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Positive things because of UC

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Posted 11/19/2012 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I don't mean this to be a "I'm thankful I have UC" thread. Who in their right mind would want to wake up with cramps, always scouting for bathrooms, having to get up at 3am to go the toilet, always worrying about needing to go, etc.? I apologize that some of you find this thread ridiculous.

I agree with the "shyt happens" mentality. I'm definitely more of this thinking since UC.

Another thing I am conscious about is being physically gentle with my body. Like, I don't abuse my body by twisting myself at crazy angles to grab something. I don't know, maybe this is a result of realizing I'm getting old, but I do tend to be gentle with my body now.

Wolfehound22- it's good to hear from another 29 yo male.
Posted 11/19/2012 7:35 PM (GMT 0)
fruitgirl...you'd be ticked, inconvenienced and deal with it asap since you know what's working for you.
After that...I fear the same if the meds stop working.

q
Posted 11/19/2012 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't think this post was ridiculous. Before UC I think I was compationate and a very caring person. In my line of work you kinda have to be. Nothing has changed,except I have UC. Healing well has been a great help in many ways. Great people offering wonderful advice! I can't say more about that.
UC has brought nothing that I can be thankful for. That's it in a nut shell.
To all that celerbrate Thanksgiving, have a wonderful day, and even if you don't you have a great day too!!!!
Faith
Posted 11/20/2012 6:25 AM (GMT 0)
Frequent colonoscopies to prevent colon cancer. Only positive.
Posted 11/20/2012 7:41 AM (GMT 0)
I cannot really think of anything positive about UC, even though I try not to dwell on the (many- almost an endless list!) of negatives such as the fact that, due to near constant pain, I can almost never be "me" and smile a lot the way I do when not in pain... However, when this ends one way or the other (and it looks like it's going to be "the other" any week now- i am almost getting giddy to pull the jpouch surgery trigger but doing due diligence on a couple last ditch things in the next few weeks)- I will as I do now not be sweating the small stuff that normies sweat- sweating about whether or not to refi a mortgage, or stressing about job insecurity generated by the economy or stupidity in Congress or company management, or even whether this or that team wins a championship and so on and so on, lol.
Posted 11/20/2012 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
I struggle to see how this is a negative place. Without this forum I was lost had no idea what to do. But now theres info and all you awesome people! The negative is the UC the positive is finding this place! Note I do understand the logic behind "I wouldnt be on this forum if I didnt have UC in the first place" but still. You wouldnt have UC if you werent born either right. Always think about current situation not what could have been.

Another positive I found is I know alot more about the body than I ever have and I find it very interesting.
Posted 11/20/2012 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
I don't see HW as a negative place as well but more of a "tool" to be able to come to terms with having a lifelong chronic illness. We are all thrown together under extreme circumstances and I feel that it's a great benefit to others just knowing that they don't have to deal with this alone. To me, I feel that is the greatest comfort of all. Because for YEARS I was alone with my UC. No one understood UNTIL I came here. Sure we have some negative people on here but they are just trying to deal with it the best way they can at the moment. But hey, life is not all sunshine and rainbows.

I don't feel appreciative nor positive about having Uc - it is what it is, but I do have to say that having a chronic illness has taught me to be more compassionate and empathetic toward others as well as have more patience with life in general. Take one day at a time and enjoy the now because it's impossible to know what the future holds unless you have some crystal ball.
Posted 11/20/2012 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
I am new to this site and to any forum. I am actually looking for another thread, I may need to start one for ileostomy questions.
I had uc and was diagnosed in April. In June I ended up in hospital with Pyoderma gangrenosum. If you have UC, you should become familiar with this as it is married to UC. It is usually mis-diagnosed as cellulitis as was in my case. 2 weeks in the hospital with this, home for 3 days and then into another hospital for the UC and the Pyoderma. After a couple of weeks, home again for almost a week then back to hospital with blood clots in my legs...taking lots of drugs like strong doses of steroids and morphine.
We really wanted to go with the remicade (spelling), but after several blood transfusions and not eating for about 3 months (thank goodness for intervenous feeding) it was decided that I needed the ileostomy to save my life.
The surgery was August 28th...6 hours long and 2 days in intensive care, 3 weeks in rehab hospital and 2 months with home health nurse to change the wound vac. During the past 2 months, my appetite came and went several times. Dehydration is an enemy with an ileostomy, and even water made me throw up. They put me back on steroids a couple more times....finally,after stopping the steroids this last time (2 weeks ago) I have been able eat and keep on eating! While I wanted to lose weight, 68 pounds in 4 months was not what I had in mind.
I am now off of the fentanyl patch also. I noticed today that my shaking has calmed way down. Since I stopped the steroid and fentanyl at about the same time,I am not sure which one was causing that uncontrolable shaking. As for the pain, I now feel more so I take Tylenol.
All in all, my situation was really life threatening and I have a way to go to be able to move on but I now see the light. I wish I had the colostomy instead of the ileostomy but all in all, my stoma is my friend and because of it, I get to celebrate Thanksgiving one more time with those that I love...yes, I have much to be thankful for.




turn turn
Posted 11/20/2012 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
Being able to help others with UC or Crohn's.

Was at my Remicade infusion yesterday. A young teenage sat in the recliner next to me. I watched as the nurse brought his premeds. Tylenol and Benedryl, same as me. So I had to ask him, So, what are you in for?
Remicade, he responded. It was his second infusion.
Another nurse came to talk to him about insurance. Turns out his family has insurance, but with a large deductible.
I was able to tell him about Remistart which hopefully with help them out.
We then spent the next few hours swapping horror stories related to urgency and Prednisone side effects.

That's why I enjoy this forum. We all share what we learn from our experiences to help others in similar circumstances.
Posted 11/20/2012 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
I feel that if you cannot find a positive in any negative situation, you will go mad. When I was first diagnosed, yeah, I got depressed and did the "woe is me" thing very well. Then I realized that 1) I am still alive 2) I still have a family and friends that love me and 3) all the other "stuff" I thought was important, was not really important. So ...

The positives of UC have to be that I was determined to control my health as much as possible so I followed a diet plan, exercised and lost weight. I researched to take more charge of my treatment. I had more empathy, particularly for those people whose illnesses are not always apparent. I dropped the unimportant things in my life and added church back into the equation. I also feel that I am a better friend ...

Knowing that when all options are traveled that there is a solution (surgery) makes me feel better. However, I am gonna do everything possible to not have to do it.
Posted 11/20/2012 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
You're right RH_Texas_Gal...and I'm proof...I've definitely gone mad lol!
Posted 11/20/2012 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
this is a great post. UC has made me accept my limits as a human being who needs rest, good healthy food, and exersize. if i don't take care of myself, i get sick. so i am forced to take care of myself and accept my limits.
Posted 11/20/2012 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, another thing ... learning how to say NO! I was always the one who will do anything and felt bad when I said no. Having UC and proctitis, even with it managed quite well right now, I have no qualms about saying no to things that I would have said yes before.
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