In my life I've placed a business review maybe 2-3 times. This review comes from a place that I can only hope changes patient outcomes for the better and helps them heal and heal faster, be diagnosed appropriately, etc. I'm 40 yrs old....diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis when I was 15yrs old. Been in and out of hospital admissions many many times as my amazing GI Dr's took me under their wings and literally did all they could to keep my pain under control, managed to still not needed any bowel resections or surgeries for that matter...always felt safe with my life in their hands as I got well. Medication management with biologics and steroids...you name it and I've probably been on it. Had a lil girl safely thanks to my Dr's knowing how to manage meds for a safe pregnancy. 100% I let the GI team carry me every time until my flares were in full remission! Then I moved to SC and Charleston GI flipped the script opening my eyes to the dark side and the frailty the patients like can myself experience. Im speaking here regarding my time as a patient of Dr. Nathan Shores and his personal nurse Cody. Gonna try to break this down fast....ok. About 2-3 months ago started having typical UC flare symptoms. About a month Dr. Shores put me on a steroid taper. Pain was getting worse. I took myself about 5-6 times to the ER....ER's that are associated with the GI practice thinking maybe they'd admit me then and someone would get a full picture of my situation, scope me, manage my medications because clearly I was not well. Typically I weigh about 130-140lbs....in the ER I weighed 102lbs. Still can't believe how fast this flare took me down. Not 1 time did Dr.Shores call me personally, text me, email me, nothing! Instead my mom and myself are having to run around get all these labs done, X-rays scanned, back and forth bantering with the nurse Cody....when I reality I was suffering from a parasitic virus in my gut l...a virus that's 1 purpose is to cause PanColitis. Look it up. CMV and PanColitis. With that being said....my history and my active UC flare was the "perfect storm" and could have perforated my bowel had I tried to manage this from home any longer. I went to MUSC ER and they immediately admitted me, scoped me, got me on antiviral meds to take down the CMV, and started me on Entyvio for the UC once the PanColitis was better. Charleston GI actually scares me...the fact that there could be patients like me suffering with a potentially life threatening illness under there care hurts my heart. I'm so grateful that I went with my gut instinct and drove to MUSC instead that day. Once again the these GI angels carried me and still are carrying me and I trust them fully! Thank you MUSC! From a patient to another...don't forget that when we are so sick we can barely walk...that's when someone should be carrying us to good health....never should we expect less. Reach out for help. read more