About
About Dennis
My name is Dennis and I had ulcerative colitis. It was an intense struggle for a year, dealing with hospitalizing flare-ups and trying most colitis medicines available at the time. No medicine worked for long and finally I was out of options. I decided to undergo surgery to remove my colon, construct a J-pouch, and get on with my life.
I live in North Dakota and was 21 when I was diagnosed. I was 22 when I started surgery and am now 24.
As I started surgery, I documented my experience to remember it in the future. I eschewed simply taking pictures of my scars and decided to make a video instead. One thing led to another and soon I had a full blown vlog.
The purpose of this vlog is two-fold. One, I’m writing for people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). For those who have recently been diagnosed with a disease, I hope my videos inspire you and explain to you what life is like with IBD. Your body will do things you never imagined it would do. Hopefully, as somebody further down the road than you, I can explain to you what’s going to happen and how you can manage your disease.
For those who have had disease for awhile, I hope you find support in the fight for your life.
Second, this page is for those who do not have any bowel diseases. My purpose is to accurately show what life is like for people living with IBD. It’s an invisible illness that you’ll never hear of unless somebody you know is brave enough to tell you they’re having bowel problems.
But this site isn’t about me. Any questions you have, ideas, suggestions, support, help, or personal stories are greatly welcomed. These videos are a personal approach to dealing with the disease and educating people about its effects.
Inflammatory bowel disease is terrible, but through education and support we can fight back. Only by acknowledging our shared humanity can we take back what disease has taken from us.
For those curious, I have a degree in journalism and am currently in graduate school working on a PhD degree in health communication. I teach web design at the university and have previously worked at two television stations. Check out my personal website at DennisFrohlich.com
And one question I get all the time: Do you ever smile? The answer is: yes! Just not in these videos very often since the subject matter can be quite heavy. I try to interject some humor through esoteric references and word tags, but I’ll admit my humor can be a bit dry. When I’m not making videos I frequently smile and laugh and have a good time with my friends and roommates.
P.S. This site is a vlog, which stands for “video log,” which is distinct from a blog or “web log,” which are usually text only. Vlog is pronounced as one syllable, like blog. Please don’t say “vee-log.”
About Nadia
My name is Nadia and I have Inflammatory Bowel Disease of which has been debated repeatedly without a clear diagnosis of Crohn’s or colitis. I have been struggling since I was 16 years old and made the choice to have surgery a week away from my 18th birthday.
I underwent a hand-assisted laproscopic total proctocolectomy with a temporary ileostomy and a J-pouch in 2008. I lived with an ileostomy for some time while my J-pouch healed and had my takedown surgery in February 2009. However, my J-pouch failed, and in November 2010, I underwent another surgery to have a temporary ileostomy for a year in hopes that my J-pouch would heal, but that never happened. I had to have another surgery in September 2011 to make my ileostomy permanent and remove my J-pouch and affected intestine.
I have a lot of autoimmune problems and have struggled with illness my entire life. I try hard to keep a positive attitude in the face of all the bumps. As hard as that is sometimes, it’s the only way I know how to cope.
Here is a little bit about me. I am Pakistani-American and grew up in Wisconsin, and now living in Texas. I started college at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the pre-professional medicine program, I had to take a medical withdraw due to health issues. I re-enrolled in a university closer to home at Univeristy of Wisconsin-Green Bay. I was forced again to take another medical withdraw because of surgery. Now that I live in Texas, I am taking things slower and am enrolling in a community college near my home, and hope that slowly I will be able to manage my health and education better while studying in the medical field.
I presently work for Ostomy Secrets as a part time sales consultant. I started a YouTube channel a while back to talk about my illness and joined the UCVlog in February 2010. I want to erase the stigma, shame, and embarrassment from this disease. Everybody poops; I just do it a little differently, and that’s my attitude. I try very hard to be an eternal optimist. Some days that is a lot easier than others, and on the days that it’s difficult, I don’t get out of bed (just kidding).
One thing that I have done is poured myself into learning and researching more about IBD than the average 20-year-old girl would ever do. So ask me anything and if I don’t know, I will find out!
