I’m 26 and have recently been diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I don’t usually like to tell people that I’m a veterinary student but I feel that it helps explain how I got to this point. The curriculum in vet school is rigorous and stressful to say the least. I don’t blame that environment on my condition but it can complicate things but I also appreciate such a medical background as I feel that it has helped me cope and better understand things (or so I tell myself).
My symptoms are very mild (fresh blood in feces) but they began in May 2010 when my clinical year began at school. I ignored it and hoped it would go away…for three months. Finally, I had some downtime in my schedule and went to our campus health services. I had a rectal exam done and it made me laugh because it veterinary medicine there is a saying “There are only two reasons not to do a rectal exam on a patient (animal). 1) You don’t have a finger/arm, and 2) It doesn’t have a rectum”. So I guess I had it coming to me. From there I was referred to a gastroenterologist and they scheduled a colonoscopy for me, on the day before my best friend’s wedding. Surprisingly they had an answer for me the same day of the scope… they found areas of patchy inflammation in the colon and patchy erosive colitis in the cecum, hepatic/splenic flexure, and distal rectum. Short answer: I have inflammatory bowel disease. I was sideswiped and was not expecting that. Immediately they placed me on Lialda and Canasa. Other than a diagnosis and prescription, I had nothing else…no other information at all. I was terrified and still am. But I rushed on with my life… the wedding the next day and then my toughest clinical rotation immediately after for an entire month.
Recently, I’ve begun reading more about this disease process and have had additional discussions with my healthcare providers. I’ve tried to take control of my healthcare (as advised in some of the literature I’ve read and I’ve even forced appointments simply for discussion). Yesterday I had an upper GI follow through/Barium study with no additional lesions identified. (However it was noted that I also have mild esophageal dysmotility.) So far so good.
I know that I’m lucky enough that I don’t have severe clinical signs and I have a very supportive husband and family. I am still afraid of what may come. Every new thing that I experience with my GI system makes me curious as to its relevance to the disease. I also feel that this diagnosis may also explain other “normal” GI symptoms I’ve had throughout my life. My GI system is my primary stress organ- when I’m nervous I always have GI discomfort (sometimes mild, most of the time severe). I may be reaching, trying to connect all of this… but I think we all like answers.
Sorry so long, I really haven’t been able to talk to anyone who might understand, yet. Thanks for taking the time to read about me. I hope to learn more about you all with time.
My symptoms are very mild (fresh blood in feces) but they began in May 2010 when my clinical year began at school. I ignored it and hoped it would go away…for three months. Finally, I had some downtime in my schedule and went to our campus health services. I had a rectal exam done and it made me laugh because it veterinary medicine there is a saying “There are only two reasons not to do a rectal exam on a patient (animal). 1) You don’t have a finger/arm, and 2) It doesn’t have a rectum”. So I guess I had it coming to me. From there I was referred to a gastroenterologist and they scheduled a colonoscopy for me, on the day before my best friend’s wedding. Surprisingly they had an answer for me the same day of the scope… they found areas of patchy inflammation in the colon and patchy erosive colitis in the cecum, hepatic/splenic flexure, and distal rectum. Short answer: I have inflammatory bowel disease. I was sideswiped and was not expecting that. Immediately they placed me on Lialda and Canasa. Other than a diagnosis and prescription, I had nothing else…no other information at all. I was terrified and still am. But I rushed on with my life… the wedding the next day and then my toughest clinical rotation immediately after for an entire month.
Recently, I’ve begun reading more about this disease process and have had additional discussions with my healthcare providers. I’ve tried to take control of my healthcare (as advised in some of the literature I’ve read and I’ve even forced appointments simply for discussion). Yesterday I had an upper GI follow through/Barium study with no additional lesions identified. (However it was noted that I also have mild esophageal dysmotility.) So far so good.
I know that I’m lucky enough that I don’t have severe clinical signs and I have a very supportive husband and family. I am still afraid of what may come. Every new thing that I experience with my GI system makes me curious as to its relevance to the disease. I also feel that this diagnosis may also explain other “normal” GI symptoms I’ve had throughout my life. My GI system is my primary stress organ- when I’m nervous I always have GI discomfort (sometimes mild, most of the time severe). I may be reaching, trying to connect all of this… but I think we all like answers.
Sorry so long, I really haven’t been able to talk to anyone who might understand, yet. Thanks for taking the time to read about me. I hope to learn more about you all with time.
. Little was known and Entocort was the brand new drug out. It is good that you have a supportive family because it is something we all need and you can get support here as well. 
