New to ulcertaive colitis and would really love a woman's opinion

[mrskaboobalee]

I am a 36 year old woman who was just diagnosed with UC.  It was a real nightmare to get here though.  Over three years ago I started having mild symptoms and female issues but had no idea that this is what it was.  My doctor convinced me that I was severely depressed and put me on anti-depressants of which those actually made me a zombie at times and very depressed at others so I stopped taking them and just dealt with my issues on my own.  I continued to have symptoms and issues which I had no idea about to include severe gas, stomach pain, & very embarrassingly accidents in my pants.  I was so humiliated and embarrassed but thankfully this didn't actually take place in front of people.  In April everything got even worse when I started running a low grade fever and I couldn't keep anything in on either end.  I was severly dehydrated.  The stomach flu was going around my area and my son even caught it.  So I waited for 5 days before going to my DR. of which things were still very bad.  She told me that it was just the stomach flu (without doing anything more than a simple pregnancy test because I was also late & my hubby had just come home on leave from Iraq for his R&R).  Well, of course it was negative and my fever had misteriously disappeared.  So she told me that if it didn't go away in 10 days to come back to the DR (female DR) because my husband had probably brought me home "something".  Well, after 10 days, I went back to that office to see another Dr & he gave me a pregnancy test which also came out negative and of course they didn't bother to take a blood test.  He also told me to go visit my female Dr. because my hubby had probably brought me home a "surprise".  I made an appointment the very next day for my female DR & of course everything was negative so she actually made a referral for me to see a gastroenterologist but the appointment wasn't for 2 more weeks because this guy is supposedly good.  Later that week I got even more sick, was white as a sheet because I couldn't keep anything in and was too weak to even take care of my son or even stay out of the bathroom period.  So, I ended up in the ER where they FINALLY figured out that something was definitely wrong but the antibiotics they gave me didn't work.  Very, very long story a little shorter I finally got in this the gastro guy but now I have questions.  
Most days are o.k. but I'm always so tired and I still get a lot of blood with a lot of chest pains.  I'm currently taking ASACOL because Lialda wasn't working.  My questions are will my energy ever come back?  And does any other woman have a lot of problems with their monthly cycle either being very late and/or being very light?  I have already been tested & I'm nowhere near the change of life.  Does your UC seem to flare up really bad about 2 weeks leading up to your monthly cycle?  Will I ever be able to actally go out and get a job?  I'm also trying to have a baby & I've read a lot about ASACOL causing male infertitility but nothing on women.  If anyone has a small hint please let me know.  I'm feeling very distressed and pretty worthless and depressed because I feel like I've become a burden on my husband and son.

[ulcerativecolitis]

I am a little bit younger than you, but I was diagnosed with UC a couple of years ago.  At first I would not get my period or like you, have it very light, but I was on birth control.  After over a year after my diagnosis, I was in the hospital and wasnt taking it, and was in remission, when I went back on it, I had a flare up, so I contribituted the flare up to the birth control.  Since then, I do get flare ups right before my peroid, no matter what state of remission I am in.  They do come closer to every 28 days or longer, when I was younger, or on the pill, they were closer to the 21 days.

I have been able to work while having UC, but had to change location because I need to be closer to the bathroom, and my company was more then will to accomadate.  I have called out alot due to the UC and have been hospitalized.  It is hard to work and have UC, but as long as I am in remission, its like not having it, I just use the bathroom more often then my fellow employees.  I have also had to take leave of absenses a few time and disabilty to get healthy again.  As long as you work for a company that can provide you with what you need, you can work.

I agree with not getting dehydrated. I use to get dehydrated all the time, but I have learned that when I am hydrated my symptoms arent as bad, and keep water with me at all times.  

[TrudieC]

I'm so sorry you are going through so much.  I'm 48 right now and was diagnosed with UC when I was 22.  I didn't have issues with my periods but would encourage you to get checked for ovarian cysts which can cause problems with that.  Asacol is fine for pregnant women.   I took it all through my pregnancy without any problems.  My son was diagnosed with UC when he was 20 but he is in remission due to taking Imuran.

Did your doctor put you on any prednisone to get your flare under control?  My UC went in and out of remission over 10 years but got worse over time.  I did not have a good doctor monitoring it and there weren't as many treatment options back then.  I had emergency surgery to remove my bowel and then had a J-pouch created which has been so successful and as a result am disease free.  It is so, so important that you get your flares under control.  At the beginning of getting worse you must be in contact with your doctor.  The longer active disease goes on in your body the more damage to the lining of your colon goes on.  And don't let yourself get dehydrated.  It happens so easily with UC.  

I worked and went to school throughout my years with UC.  It will get better but be vigilant about taking care of yourself and monitoring the disease.  Don't be afraid to get treated for depression.  It tends to go along with chronic diseases and it is much easier to manage when the depression has been dealt with.