I never thought I would “re-launch” my blog this way, but somehow it seemed perfectly fitting….the end of this road.
3 Things to do During a Colitis Flare Up
What to do when a Colitis flare up hits? I’m sharing the 3 things to do during a Colitis flare up today. These are the most basic things.
What is Proctitis
You have heard of Colitis or Ulcerative Colitis in proper medical form. You may even have Colitis. Perhaps you suspect you have an undiagnosed Colitis but have you ever heard of Proctitis? What is Proctitis?
Colitis Flare Up
I have gone 6+ months without having a Colitis flare up. And then it happened; the Colitis-face showed again. Do you want to see “real life?” These pictures demonstrate a real life.
I don’t pretend that “I have no idea why or how this happened.” When you have Colitis you tend to be very in tune with your body because it’s constantly talking to you. If you have Colitis, but still believe that flare ups happen “for no reason,” consider re-considering that thought.
Colitis Flare Up
It was Friday, September 16th when it all began. Since my brother was in California visiting we went out to eat. The food was absolutely amazing, and it was what I thought was gluten free. At 7 am the next morning I knew that it absolutely was not. I was extremely tired, sore, bloated and (the dead giveaway) got a crack in the corner of my left lip.
From there it spiraled out of control. A week ago from today I flew to Los Angeles, was off a normal eating schedule, ate more processed foods, alcohol, acidic and spicy things (gluten free of course), felt stress from several angles (not necessarily even negative stress) and overall was out of my element.
I spent the entire week in a big ball of bloat, confusion, and discomfort. I reached the peak on Saturday, but thankfully that was the day I traveled back home to the Bay Area.
Yesterday I took a huge step back. It was my first full day back from traveling and back to my (not so much) reality. It was a very hard and trying day for me because mentally I knew the challenges ahead for the next 1-2 weeks minimum. Physically, I was miserable. I barely made it through church, had no desire for coffee, ate only my homemade chicken broth, homemade vegetable broth, slow cooked chicken, water and extra lean turkey. My body was in a ton of pain, neck hurt, had a headache from the devil and consequently slept all day long. But all of that is the beginning of getting better – it always is. When a massive Colitis flare up attacks, I attack it back.
It has always worked for me. This time will be no different.
Here’s the thing, the most positive thing I can say today (because let’s face it – I need to arm myself and surround myself with only positivity)….the fact that I know I will get better in the blink of an eye via food and sans-medication is amazing. It’s a natural miracle that I thank God every day to have on my side.
You might be thinking, “She has Colitis, so why is she always bloated? I thought Colitis was the opposite of bloat?” And you would be correct, many forms of Colitis respond in that very way. I have the form of Colitis known as Proctitis. What is Proctitis? I’ll explain tomorrow.
For today? Just trying to get by….and looking forward to having this pass because –
This too shall pass.
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Xox,
SKH
4 Truths Plus a Major Flare Up
Here we go today with 4 truths plus a major flare up.
I was in Texas the past several days for work at SXSW in Austin. I had an amazing time, for the record! And here were 4 things I learned….
- I learned it’s okay to be a Chronic Babe. Jenni said so. I met her, heard her speak, was inspired by her and was reminded that dealing with a chronic issue is okay.
- I learned that traveling will ALWAYS be a struggle for me.
- I learned that life will always present way too many “prima donnas,” but that as long as you’re aware of how to roll with it and surround yourself with the humble it all evens out.
- I learned that sometimes the greatest people and the best of friends in our lives live hundreds of miles away. And yet still, it does not change what they mean to us or the value in the friendship at all.
4 Truths Plus a Major Flare Up
With everything that went on this past week, it has been an absolute 100% challenging time for me. This flare-up bout with my stomach has lingered for over a week now. To me, it’s borderline frightening. My stomach is huge! I was asked not once, but twice, if I’m pregnant. Um, no! There is nothing more frustrating (for me) in the world than this feeling. It’s a confidence bust and anxiety at its finest. I can never explain what it’s like and no, it’s not the same bloat all girls tell me, “Yeah, I know exactly how you feel – I hate that time of the month.” I know that feeling, too. There is no resemblance.
I feel like E.T. with a distended stomach and a non-inflatable balloon. I feel pressure and water retention and like I’ve gained 10 pounds overnight. I literally may have. I’ve said it before that “Nothing changes if nothing changes….” I mean it. Something has got to change.
Two immediate changes:
- No “Venti” coffee for at least a few weeks. A small is all I’ll do. No other caffeine.
- No alcohol until at least May. (Alcohol hates me I’ve learned, and truth be told – the whole time during SXSW I only had a couple glasses of Red Wine. It was still too much for now.)
For one week, I’m going back to my broth/lean meat combo to ease my symptoms and get things working properly again.
Getting my hands and mind around this has not been easy. I don’t expect the next several days to be a walk in the park. But I cannot continue on with the big, bloated and miserable stomach I’ve been having. There is a choice with everything in life. This is a choice I make in order to say, “Feeling good is really all that matters.”
p.s. Years later I would learn that it was all the SIBO.
Xox,
SKH
