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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/8/2009 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
I'm curious how different people have adjusted their lives to live with a chronic condition. I'm sort of a meandering soul in his mid twenties trying to live authentically and yet have the means to take care of myself and my condition. I'm still kind of lost, and I often am too hard on myself... not giving myself enough slack for having Ulcerative Colitis. How have you adjusted your career, housing, relationships etc...?

Thank You,
Zach

UC diagnosed in 2003
6mp 50mg/day
Pentasa 250mg/4x4 a day
Posted 9/8/2009 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
I have started to take it easy and not take life so seriously. I've come to realize that if you don't have a plan you will work until the day you drop dead and that I am better off spending my time trying to make a plan than spending my time working at a job I hate to only make enough money to survive month to month. I have become a much more compassionate person who loves to get involved with people who need me and I love spending my time doing things to better someones life.
Posted 9/8/2009 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
I've really learned to be less critical of myself and everyone around me. I've learned to let things go and to recognize what is really important and what isn't.
Posted 9/8/2009 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't made any comprimises in my life. I decided that this disease isn't going to control my life and dictate what I can or cannot do. :)
Posted 9/8/2009 1:16 PM (GMT 0)
I feel I have had to overcome a number of disadvantages in life - UC is the hardest, really, but I try to maintain the attitude that I have overcome a lot, and this is just another test to pass. I try to go about my business acting as if I am OK ... as long as I do not leave the house to soon in the morning!! However, I do let people know i have this condition, so they may understand if I am less than spontaneous sometimes.
Posted 9/8/2009 1:35 PM (GMT 0)

I try to live as normal as possible. I was generally a very active and fit person who just loved to be outdoors and doing things. When I wasn't feeling so well, as in this past summer, it's hard to maintain that lifestyle. Instead of fighting it, I just worked on getting better and focused on doing what I needed to do. It ultimately led to more pred, which I wasn't happy about. That being said...instead of dwelling on it, now that I'm feeling better, be it due to meds, I just pick up where i left off...walk the dog more, the gym, cycling. Just take full advantage of the good days and then you don't feel so bad having some off days.

I try to go to work and continue as normal as possible - life continues on whether you want it to or not. We have a rough go, but everyone you look at is dealing with something.

This is a nice thread - glad to see most taking some positive or trying to stay as normal as they can. We will get through this.

Posted 9/8/2009 1:39 PM (GMT 0)

oh - and zach .. .don't worry about relationships. This is not something that HAS to come in the middle of anything. There may be some tough days, but isn't that what they're all about. If you find that perfect someone with NO problems, you let me know haha ;). We all have our days, chronic condition or not.

Cheers

Posted 9/8/2009 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
The biggest change I've made is just cutting out the junk food. I don't eat frozen pizza, doritos, and cookies as my main source of food anymore. I've also cut back on my partying quite a bit but hey, i just turned 24 so I'm not ready to give it all up yet. Especially with a Vegas trip coming up next weekend!! No way am i letting this dang disease stop me from having a great time.
Posted 9/8/2009 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all of you that posted. I like your positive attitudes. I've always kept the attitude that I was normal, but just had a little extra challenge to deal with. Once in a while though, I have to give in and allow myself to just be sick... acknowledge that I'm a little different and that it's okay to need to rest more sometimes.

I think one thing I've learned from having this disease, is that I do have my limits. I can push past them, but there are usually consequences... so I am slowly learning to live a healthy life, with plenty of self respect and balance.

Thanks,
Zach
Posted 9/8/2009 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
I've become more health conscious. I take better care of myself. I used to consume nothing but chocolate, HFCS bubble tea drinks, and antibiotics. Those days are gone. I now eat a very healthy diet. Getting colitis was a wake-up call.

I'm taking a yoga teacher training class. It's great. It is really helping me to relax and feel fresher and healthier.

