stomach problem that scares me shitless (oh, pun, the hilarity).
It's a small hole. He has this thing and this other thing that holds the first thing in place. Still, it's not a major handicap by any measure. And he saves a lot of time by never having to take 20 minute shits. We should all be so lucky*!






*I do not actually believe this, I'm just attempting to illuminate the bright side. Personally, I enjoy my bowel movements.

[Bervda]

It's a small hole. He has this thing and this other thing that holds the first thing in place. Still, it's not a major handicap by any measure. And he saves a lot of time by never having to take 20 minute shits. We should all be so lucky*!






*I do not actually believe this, I'm just attempting to illuminate the bright side. Personally, I enjoy my bowel movements.

For someone who has never had any kind of surgery (this endoscopy/colonscopy combo was by far the most serious procedure that I've ever had), a hole in the gut with a bag for your waste to leak out into is more frightening than words can express.

[kari]

For someone who has never had any kind of surgery (this endoscopy/colonscopy combo was by far the most serious procedure that I've ever had), a hole in the gut with a bag for your waste to leak out into is more frightening than words can express.
Damn Bervda, I'm sorry that you have recieved this diagnosis.

DO NOT freak on this, although this seems like a very grim diagnosis It is a very manageable disease. Your doctor is going to give you alot of info and will suggest a diet change and of course you gotta take the meds.

Having part of your bowel removed or a colostomy over Chrohn's or Colitis is a real threat, but the chances of this is slim and even slimmer if you take care of yourself.

Well at least its over with and now you can get to feeling better. *hugs*

[alexlannin]

At least you've got a good diagnosis on this, I think not knowing what it is would only make this more painful. I coworker of mine had to have the surgery you described, he was out of commission for a while, but bounced back. Good luck!

[Michael John Wheeler]

I'm sorry about your results, Bervda. I've had Ulceritive Colitis for about four years now. It can be really bad. When I get sick I can lose about 10-15 pounds over a weekend. The good thing is that I have only had one mild attack in the past two years that only lasted a few days.

My girlfriend is my good luck charm, because I've almost been pain free for the past two years that we've been dating.

I'm down to two tablets of Pentasa twice a day. I used to take two four times a day along with steroids for a while near the start.

Definitely go over your diet and start eliminating anything that you know will upset you. I can't eat anything greasy (which means fun). Sometimes stress can be a real problem, too.

I hope you're able to deal with this with as little trouble as possible and that your pain stops. There's a lot of good research out there right now. Mark Millar has posted about some research that he's been getting involved with, at a hospital projecting a possible cure within eighteen months. Here's the link http://forums.millarworld.tv/index.php?showtopic=59304&hl=crohn's

I wish you nothing but the best.