I love to travel. I have been to the Middle East and Pakistan to visit my wonderful family. I would love to go back someday when I am well. I am very lucky to have such a great support system. Not only here in the states, but in Pakistan, I have a lot of people cheering for me. I love my family very much. As part of my culture, I enjoy Bollywood movies, Pakistani/Indian fashion, and ethnic dance. My favorite movie of all time is called Veer-Zaara. Besides movies and fashion, I also love Indian and Pakistani music. Music plays an enormous role in my life. I live my life by lyrics and quotes that inspire me.
I enjoy time spent with friends and I value all my friendships very deeply. My parents are with me always and have seen me in my darkest days. I am so lucky to have so many good people surrounding me and being there when I need them the most. My mom and I are best friends and are together through every road block and clear path. Even though she doesn’t know exactly what I’m going through, she is the closest person to me who understands.
“Keep your face to the sunshine, and you will never see the shadows.”
~Helen Keller
Video Rights
As far as our videos go, you are pretty much free to do whatever you want with them. If you click once or twice on the videos themselves, it’ll take you to that video’s YouTube page. Then either copy the link or the embed code and post the video on your own website or blog. Post all our videos if you want!
If you want to show our videos in public, that’s fine. If you want to share them with others, that’s fine too. This website ultimately isn’t about us or what we’ve done, but it’s about helping others. So pass the videos around wherever you pass things at. You don’t even need to ask us first to post or borrow videos, just do it (but maybe let us know afterward so we can see your site too). All we ask is that you don’t claim them as your own and that you don’t edit them in any way.
i just came across your site tonight and i’m so impressed with your honesty and what you’re doing. i had my colon taken out a year ago and am looking forward to j-pouch surgery in the future. i wish i would have found this earlier, it’s so helpful. i’m excited to keep updated on your j-pouch surgery and can’t wait until i’m in the same boat! thanks for helping so many people with your vee-log, ha just kidding~ couldn’t resist!
I can’t THANK YOU enough for what you have done with this site! I have had UC since I was 14 now I’m 25 and am having my surgery Jan. 12. When I have had flare ups they usually put me in the hospital, give me some steriods and other medicine then send me on my way. Well, that’s not the case this time! Nothing has worked except the Remicade (very slowly) which sent me from one extream to another then six months into my treatment I had an allgeric reaction to it. I have had this particular falre since Aug. 2007 and have developed other health issues as well because of it. I have put this surgery off as long as I can (mostly because of the fear of having the bag) and have no more options. I am extreamly scared and if it wasn’t for your openness and bravery by putting yourself out there I would probably cancelled my surgery! I have shown my mother your site and she LOVES IT and thinks you are just wonderful! Do you have any other advice for someone going into this life changing surgery? I wish I was as brave and calm as you! I go to my stoma nurse next week for my markings, do you mind if I give her and my surgeon’s your web address? Your information has come at the most perfect time! I can’t THANK YOU enough for what your braveness has done for me! On behalf of myself and my family THANK YOU!
Kelly Cunningham
Franklin, NC
IT IS INCREDIBLE,what DENNIS has done to help others/I wish him the normal life that all of us with bowel type problems desire.IT is a great thing he has done with his videos and how he wants to help all who are having hardships with their bowels.I come to this VLOG from a spinal cord disease called TRANSVERSE MYELITIS.[the end result is bowel control and bowel problems./if anyone would like to talk leave a message/comment with your email/talking helps/bowel problems come from many diseases/wish everyone a better way of life/thanks from RICH C.
