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My 18 son has possible Colitis..worried sick

Posted , 9 users are following.

carol34824
carol34824

My 18 year old son has had alternative bowel movements varying from diarrhoea and constipation with constant cramps and wind,/gas and mucous..also had blood in stool but not too often..not losing weight ..due for colonoscopy Wed but worried it's cancer..and looking for reassurance

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • ruari1
    ruari1 carol34824

    Posted

    Hard not to worry about your son but colonoscopy is the first important step. Tell your son the procedure is nothing to worry about. Very simple and easy, wonderful nursing staff who know exactly how the patient is feeling. Make sure he takes the sedative offered and he won't know a thing, over in no time. I've had 2 done and it's really not so bad! As to the big C, try not to dwell on that as it is very unlikely. From the symptoms you mention it sounds very like my first ones and I have ulcerative colitis, 4 years now! Horrible condition as it is, your son will get help and learn to cope and he will also find out what's best for him. Sadly UC has no respect for age, young or old. I suggest you regularly use this website for advice and support. Good luck to your boy, make sure you tell him he is not alone, many, many of us out there!
    • carol34824
      carol34824 ruari1

      Posted

      Thank u so much for your reply ...his main worry is his social life being affected as you can imagine...him and his friends already planning next years holiday....typical 18 years olds. and obviously alcohol plays a factor in that and any social occasion particularly as he has just started college...im afraid he will not want to socialise...how have u coped with that aspect
  • rachelle52846
    rachelle52846 carol34824

    Posted

    Hi Carol

    Please try not to worry like Ruari said the colonoscopy is the best way for them to check I was diagnosed with uc when I was 23 years old 11 years ago and managed everything ok with diet and lifestyle so there is always hope I had a baby this year when i had my first major flare 9 months later I had surgery where they had to remove my large colon I vowed I would never have surgery when I was 23 but things change and even now I have no regrets

    • carol34824
      carol34824 rachelle52846

      Posted

      Thank u for your reply Rachelle and congratulations on your baby...did having the surgery mean you are free of this horrible condition now...I hope so

       

    • rachelle52846
      rachelle52846 carol34824

      Posted

      Hi Carol

      Thank you we have been blessed with our son 😍Yes but I still need to have the j pouch and reversal it's a journey but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel please don't feel alone there are so many people that suffer and this forum really helped me realise to there is a lot of support good luck I hope you son will be ok X any questions just ask X

  • sheila91262
    sheila91262 carol34824

    Posted

    Hi Carol, I feel your pain, so sorry. Don't worry about cancer, it is statistically not as likely as UC. The ages for starting IBD, inflammatory bowel disease, are 15 to 30, scaringly young. If it comes to it being UC then the Crohns etc society is helpful with info.

    We went through this in Oct13 and my son, 27, was diagnosed by colonoscopy as severe UC, so he struggled with the symptoms for a while. To go straight to severe was hard as he had major symptoms that were firstly controlled by steroids and immuno suppresents but as soon as he was advised to go on a reducing doseage he went straight back to bloody diarrhoea and pain.

    Unfortunately he ended up in hospital being medicated and rehydrated by drips.

    I wish we had found this site to get advice as our learning curve was very steep and to speak with someone with experience might have helped.

    • carol34824
      carol34824 sheila91262

      Posted

      Oh Sheila...your poor lad...how is he now...this sounds like an awful disease
    • sheila91262
      sheila91262 carol34824

      Posted

      Hi Carol, please try not to worry, it can be tough but some people have few symptoms and lead pretty normal lives. The variation in degree of the disease is huge. He may be lucky and have a low level of problems, I wish you both lots of luck.

      sheila

       

  • sheila91262
    sheila91262 carol34824

    Posted

    Sorry, pressed button my mistake. Some important tips, check that sedation and pain relief will definitly be used, dont go thro it without. If UC is diagnosed then ask GP to refer you to St Marks Hosp London or John Radcliffe Oxford Hosp,  as specialism for IBD and both NHS, best in the world! There is a certain amount of hit and miss with  meds and their doseage and useage, new ones coming out all the time, and as your son is very young and prob still growing they will want to protect his bones etc. I dont want to frighten you but this can be a rotten disease and it is best if you are really well informed, ask lots of questions.

