This is for all the SINGLES!!

Well, I guess I'm the oldest on this thread. I'm 64, single and diagnosed in Jan. 2005. My flare was horrible and thanks to probiotics and Lialda I'm in remission. But, I remember that I could not have gone to any social event because I never knew when I would blow the most foul smell. You know there are times when you need to wear protection, not the usual, but the stuff to keep you from staining you clothing. How can anyone be willing to embarrass themselves like this?

I was feeling pretty good for awhile and then fatigue set in again and I had trouble sleeping, finally realized the pain I had in my shoulder and hands along with stiff muscles were keeping me awake. After a year of going the rounds of multiple doctors I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia last week. I want to swear but it won't do any good.

I have the theory that someone who has also experienced a chronic illness might make a rather understanding partner.

Someone who has also been knocked to the ground in the prime of their life and ended up crying in a corner, screaming to the emptyness "why me?".

After my relationship ended, I started hanging out with a really nice guy. Turns out he has CF (Cistic Fibrosis). He is awesome. Not only does he have the same drive to try and make every day count that I now do, he is completely understanding of me saying "can we just watch DVD's" when I am feeling completely tired or cramping, and he makes me feel comfortable, even when I have to excuse myself to go to the toilet 5 times in an hour while we are out at the shopping mall.

And if I was dating someone else with UC, we'd have to make sure there were at least two toilets! So this works well for me - not getting any hopes up, but maybe something will happen

I'm 29 (for a few more months!) and single.  I agree it's tough for UC'ers to find someone understanding.  This has put a huge strain on my relationship with my boyfriend and sometimes I'm not sure we'll make it.  Sometimes I am irrational (due to pred) and sometimes I just need to vent about feeling yucky and your significant other has to understand or at least act like it.  I'd love to be a "normal" 29 year old that can eat whatever, drink whatever, stay up late, and go places without an "emergency bag".  It's hard to feel attractive when all you're thinking about is the closest bathroom or how bloated you feel and whether or not that's really gas or if you're going to explode at any minute.  I'm sure most people find that attractive in a girlfriend... :)

Becky

Zerxer - Thats pretty much how my life went. Was diagnosed with UC at 16 and never bothered with the dating thing until I was 22. Do what you love, stuff people who give u crap because you don't.

Hell, my computing addiction and the time I spent learning anything and everything gave me the experience to get the awesome job I have these days. I've been a PC techie, Postgres and Oracle DBA, programmer, Systems Analyst, Linux and Solaris sysadmin, game LAN designer and admin and currently work as a web apps architect specialising in PHP and Eclipse for GIS systems.

Oh, and my parents didn't like it at the time either ;-)

*laughter*

Mary Foster - Rather funny that, my brothers jokingly call it my "bum disease". Always makes me laugh for some reason, and some days, a bit of laughter cheers me up no end.

Having to go to the toilet half-way through sex is also rather... not-good

So embarrassing!

Hi everyone, just have to say that although I'm not single, I know how it is to have uc and wonder about dating. To introduce myself to the healing well crowd, I'm a 21 year old full time college student (in the health field!) and when I was diagnosed, was dating someone. Needless to say when I got even sicker and had to be hospitalized, he bolted. I'm sure we all have stories like that, as sad as it is. But on to my little piece of hope that I want to offer. Months later while I was still somewhat flaring, I met a guy. I obviously was a little nervous about telling him about the uc issue, based on past experience. I went almost two months without having a real discussion about it. He knew something was wrong with the constant bathroom trips and at one point heard me discussing an infusion (Remicade of course). I finally talked to him and let me tell everyone, if you feel comfortable enough to keep dating someone even during your flare, chances are...they'll understand. My boyfriend had been so worried for the longest time, he thought I had cancer and the infusions were chemo that was making me sick which would explain the bathroom trips!! I see now that I could have told him even earlier and we'd have been fine, but hindsight is 20/20 I suppose. We are still together (almost ten months) and he is 100% supportive and understanding. I hope you all can find someone who can cheer you up, make light of the situation, but still be a rock if you need it...please don't lose hope. Get out there when you're ready and good luck!

ComedyDork: Oh yeah, awesome state if you love doing nothing. lol.