Macomb Daily staff photo by Craig GaffieldMichele Judge, 36, of Sterling Heights checks on homework for her daughters, Ashleigh, 16, Lindsay, 13, and Taylor, 11. with the help of regular biologic drip treatments, the mother of three was able to resume an active, healthy lifestyle while living with ulcerative colitis.
Embarrassment rarely prevents sufferers of diabetes, arthritis or heart disease from discussing their symptoms with health care providers or seeking treatment.Not so for those affected by, a debilitating digestive disorder.Michele Judge, a 36-year-old Sterling Heights mother of three, started experiencing the cramping and bloody diarrhea associated with the condition about eight years ago. UC, a chronic, non-curable bowel disease, affects an estimated 500,000 Americans. It’s characterized by the inflammation and ulceration of the innermost lining of the colon, resulting, to varying degrees, in bloody stools, severe diarrhea and frequent abdominal pain.As her quality of life began to deteriorate, Judge, an office manager and co-owner of Berkley Collision, was too embarrassed to seek advice from her physician brother or her sister, a registered nurse."I was running to the restroom 15 to 20 times a day," said Judge, whose three daughters, ages 12, 13 and 16, dance, cheer and play basketball. "It got to the point that I couldn’t hold down any food and was always looking for excuses to avoid attending events."After three years of disease progression and mostly silent suffering, Judge’s gastroenterologist finally presented her with two options: surgical removal of the colon and a colostomy bag; or experimental treatment with Remicade, a biologic response modifier, administered through infusion over a 3-hour period every six to eight weeks."I can’t say Remicade works for everybody," said Judge, who’s resumed an active lifestyle that includes playing golf, volleyball, and even swimming. "but it’s worked for me; I’m a success story."Through the Voices of UC program, Judge is helping advance the plight of other sufferers by building awareness. Voices of UC is an educational initiative, created by Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc., the makers of Remicade."I was so grateful for the treatment I received, I realized I needed to share my story to help other people in my same situation," said Judge, who now only needs to use the restroom once or twice a day. "It’s not that everything’s perfect now; but it’s a lot, lot better.""While the symptoms of UC may be challenging for patients to talk about, it’s critical that they share these details with their physician to get a timely and accurate diagnosis and make sure their condition is treated appropriately," said James DeGerome, M.D., president of the Digestive Disease National Coalition.Also lending his voice to the cause is actor James Van Der Beek, former star of the TV show, "Dawson’s Creek," whose mother is living with UC."my mother initially kept her UC diagnosis a secret from most of our family because she was embarrassed and felt uncomfortable talking about it," said Van Der Beek. "Through my involvement in the Voices of UC program, I hope to raise awareness of UC and encourage those who suffer in silence, like my mom, to speak up about their condition with their families and friends, who may provide support, and most importantly, their physicians."a recent survey of 1,000 patients living with ulcerative colitis, and 100 physicians who treat them illustrates the continued need for increased education and awareness."The results of the Voices of UC surveys illustrate the importance of active and open communication, especially between a person with UC and their physician," DeGerome said.Visit VoicesofUC.com for more survey results, tips on discussing and overcoming the challenges of UC, and more on James Van Der Beek’s story. For more information about the Digestive Disease National Coalition, visit: ddnc.org.
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