About
About This Site
My name is Dennis and I had ulcerative colitis. It was an intense struggle for a year, dealing with hospitalizing flare ups and every colitis medicine in the book. Finally, my colitis crescendoed and I decided to undergo surgery to remove my colon, rebuild it with my intestine, 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 23.
As I started surgery, I decided to document my experience so that I remembered what life was like with my colon. I eschewed simply taking pictures of my scars and decided to make a video instead. One thing led to another and now this whole site has sprung up.
The purpose of this vlog is two-fold. One, I’m writing for people with ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases. 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 colitis. Colitis mingles with uncertainty since your body is doing things you never imagined it would do to you. 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 coliits.
For those who have had a 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 ulcerative colitis. 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. Most times people with colitis look absolutely normal. My goal is to reveal the hidden world of suffering that accompanies bowel diseases.
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, which is far-removed from the way surgeons and doctors look at the disease, as well-meaning as they are.
Ulcerative colitis is a terrible disease, but through education and support us UCers can fight back. Only by acknowledging our shared humanity can we take back what ulcerative colitis has taken from us.
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 Myself
I live in North Dakota and have lived here my entire life. It’s really not as bad as you might initially think.
I went to school and now have a degree in journalism. I currently work at a local television station doing some technical work to keep the station on the air.
I’m kind of a nerd and enjoy entertainments such as anime, videogames, and science fiction and fantasy movies. You may hear me reference from time to time various aspects of nerd culture.
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.
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.
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.
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