youre simply amazing! :)
Dennis, Thank you! Your video’s are just what the Doctor did not order. BUT I’m glad I found you via Youtube. I have almost 50 years under my belt, and I have lived with MS (another disease in which my immune cells act up and can create havoc), but being recently diagnosed with UC has hit me hard. My doctor hasn’t a clue what it’s like, and he doesn’t discuss anything. He just writes Rx for enemas and pills. Your Vlog gives me a better understanding of options and how to deal with problems associated with UC. Again- Thank You So much. Vee (Northern Calif)
Through out my own journey from UC to J-pouch (or in my case w-pouch) I have searched many websites for information and I guess a sense that I am not alone in what I am going through. I have not come across anything as relevant, honest and accurate as your vlog, THANK-YOU! I only wish that I had found this earlier, hopefully I am having my reversal (or as you seem to refer to it in the US “take down”) next week after 18 months of complications since my first surgery, as I say “hopefully” as I wont know until I wake up as they need to do an examination under anesthetic to confirm that pouch/vaginal fistula I developed almost immediately after my first operation has healed after 3 attempts so fingers crossed. If not my pouch will have to be removed and it will all start again with a new pouch, with me losing more of my small intestine (my large is totally gone as is some of my small due to an adhesion). I will be passing on your website details to my stoma nurse and surgeon so they can make sure that others find it earlier than I did for a frank depiction of what is ahead of them. I am so happy for you that you seem to be at the end of it and that it has all worked so well for you. Thanks again! Bridget (Australia)
I am having my take down/j pouch surgery Feb 2010. Your video logs have really helped me a great deal. I really appreciate these videos and your honest open description of what you have experienced. I had Colitis for 8 years, full colectomy last Dec. Feeling much better now. And now, even better after watching your videos! Thank you so much! Kbear, from Canada!
Dennis, Thank you so much for your website. I have had Crohn’s for 35 years and finally an ileostomy 2 years ago. Through your videos, you have answered questions for me that doctors, nurses, and other sites could not do. You are really making a difference and I thank you for that. Keep up the good work. Charlie
Gracias por tus interesantes aportes. Desde españa, un blog hermano dedicado especialmente a la enfermedad de crohn.
Thanks for your interesting contributions. From Spain, a sister blog focused especially Crohn’s disease.
Hi,
Just wondering… have you tried the Specific Carbohydrate Diet at all? I was diagnosed with severe UC back in 2004 and put on meds by my doctor which didn’t do much to help. About 6 months later, after lots and lots of research I came across a book called “Breaking The Vicious Cycle” by Elaine Gottschall and within months of being on the diet was med free and symptom free and have been ever since. Although you no longer have a colon, perhaps it can help you. You can read about my journey and the diet at http://www.comfytummy.com. All the best to you.
Hi there,
I have not tried the SCD diet. I don’t really know much about the diet, and chances are I probably won’t be trying it in the near future. I am happy with now my J-pouch is working and think it is working great without any kind of major diet modifications. But some day I will read the Gottschall book since many people have mentioned it to me.
Dennis
I just got a post about the Specific Carb Diet. I Have had Crohn’s for 30 years and my experience after trying the SCD diet was that it does not work. Several reasons, first it is next to impossible to live on such a restricted diet for any length of time and travel on the SCD diet is impossible. I followed it fanatically for 2 years and had very poor results. My wife who has Celiac ( which the SCD is supposed to cure) had the same miserable results. Also, I called and spoke to the lady who started it, Elaine Gottschall personally and she said that it would not help scar tissue and scarring is prevalent in almost all Crohn’s patients. My advise after literally trying everything for 30 years is to get a very good Gastroenterologist whom you are comfortable with and try Remicade or Humira. I am on Humira and am in remission. I did have to have my colon removed due to the scarring but it was the greatest thing that has happened to me relative to the disease. I am not saying that diet and nutrition are not important, they absolutely are. But Crohn’s is far more complicated to control. Avoiding carbs to control Crohn’s is nonsense. Try to find out which foods (spicy, greasy, etc.) cause you a problem and remove those. And find a good doc and you will be on your way to better health. Also consider some form of relaxation, such as TM, it has really helped me.
First, I am so happy that this site exists. It’s something I wish I could do but was too embarrassed or afraid to expose who I was. The last couple of years living with ulcerative colitis has been an ongoing battle. I’ve kept going no matter what happened to me. I keep striving to do more and prove that we can overcome all obstacles. I’m still on lots of medications and have been in a remission for about 9 months. It’s scary, being the one who feeds my family and having this instability in my life. Without the support of my family I would have never made it this far. I just wish that some companies would be more supportive of people who have this disease. Since I revealed that I had this condition I was demoted and given poor reviews, whereas previously I was a star employee. The people I trusted wanted to get rid of me and this was their way of trying to accomplish that. I hope that we all overcome all the obstacles in our lives and those who are uncompassionate towards others will one day answer to a greater power.
