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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 11/17/2010 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
This has less to do with UC, but the stress I have right now is aggravating it, so I could use advice. I graduated with a BS in Biology a year ago. I live in an area where (even in great economic times) finding a good job is hard. I have been married two years and we have settled in and decided we are not moving. At the moment I am working in retail, which does not suit me at all. I would like to enter the healthcare field by either becoming a nurse or a pharmacy tech. Also, I really want to have children, but I am afraid that if I put it off I will have trouble conceiving because of the UC. If I opt to be a pharmacy tech, I don't have to put off children for long, but if I go to nursing school, that is two years. I know I have plenty of time to do whatever I want with my life (I am 23), but I just wish I could stop worrying about everything and irritating my UC.
Posted 11/17/2010 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure if this helps, but I've kept a diary for quite a while, each day making notes of food/drink, exercise, meds, stress, and syptoms.
I always thought that diet had no effect on UC (aside from the obvious - eg really spicy or fatty foods), but rather thought it was stress related as you appear to.
I run my own business and go through periods working on stressful projects for clients with tight deadlines. However, my diary shows me that I'm pretty much as ill when I'm having a stress-free week as when I'm not. Starting to think there's not really that much of a link to stress as I originally thought.

I am 32 - we are struggling to have kids, so there may be some sense in your fears about putting off having kids until later.
Posted 11/17/2010 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
I think that you need to think long term about which option you'd be happiest in as a career: nursing or pharmacy tech. Then let the other stuff fall into place. If your UC is relatively controlled, I wouldn't worry too much about it affecting your ability to have children. And you're still very young! I didn't have my son until I was 30 (I have a PhD, though, so was in school until I was 27), and I'm really glad I waited.
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