Background Story - Part 2

The early IBD Years

By early 2015 my weight had stabilized around 73–75 kg, which felt healthier than the very lean 63 kg I had reached earlier.

In late February and early March 2015 I began noticing blood during bowel movements along with increased frequency. Initially doctors suspected infection or piles, but when the symptoms continued, a colonoscopy was performed in April 2015 along with a biopsy.

That test confirmed Ulcerative Colitis. Thankfully, the biopsy returned “ negative “ for Cancer. 

Yes. Cancer.

I spent a sleepless week waiting for the biopsy results, fearing the worst. 

From that moment onward my life changed dramatically. For the first time in my life, I realized that health is not something we control completely. 

Someone who loved traveling, visiting temples, exploring historical places, and running, i suddenly had to deal with an unpredictable autoimmune condition. 

Between 2015 and around 2018 I experienced frequent flare-ups, often every six to eight months. Each flare would last four to six weeks. Over time my dosage gradually increased in an attempt to control the disease.

A short detour - what is a flare - thats when the inflammation peaks, which leads to bowel movements anywhere 5-8 times a day with blood and mucus. Anything i eat, would make me visit the toilet within 1.5 - 2 hours. Even drinking coffee. 

Around 2017 my gastroenterologist suggested consulting a Siddha specialist. For the next several years I followed a combination of allopathic and Siddha treatments. The frequency of flare-ups reduced slightly, occurring roughly once every 9 to 12 months.

However, the disease still had its difficult moments.

In 2018 I experienced one of the worst flares—nearly three months of bleeding and mucus. During that period I lost around eight kilograms in just eight weeks, and almost fifteen kilograms over several months.

My Siddha doctor then placed me on an extremely restrictive diet: four types of steamed gourd vegetables, moong dal, and curd. What was initially meant to last two or three months ended up continuing for almost a year. Gradually, through 2019 and into 2020, foods were reintroduced one at a time until my diet returned to something close to normal.

During the COVID years I stabilized around 65 kg and resumed walking and occasional running, despite getting affected with the virus and spending 17 days in isolation. Between 2020 and 2023 I remained reasonably disciplined whenever I was not in a flare.

But the uncertainty of the condition slowly began affecting me mentally.

A flare in 2023 triggered a period of mild depression. My bowel movements became erratic and unpredictable, and I began to fear leaving the house. Gradually my physical activity declined, and by mid-2023 I had stopped exercising altogether.

Weight began to increase again.

Then came another turning point. As they say, life happened. 

In April 2024 a severe flare forced me to seek a second opinion. A new gastroenterologist performed another colonoscopy and re-evaluated my condition. The diagnosis was revised from ulcerative colitis affecting the colon to proctitis, meaning inflammation limited to the rectum.

This led to change in treatment protocols.

For several months things improved. The medication dosage was reduced. But another flare appeared in December 2024 and lasted until the very last day of the year.

Somehow, I felt that when the bleeding stopped on 31st December it was a sign of better things to come. 

May be, God had better things in store for me.