Of course, there are times when I will have some ice cream or alcohol or chocolate. But those times are very few.
Posted 9/10/2009 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
UC has taught me to embrace the good days, and to never take our health for granted. My licence plate is CCC2DAY, I relish every day of good health. When in a flare up , I take the challenge head on, and ride the wave of ups and downs. I keep telling myself that this too shall pass, and turn to things that help me through the days (family ,friends, my dog, music, being outside, planning future fun!)
Keep lookin' ahead to healthier times.... being sick makes that all the more sweeter!!!
Posted 9/10/2009 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Just relax and visualize formed stools and you know you'll make it LOL!
Posted 9/10/2009 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
When I was diagnosed in '92 I was 22 years old. I went thru shock, fear, anger and denial. The denial part is what really may of made things worse for me. I only started out with Proctitis and now I am left sided. Is it due to my wild ways when I was younger? I can't possibly know. But what I do know now is that I am more content in my skin then ever before. I finally accepted that this is a life long illness and it is going to be with me forever unless I have my colon removed. So along with the acceptance came peace. I am now "in terms" with my Uc. It is what it is. I never take the good days for granted anymore. I relish the days where nothing hurts and I feel almost giddy with it. And when the bad days come, I allow myself down time as well. I am a stay at home wife and mother of two with a very busy lifestyle so sometimes it is hard to take the down time. I have to schedule my days around how good I feel. Many of my friends and family know this so if I have to back out of something at the last minute they understand.

So what I'm basically trying to say is that it may take a while to come to terms with your Uc. But the best you can do right now is try to find that comfortable place.
Posted 9/10/2009 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
Ive become more health conscious as of the last 6 months for sure but other than that Im slowly coming in terms with my UC and socializing. I havent been bodyboarding/snowboarding or camping in a few years whereas before I would be doing one of those 3 every week. I find the hardest part of UC in the your 20s is meeting people. Its much easier to live your life as a hermit but doing that you likely wont ever find a gf.

Ive been struggling with the social aspect for sure and slowly getting used to going out again and having a good time. I was in a flare for the past 3 years or so. Also when do you explain to someone you meet that you have UC? I even have a hard time explaining to some friends about my disease due to it being gross to talk about poop and blood and such. Im not even sure how I would bring it up with someone Im interested in.
Posted 9/11/2009 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Great thread, I just registered after reading a few posts.

I initially experienced mild symptoms earlier this year and didn't think much of them (only cause I didn't have any medical insurance so I thought I should just wing it). Bad move. I travel often so I was in the middle of a TERRIBLE flare when I was in Norway, consuming a lot of beer, haha. Once I got home, I saw a gastroenterologist got a colonoscopy and low and behold: diagnosed with chronic ulcerative colitis.

Devastating. The biggest change I've made in my life is that I don't consume beer anymore. That's probably the toughest change in my lifestyle. I also managed my diet, which is fine. I prefer eating healthy anyway, makes me feel great.

Aside from dietary changes, I have also started freelancing as opposed to working in an office environment. This is the only beneficial change in lifestyle.

The worst part is that I can't consume any alcohol with friends, although I think I'm pretty close to remission. Right after I turn 21. Score.
Posted 9/11/2009 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
UC completely changed my life. Because of it, I am now allergic to dairy, whey, sugar, and eggs; and if I eat any of these things I will get sick/get a UC relapse. So now I obviously changed my daily diet.

It also taught me to love life and not take it for granted. I had such a bad case of UC that I had to get 2 blood transfusions/stay in the hospital for a week. It was a complete turn around for me because before I got UC, I hated life. So I guess UC taught me to love myself as well.
Posted 9/14/2009 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
My GI told me not to change anything and I didn't for first 3 years but now I have. No reason as such but just my feelings.
I have stopped tea, coffee and alcohol completely (and I seriously hate drinking soda in a pub), reduced eating spicy food otherwise started working out in the gym, stopped being a clean freak (I let my immune system do some work), started keeping food and medication chart.
Rest I do whatever I want, no restrictions. I enjoy life as much as I can. I have a stressful job so sometimes that makes me rather low but otherwise try to be upbeat as much as I can. I don't know when things will (if at all) turn for worse so I should not feel I missed something in the life.

Don't worry, Be happy :)
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