To everyone who has been following along with the updates: thank you for your thoughts, support, and prayers. This here is the next step in my recovery.
— And for those who might be new, or who don't know yet: Hi, my name is Karrington Washington, and I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis.
This is my story
In October 2017, I was two months into my junior year at Messiah College. The year started with lots of excitement and much to look forward to. As an English Education Major, coordinator for a youth outreach program on behalf of Messiah's Agape Center volunteering services in Harrisburg, and a collegiate athlete on Messiah’s wrestling team; I always had something to do and loved it.
One day after a session of weightlifting, I started noticing minor gastrointestinal pain and discomfort. I assumed it was soreness from deadlifting or a reaction to food I had eaten; however, the pain persisted and slowly worsened into a much greater issue. I was forced to eliminate most foods from my diet as I began to experience excruciating abdominal pain when moving and sleeping, falling down on the ground from fatigue, and rapid weight loss that would land me in the hospital. I went from feeling my strongest—weighing 205 pounds and deadlifting over 400 pounds—in October, to weighing less than 154 pounds and needing a cane to walk by May 24th.
Its impact on me
I started to notice symptoms early in October but was officially diagnosed in December of 2017 after a colonoscopy. I was told I had Ulcerative colitis, but I didn't quite know what that meant. Ulcerative colitis is an autoimmune disorder and categorized as a type of Irritable Bowel Disease much like Crohn’s, however, characterized by chronic inflammation in the colon. According to the Cleveland Clinic, people with severely active UC have a minimum of six or more bloody bowel movements a day. In addition, from personal experience, severe symptoms also included abdominal cramping, anemia, nausea, fatigue, and insomnia. Factors like environment, genetics, and diet play a big role in development of UC, but no single or primary cause is yet known.
Over the course of the school year the severity of my condition fluctuated, with frequent jumps between drug prescriptions, recommendations, and hidden food allergies. Overall my health was declining. Between the side effects from the medications and the symptoms of the disease, my involvements academically, athletically, occupationally, and socially, steadily declined.
Turn for the worst
Near the end of my spring semester, dealing with UC during school was an uphill battle; my doctors, family, and support systems tried to help as much as they could, but my condition was about to get much worse. Right before final exams in May, I experienced my worst-flare up to date.
The severity of my symptoms resulted in multiple hospital stays, causing my withdrawal from classes and the rest of my student activities. My hospital visits during this period consisted of two overnight blood transfusions for anemia, as well as a two-week stay at Penn State Hershey Medical Center during the worst flare-up.
There were only two options left the hospital gave me: the first was a dual treatment with an immunosuppressant drug named Remicade and more of a corticosteroid, Prednisone; both had lots of long-term potentially harmful side effects. My second option was a colectomy: the removal of my colon, and replacement with an external colostomy bag. Imagine that, a 20-year-old student-athlete being told his options were to shut down his immune system, or have his large intestine removed to keep—let alone enjoy—his life.
I was resistant to the suggestions of surgery; however, as my condition became more critical I became less reluctant to this option. Just as I started to believe that the invasive surgery was my only remaining option, my body began to respond to the IV medications, and the severity of my symptoms slowly began to decrease. After 14 days, I was released from the hospital, but discharge was only the beginning of my recovery.
Present day
It has been almost two months since my discharge, and during this crucial stage I have been recovering. The daily progress might be marginal to some, but the small steps are big leaps to me. Walking, ingesting food, and even brushing my teeth were once impossible without having an adverse reaction.
My outpatient management consists of lots of follow-up appointments with my GI doctor, along with physical therapy and meetings with nutritionists. Instead of trial and error on my own, I have been able to get a better understanding of my condition and slowly get healthier.
While I am catching up on coursework from the spring semester and focusing on progressing in my health, I have been unable to work to cover expenses and save money for the school year because my immune system is suppressed and my body is not completely stable.
Where there is need
Much like the factors that trigger it, everybody with IBD is different; because of its complexities, everyone has their own dietary needs, and because of this, malnutrition is common. Through education, advisement from my doctors, support from others, trial (and error), I have learned how important of a role diet plays for recovery. I've had to make radical changes to what I eat, but slowly I've been able to build a healthy and healing lifestyle based on research, and experience. Frequent trips to grocery stores and markets in order to find tolerable foods have been, and continue to be exhausting, both physically and financially, on my family and me.
While the prescribed medication I'm currently on has helped kickstart my body into remission, there is a chance for Remicade users to build a defense against the medication that helped them, and corticosteroids are known to have adverse and potentially fatal effects for long-term users. I cannot be on the medications forever, so my next stage of recovery is going to be critical.
Where there is hope
Giving my body what it needs to heal is one major step. There are nutrients that can fight inflammation and help aid in repairing the intestinal wall such as amino acids and protein, bone broths and lean meats, vegetables, and a personal list of food that is slowly growing based on sound research.
For my final year as a senior, the need extends beyond just nutritional health. Raising $3000 will cover the cost of books and school expenses, tuition, and other needed supplies come September 1st. This also would cover transportation to doctor visits and checkups, as well as therapy and recovery.
During this period, I've had a lot to be thankful for. There have been people who have reached out to me in support, some of whom I've never met before! Many have continued to ask how they can be a support through this process, and this is how.
Whether through prayer, monetary support, reaching out to connect about the UC condition, or even providing some gardening tips, support can come in many ways.
A well-rounded approach to a difficult condition is how I'm approaching this obstacle in my life.
If you would like to get in contact with me through social media or via email, please email [email redacted]
If for any reason GoFundMe fails to function, secondary donations can use Venmo @Karrington-Washington
Thank you for taking the time to read, if you're willing, please share my story, and support however you feel led to!