Adam's Ulcerative Colitis Adventure
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In February 2015 Adam started having some strange symptoms. He would be at SMSU Tennis matches and his legs and feet would swell up to the point where he couldn't stand or walk. However a day or two later, he would feel better. After a few months of dealing with the external arthritis-like symptoms, he started feeling the internal pains. Cramping, nausea, and 10-15 daily trips to the bathroom with bloody diarrhea.
We visited with multiple doctors...none of which could pinpoint the problem. It wasn't until May 13th when Adam received his first answer. A colonoscopy showed that he had a severe case of Ulcerative Colitis (UC), a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). UC is certainly not a glamorous disease to live with. It makes the smallest out-of-the-house task seem like Fear Factor. Simple things like driving across town or getting groceries can be the most difficult of tasks as people with UC can sometimes have only seconds to make it to the bathroom.
Adam's gastroenterologist, Dr. Gilbert, has been wonderful throughout this entire process. He has treated us like his family rather than a patient. His first plan of action was to start Adam on a very potent drug called Remicade. It is given through an IV like most chemotherapy treatments. The sessions take about 2-3 hours every 8 weeks. Dr. Gilbert gave Adam an 80% chance that this treatment would work, so we were very optimistic that life would be getting back to normal sooner than later.
Fast forward to today and Remicade has failed. He is down 30 pounds and his body absorbs very little nutrients because the food leaves his body very shortly after entering. So after about 8 treatments we are down to the last option that has a 100% rate of success. Surgery. On November 5th, Adam will be having a Subtotal Colostomy with Ileostomy. AKA, he will be having all but 2 centimeters of his large intestine (colon) removed and a waste bag will be attached to a stoma about 2 inches to the right of his belly button. To some this seems like a curse, but to Adam it is freedom. He will have the ability to enjoy the food he eats and not become sick from it.
Along this journey, Adam has also been diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). PSC is a disease that causes inflammation of the liver's bile ducts. These ducts become scarred which cause them to become hardened and narrow. This in turn creates blockage, leaving the bile to be stuck in the liver instead of moving through. This disease ultimately causes liver failure and is only cured by a liver transplant. It could be up to 10 years before that is needed, but it is something we still think about on a daily basis.
It was never our first choice to create a GoFundMe page, but sometimes our pride needs to be put aside. God has been with us since day one, and we are confident that He will continue to walk with us throughout the rest of this adventure. Prayer is so powerful, so if anything, please add Adam to your prayer list. Thank you!
- Greta (Adam's fiance)
We visited with multiple doctors...none of which could pinpoint the problem. It wasn't until May 13th when Adam received his first answer. A colonoscopy showed that he had a severe case of Ulcerative Colitis (UC), a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). UC is certainly not a glamorous disease to live with. It makes the smallest out-of-the-house task seem like Fear Factor. Simple things like driving across town or getting groceries can be the most difficult of tasks as people with UC can sometimes have only seconds to make it to the bathroom.
Adam's gastroenterologist, Dr. Gilbert, has been wonderful throughout this entire process. He has treated us like his family rather than a patient. His first plan of action was to start Adam on a very potent drug called Remicade. It is given through an IV like most chemotherapy treatments. The sessions take about 2-3 hours every 8 weeks. Dr. Gilbert gave Adam an 80% chance that this treatment would work, so we were very optimistic that life would be getting back to normal sooner than later.
Fast forward to today and Remicade has failed. He is down 30 pounds and his body absorbs very little nutrients because the food leaves his body very shortly after entering. So after about 8 treatments we are down to the last option that has a 100% rate of success. Surgery. On November 5th, Adam will be having a Subtotal Colostomy with Ileostomy. AKA, he will be having all but 2 centimeters of his large intestine (colon) removed and a waste bag will be attached to a stoma about 2 inches to the right of his belly button. To some this seems like a curse, but to Adam it is freedom. He will have the ability to enjoy the food he eats and not become sick from it.
Along this journey, Adam has also been diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC). PSC is a disease that causes inflammation of the liver's bile ducts. These ducts become scarred which cause them to become hardened and narrow. This in turn creates blockage, leaving the bile to be stuck in the liver instead of moving through. This disease ultimately causes liver failure and is only cured by a liver transplant. It could be up to 10 years before that is needed, but it is something we still think about on a daily basis.
It was never our first choice to create a GoFundMe page, but sometimes our pride needs to be put aside. God has been with us since day one, and we are confident that He will continue to walk with us throughout the rest of this adventure. Prayer is so powerful, so if anything, please add Adam to your prayer list. Thank you!
- Greta (Adam's fiance)
Organizer
Greta Evink
Organizer
Marshall, MN
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