I thought I was a healthy teen — I constantly dismissed a sign that turned out to be a chronic disease
Instead, she got a crash course in ulcerative colitis (UC).
'I had never heard of ulcerative colitis,' Cappelle, 19, told The Post. 'It took me a really long time to even understand what was happening within my body.'
Cappelle was diagnosed with the chronic disease in the summer of 2024. She spent her freshman year eliminating dairy and fatty foods from her diet — not easy as a college student — in the hopes of managing her symptoms since there's no cure for UC.
About a million Americans are believed to have UC, the most common type of inflammatory bowel disease. Experts aren't exactly sure what causes the condition, but they think it's related to abnormal immune system reactions.
Inflammation and ulcers develop in the lining of the colon and rectum, often causing stomach pain, bloody diarrhea and frequent bowel movements. Crohn's disease is similar but can affect any part of the GI tract.
UC is most often diagnosed in people 15 to 30 years old. Adults between 50 and 70 are also at higher risk.
Cappelle didn't immediately realize that something was amiss. She occasionally noticed blood in her stool but figured it was no big deal.
'It wasn't bad at first,' Cappelle recalled. 'I looked it up a couple of times, and the only two things that would come up were internal hemorrhoids or colon cancer. And I was like, 'OK, well, I don't have colon cancer, so it's probably just internal hemorrhoids.' So I wasn't worried about it.'
The bleeding eventually intensified to the point where it was happening every day — and she found herself rushing to the bathroom more often. A colonoscopy was scheduled for two weeks before she left for college.
'I literally came out of my colonoscopy, and my doctor told me that I had [UC],' Cappelle said.
She needed to overhaul her diet immediately.
Individual triggers vary, but UC sufferers tend to experience flare-ups with high-fat foods, spicy foods and foods rich in insoluble fiber.
Alcohol, caffeinated beverages and sugary drinks are often no-nos.
Before her diagnosis, Cappelle typically had yogurt for breakfast, a sandwich with Cheez-Its for lunch and ground turkey, chicken or steak with potatoes or rice for dinner — or fast food.
'I definitely didn't eat well,' she admitted. 'If I wanted [Raising] Canes or Chick-fil-A, if I wanted fast food, I was going to go get the fast food.'
She first axed spicy foods, including her beloved Flamin' Hot Cheetos and hot sauce, soda and gluten.
Unfortunately, her stomach pain didn't go away right away.
'I was trying to eat whole foods, but obviously that's hard, especially being a freshman in college,' Cappelle said. 'You're living in a dorm, so you really don't have a kitchen.'
She came home to the greater Houston area in December, cutting dairy and alcohol from her diet and stepping up her exercise routine.
She also began working with a therapist and getting infusions of Entyvio, prescription medication that targets gut inflammation.
Her stomach pain and bloody stool subsided, and she plans to return to Texas State in August.
'I think it'll be easier this next year, because I will have an apartment and my own kitchen,' Cappelle said.
'It is hard because you can't necessarily eat what everybody else is eating. But, for me, personally, it's not worth it to eat like that, knowing what could happen if I do eat like that.'
She's been sharing her journey on TikTok, hoping to connect with people facing the same challenges.
'The hardest part for me [is] feeling so alone,' Cappelle said.
'I really just want to put the message out there of, you're not alone in this, and you can get better, and you will get better.'
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This shoe is a great everyday trainer, with an airy upper that makes it especially comfortable on hot days. The shoe's heel has a locked-in feel, and there's nice cushioning around the ankle. The shoe runs small, though — you'll want to size up. Nike Vomero 18. A highly cushioned shoe with a little bounce, Nike's Vomero 18 feels good underfoot. But the shoe fits especially snug around the ankle, and I developed irritation around the outer ankle that I didn't have with other shoes. That aside, the shoe is very comfortable and even fun to run in, thanks to that bounce. FAQs What is overpronation, and how does it affect running? Overpronation is something that can happen when you walk or run. "Overpronation occurs when a person's foot turns to the midline while walking," Lockwood says. "When it's extreme, this means it can look like you're walking on the inside of your ankle." Overpronation can throw off your gait, raising the risk of a range of injuries, including tendonitis and ankle, knee and foot pain, according to Graves. How can I tell if I overpronate? There are a few signs, says Graves. "When you're standing in a relaxed position, do your feet appear to be rolling inward? The back of your heels should be perpendicular to the ground. Are they tilted inward?" he asks. "Look at a pair of shoes that you've been wearing for a while — is the heel of the shoe tilted inward? Does the medial/inside of the shoe in the arch area appear to be bulging? Any of these can indicate overpronation." What's the difference between stability and motion control shoes? Stability shoes are designed for mild to moderate overpronators, Fuchs says. "Stability shoes provide a balance of cushioning and support, allowing for some natural motion while helping to correct alignment." Motion control shoes are designed for severe overpronators. "They are built with firmer materials and greater support to limit excessive foot movement and support proper alignment," Fuchs says. Can stability shoes help prevent running injuries? Yes, stability shoes can help prevent running injuries in people who overpronate, Graves says. "By reducing or slowing down the amount of overpronation, there will be less stress on the foot structures that tend to be most affected by overpronation." How often should I replace my running shoes? Everyone is different, but podiatrists generally recommend replacing your shoes between 300 and 500 miles. That's admittedly a wide range, which is why looking for additional signs like your midsole being compressed or you've worn down the outsole to the point that you can see the white part. Another clear indication is if you're developing new aches and pains, Graves says. Meet our experts Suzanne C. Fuchs, DPM, a podiatrist at Luxe Podiatry in Jupiter, Fla. Melissa Lockwood, DPM, a podiatrist at Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates in Bloomington, Ill. Richard H. Graves, DPM, a podiatrist at Sol Foot & Ankle Centers in Long Beach, Calif. Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