    Have you got any IBD in you family? they will ask.

    One point that I hope you don't need is that a IBD patient is upto 3x more likely to get a DVT after surgery and immobility so be prepared and ask about blood thinning if necc.

    He should drink lots of liquid if he is going to the loo alot to stop dehydrating  and needs to be careful about becoming anaemic if losing blood.

    Do ask questions on here as there are quite a lot of informed and experienced contributers.

    Our story was difficult and my son now has an internal j pouch as he had the surgery to remove his colon in Dec13, but he is now pain and disease free, super fit and strong and healthy. I wish you the best of luck, take care.

    Sheila

  • brooke22
    brooke22 carol34824

    Posted

    Hi Carol,

    I have ulcerative colitis, I'm now 18 but was diagnosed at 17. Don't think it's the worse, you worrying will only make him feel worse as it could get worse with stress. As my doctor said, we are young so it's unlikely it wouldn't be that, plus the fact that we are slap bang in between the age catagory of colitis.

    It's a tough thing to get your head around, but he'll get sorted, on medication (enema's become a normal thing) and he'll be on the was to remission.

    I've had colitis for a year ish now and not yet in remission but almost there. A lot of people who don't have the disease don't understand, but there is a huge community of us that support each other, so welcome aboard haha x

    • carol34824
      carol34824 brooke22

      Posted

      Hi Brooke...thank you for your reply and I hope you are coping well with this condition....Things seem to have really settled down and he is only a week into the enemas,..no bloody diarrohia or mucus for a few days now and poo looking more normal...bit gassy ...he is due back to consultant 9th Dec and we are really hoping he says its just a one off which i believe can be the case...i didnt think you would need to take enemas all the time...it keeps him awake at night as he is trying to hold it in...did you have to change your diet ...really good to talk to someone his age...so thank u
    • anniebear
      anniebear brooke22

      Posted

      Hi, I've just found this forum as I'm anxious to get advice. My stepdaughter who is only 18 was recently diagnosed with chronic ulcerative colitis; devastating for her but early days and initial meds proving helpful (stopped stomach pains & reduced trips to the toilet). However, her dad is worried sick after her next hospital appointment has been brought forward significantly to discuss results of her biopsy.....is this usual? I'm no longer married to her dad so whilst I'm not as involved, I'm still very close to them and, of course, massively concerned. Any advice or experience with this would be much appeciated
    • carol34824
      carol34824 anniebear

      Posted

      Hi.I am sorry to here about your stepdaughter and totally understand your concerns as my son is only 18 too...im sorry im only seeing this now and no doubt she has been back in already re results..I would have thought its just they had appointment available bit earlier for her...do you mind me asking how she is now and good to hear meds working for her...My son has been on the enemas now for near 4 months and back to consultant this Wed for a further examination ...symptoms have improved and consultant did say before that he doesnt think lifetime thing for him...lets know how your stepdaughter is Anniebear x
  • geiger
    geiger carol34824

    Posted

    found this discussion via my repeat prescription.  I would really recommend the main charity for this condition i.e. Crohnsandcolitis UK

    Contact them for excellent support and info.  I'm 40 now but when I was 18/19 and first diagnosed I could have really done with knowing about them (it should be mandatory for doctors to provide their details, perhaps they do now).  

    Also, in the last 10 years I have got into running, which has made a big difference.  It started with training for a marathon charity place.  Almost stopped because initially it got worse before it got better.

    Best wishes

    Emis Moderator comment: There is a link to the site mentioned in the right sidebar on this page under Related Information.

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