Hi Dennis. My husband was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in his mid twenties. Now in his mid forties, he’s had a long history of varied success and failure from treatmennts including steroids and immunosuppressants. Lately he has been extremeley ill and so yesterday underwent a thorough colonoscopy. He has now been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The specialist wants him to go back on Asacol and suggested possibly having the large bowel removed. I am worried he sees this as the end of his life and know that he’s had suicidal feelings lately. I can’t say how relieved I felt when I found your site. I am going to get my husband to watch some of your videos and those of others who are getting their lives back to normal. Your site is a light for us in a very dark time. Thank you.
Hey there! I came across your vlog sitting here in the hospital waiting on my echo test results. I saw your videos on you tube (parts 1 & 2 of UC: bloodclots). I’m sitting here in the hospital room b/c my story is identical to your first video regarding the blood clots in your lungs only my pain was in my abdomen and i came in b/c i thought it was my appendix but it turns out that it’s my kidney and i had a renal infarct. Enough about me, I just thought I’d stop by and thank you for posting your story. I appreciate the information as i tend to freak when something goes wrong and i know no one with a similar story. I’ve had UC since 2005 but luckily i’ve been able to control things with biologics for about 6 months at a time then they stop working so i’m assuming one day i’ll need surgery as well. Thanks for posting, it’s been very informative.
Hi Dennis,
My daughter who is 7 was diagnoised with UC at age 3, she was sick for 1.5 years, then in remission, then all went bad January of 2009. None of the medications worked and spent 10 weeks in the hospital in pain and not eating or drinking. She had her colon removed in May (after changing care to doctors who do surgery for this disease), J-pouch created in July, and had her take down end of September.
Your site has been so helpful to me in understanding how to help her with each step of the way since the colonectomy. She is leaking a bit now, but it is only one week out using the J. Your videos give me hope that she will learn to use her pouch in time.
Her only medications now are to have at least 1.5 teaspoons of salt .5 of soluable fiber (we use apple pectin) and drink 58 ounces of water. When she had her ostomy this made her stool like apple sauce. When she has chocolate it ruins it all, so we need to keep her from it.
We tried the SCD diet for 3 months with no luck of any relief when she had her first flare. I hear it helps some, but not a cure for everyone.
Thank you for putting so much time and honesty in the videos. I can’t tell you how they helped.
Thanks for creating such a wonderful website/resource for ostomates. Glad to see more blogs and websites about ostomies.
Mary
http://muggins7.wordpress.com
hello, im from argentina. i have colitis ulcerative since i was 21. now im 28
y had 17 surgeries. do you speak spanish? i dont write all i want to tell you.
Hi Sabrina,
17 surgeries?! That sounds like way too many for one lifetime. Unfortunately I don’t speak Spanish; I only know a few words here and there. But if you want to email me at Dennis@UCVlog.com in Spanish, I can translate it online and get most of your story that way.
Dennis
I am a CWOCN (certified wound ostomy continence nurse). I will direct all my patients with bowel or stoma concerns to this VLOG. This is amazing in so many ways. Thank you so much.
Hi,
I am writing to add my thanks and gratitude to everyone who has commented here. I don’t know how to adequately express my appreciation for the great work you are doing to provide comfort and compassion to all of us who deal everyday with “guts issues”. You are doing a tremendous service through the communication of your personal knowledge, education, encouragement and real life experience. No doctor or nurse or other medical professional provided 1/10th of the help you have provided! One question – how do people cope with working full time? I have an office job now, but I have a new job offer to do consulting work. That would involve a lot of air travel and staying in hotels and day long meetings – and I don’t know if my guts can handle it. Do you know of anyone with a j-pouch who does a lot of out of airplane flying and out of town travel for work and if so, how do they manage it? I can’t imagine how I would deal with it due to the unpredictability of when I am going to have a problem.
Thank you,
Jane