Hello,
Been lurking these forums ever since I got UC. To make an incredible long story short as possible. I hope this helps someone out since I never see any "normal" or good results. I understand this is where most people come to find answers to problems.
When diagnosed with UC I was 26 year old male in college, also professional pilot.
-Diagnosed with severe UC from the start around 2012. Going 60 times a day, severe dehrydration, all the bad sh*t with it. I never got remission.
- Under GI doc care, started the rainbow of medicine, none worked at all, not the slightest... that whole process took a year to go through. I was house bound that whole year.
- My social life / career as a pilot was pretty much gone, I couldnt even get a job at mcdonalds if I wanted to. Barely graduated college somehow. How can I fly an airplane with no bathrooms for hours at a time when I cant even hold it for 20 mins? Life sucked.
- After that 1st year being diagnosed, the meds gave me really bad side effects (I was on every known UC med at that time, Pred/Remicade/Asacal/etc etc) that sent me to the hospital.
- I was about half a year of total time spent in and out of the hospital weeks at a time for being sick from UC or side effects of the medicine to treat it.
- it only got worse, it took another year before I needed emergency surgery... Jpouch laproscopic style. So for 2 years after being diagnosed i finally got the surgery, which is rare to get in most UC patients.
-adjusting to the jpouch sucked the 1st year, stress was crazy I still didnt know if I could get a normal job and live a normal life, I knew my career as a pilot was over, say goodbye to $60,000 of aviation training down the drain.
- after the 1st year with the jpouch and all the hell and tribulations with it, life started to get better....one day i just started to feel great.
- Im now on year 2 of my jpouch.... the FAA deems me legal to fly, not only that but Im back being a pilot and going through more training. I can literally fly in small airplanes (with no toilets) for hours at a time.
- I eat whatever the hell I want, minus nuts... i drink with my friends.... i drink coffee more than I do water... nothing really affects me.
- On average i go anywhere form 4-8 times a day which isnt that crazy coming from a guy who average 40-60 a day. Im pretty close to living normal.
If anyone has any questions, Ill be here to answer for the next day or 2. I just wanted to post this to let people know its not the end of the world. Everyone is different and we all have complications, however you will adapt to these speed bumps and life will get better. I promise you.
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