Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor and this isn’t medical advice. This is just my personal experience living with ulcerative colitis. I’m sharing the honest highs and lows in hopes that someone out there feels a little less alone. Some of this might be TMI, but the more transparent I can be, the more helpful this might be for someone going through something similar.
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
In October 2024, I was officially diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks the colon, causing inflammation, ulcers, and bleeding in the large intestine.
For years before that, I had stomach issues and bloating, but never thought much of it. Then one random afternoon, I noticed blood in the toilet. It continued for two weeks straight. I finally went to urgent care, and they referred me for a colonoscopy. The wait for that appointment was over a month. One of the longest months of my life, filled with endless Googling and the growing fear that I might have colon cancer.
When the day finally came, I was surprisingly okay with the prep. I couldn’t eat the day before, and at 6 PM, I drank the colon prep (which definitely “cleans you out” 😅). No water was allowed four hours before the procedure. After waking up from the colonoscopy, I was told I had Ulcerative Colitis.
While I was relieved it wasn’t cancer, I had no idea how much my life was about to change.
The Medications That Didn’t Work
The first medication I tried was prednisone, an oral steroid. I took it for six weeks, and it didn’t help; it just made my joints ache. Then came mesalamine, a medication specifically for UC. Again, no real improvement.
I started making lifestyle changes too. I went gluten-free and cut back on lifting heavy weights at the gym. At the time, I was lifting weights 5–6 days a week, which I now think may have added to my body’s overall inflammation. My bleeding and cramping were the worst at this point.
Inflectra: My First Glimpse of Relief
By February 2025, after another visit with my doctor, I started Inflectra — an immune suppressant often used for autoimmune diseases like arthritis. Every 8 weeks, I’d go to an infusion center for a 2-hour session. The day I got my first infusion, something amazing happened: the bleeding stopped immediately. It felt like a miracle. I was so relieved.
At the time, I was also avoiding alcohol and gluten, and I really thought I had finally figured it out. I did notice a small red rash on my stomach, but I brushed it off.
Unfortunately, after a few months of feeling better, I slowly returned to old habits — drinking occasionally and eating more freely. By late spring, the symptoms returned. The bleeding was back. I felt like the Inflectra wasn’t working anymore. But my doctor ran bloodwork and said I hadn’t developed any antibodies to the drug, so technically, it “should be working.”
We scheduled another colonoscopy for August to take a deeper look.
When Flares Take Over Your Life
Between May and June, my symptoms were worse than ever. I requested a reasonable accommodation at work to allow me to work from home 1–2 days a week. The brain fog and fatigue hit hard. I could barely focus, and socializing became difficult. I started canceling plans because I never knew how I’d feel day to day.
By June, I noticed more troubling symptoms. That little rash from my first infusion never went away — and now I had three persistent red rashes on my stomach. My joints started hurting badly. By July, I gave up lifting altogether and switched to walking and yoga. It just wasn’t worth the pain. This was difficult because I used to be a personal trainer and lifting was my happy place.
In August, I had another colonoscopy. The results showed no improvement. The same inflammation, ulcers, and internal hemorrhoids as before. My doctor said I could try switching medications if I wanted.
By this point, I had tried three medications in one year with no long-term relief.
Shifting My Perspective: A More Natural Approach
Now it’s September 2025, and I’m ready to try something new. I don’t want to rely on medications that aren’t working, and I don’t want to feel helpless anymore.
I started doing a deep dive into what causes autoimmune diseases, and I realized that Western medicine often focuses on managing symptoms, not getting to the root cause. That wasn’t enough for me.
What I’ve learned is that autoimmune diseases can be triggered by both genetic and environmental factors. And if something external can trigger it, maybe something external can help heal it too.
What Really Causes Autoimmune Disease?
Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system gets confused and starts attacking the body’s own cells. While there’s no single cause, here are the biggest contributors:
🧬 1. Genetics
- A family history increases your risk
- Certain genes (like HLA types) are linked to autoimmunity
🦠 2. Infections
- Viral or bacterial infections may trigger autoimmune responses
- Example: Epstein-Barr virus is linked to lupus and multiple sclerosis
☣️ 3. Environmental Toxins
- Exposure to things like mercury, pesticides, smoking, or even silica dust
🥦 4. Diet & Gut Health
- Western diets (high in sugar and processed foods) promote inflammation
- Leaky gut: When the gut lining is compromised, it can trigger immune responses
- Imbalances in the gut microbiome are strongly linked to autoimmune conditions
👩 5. Hormones
- 80% of autoimmune patients are women — hormones definitely play a role
😰 6. Chronic Stress
- Long-term stress can throw off your immune regulation
💉 7. Medications or Vaccines (rare)
- In rare cases, these can act as triggers in genetically susceptible people
🧬 8. Epigenetics
- Environmental factors can switch genes on or off without changing your DNA
Examples of Common Autoimmune Diseases:
- Type 1 diabetes – immune attack on pancreatic beta cells
- Rheumatoid arthritis – attack on joint lining
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) – multi-organ involvement
- Multiple sclerosis – attack on nerve sheaths in the brain/spinal cord
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – immune attack on the thyroid gland
- Celiac disease – immune reaction to gluten damaging the small intestine
Can You Heal an Autoimmune Disease or is it Chronic?
With all that said, healing from an autoimmune disease is complex. There are so many factors to consider. Most doctors view autoimmune conditions as chronic and incurable. But I truly believe remission is possible, because there are thousands of people who’ve done it. Why not me, too?
As I focus on healing, I’ve realized that diet is the one thing I feel like I can truly control, so that’s where I’m starting. That’s why I’m documenting my journey. To track what works, what doesn’t, and to stay accountable to myself.
I’m writing this in September 2025, and honestly, I don’t know how this story ends. I don’t know if I’ll find a cure, or even long-term relief. But I’m hopeful. And I’m willing to try.
My New Plan: The AIP Diet
I’m now starting the AIP Diet (Autoimmune Protocol), also known as the Anti-Inflammation Protocol or Autoimmune-Paleo. It’s an elimination diet that removes common trigger foods for 30 days, then reintroduces them one at a time.
I’ll also be adding gut-healing supplements, because many people report that once their gut is healed, they’re able to tolerate foods they previously couldn’t.
Why I’m Sharing This
This blog isn’t meant to educate or give medical advice. It’s a personal log of my journey, a place for me to track what’s working and what’s not. Healing from an autoimmune disease is trial and error, and I want to document the process as honestly as possible.
I don’t know how this story ends. I don’t know if I’ll ever find a cure or reach remission. But I’m hopeful and I believe it’s possible because others have done it.
If you’re going through something similar, I hope this reminds you that you’re not alone. Because truly, I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that our bodies are capable of more than we think.
I’ll be sharing more about my diet and supplement protocol in the next blog, so stay tuned. 💛
References
- Khan, R., & Wang, Y. (2020). Environmental exposures and autoimmune diseases: Contribution of gut microbiome. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31998327/
- Powell, J. J. (1999). Evidence for the role of environmental agents in the initiation or progression of autoimmune conditions. Environmental Health Perspectives, 107(Suppl 5), 667–672. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.99107s5667
- Vojdani, A. (2014). A potential link between environmental triggers and autoimmunity. Autoimmune Diseases, 2014, Article 437231. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/437231
- Wojciechowska, A., Tomasik, B., Nowicka, G., & Bieńkiewicz, M. (2024). The impact of environmental factors on the development of autoimmune thyroiditis—Review. Biomedicines, 12(8), 1788. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12081788
- Lerner, A., Jeremias, P., & Matthias, T. (2024). Autoimmune disease: Genetic susceptibility, environmental triggers, and immune dysregulation—Where can we develop therapies? Frontiers in Immunology, 15, Article 12367657. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12367657/
- Li, Y., Wang, J., & Sun, Z. (2024). Emerging role of gut microbiota in autoimmune diseases. Frontiers in Immunology, 15, Article 1365554. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1365554
- Richardson, B. (2012). Environmental triggers and epigenetic deregulation in autoimmune disease. Autoimmunity, 45(1), 20–27. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22204770/
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