Who here hides their illness from others?

my boss was wonderful when I told her, she got me laptop so that if I was not feeling well enough to come in to work but still wanted to do some work from home to not use up all my personal and vacation time I could. Plus when I thought I would need to go for remicade she was super supportive of that. Even asking me if I thought I needed someone to help me at work.

besides, my co everyone has something or their family member does, we'd have like 3 employee's if our co. did that. Though I am sure there are companies that have done that, not all do. Plus I think when it comes to work, i'd prefer my boss to have an idea why I am missing work if I need to miss a lot of it, though you can say 'medical issue' or whatever you want to say.

I am very open about it. I don't talk about the diarhea or blood, but I definitely explain what it is medically. I feel like I want to raise the visibility of the disease and make it less taboo.

Totally agree with you White Sox. I'm willing to discuss at length the full implications of UC with anyone who will listen. You know I wonder is that why my friends have been avoiding me lately!!

I only tell those people who I think need to know. Of course, my husband knows. And my mother knows. And my sisters know. My husband's parents know. And his brother knows, too. The rest of the family doesn't know, as I don't think it is really their concern. If my grandparents were still alive, I am sure they would know. As for cousins and stuff, though, I'm not particularly close to any of them, so there is no need for me to tell them. Most of them live in Puerto Rico anyway, so it's not like the conversation has ever come up.

As far as my social life goes, most of my close friends know.

As for work, my boss and my secretary know. I guess the Human Resources personnel know, too, because I had to list it as a medical condition on my health insurance paperwork. Otherwise, I don't think it is anyone else's business. It's not about being embarrassed (I could care less about that). If I had asthma or high blood pressure instead of UC, I wouldn't mention it to them either. It's just that I am a relatively private person and don't think that everyone needs to know everything about me.

everyone i know, knows that i have it. i dont mind at all. i tell people the sordid details when they ask why im so skinny or why are you so sick? i dont care if im loud or smelly in public restrooms either. there aint nothing i can do about it, so why cause extra stress worrying about it.
sometimes i give "too much information" haha.

usually when i talk about it with others, friends, family, it ends up being a big laugh fest cuz i have some funny poo stories thats for sure!
and usually everyone says to me " you should write a book about it cuz your hilarious"

a coffee table crap stories book.
i might just do it!