Slightly OT - where are you from/what do you do?

I am new to the forum, but liking it here already.

One thing I was curious about, is where everyone here lives and does, and how that might affect living with UC.

I live in Brooklyn and work as an architect. I find both of these hard to manage with UC. NYC has such a fast-paced vibe that I find it hard to keep up with, especially when sick. And restaurants/bars are such a part of the culture that it sucks to have to turn people down so much. And the architect part isn't much better...clients are demanding and everyone seems to need things right away. Taking a few days off when I'm having a flare feels like an impossible task, and it usually takes me a few weeks to catch up after that.

Anyone else care to share their experiences?

To be honest I can't remember ever having an issue with bathrooms in NYC. It's true that there aren't many public ones, and restaurants might only have 1 or 2. Places like Starbucks, McDonalds, etc. and larger bars/restaurant will usually have a bathroom you can pop into unnoticed. Also places like hotels, big stores, supermarkets would probably let you use one if you asked nicely. Dealing with the subway would probably be the hardest part...never use a bathroom in there!! Though the larger transit stations like Grand Central are totally fine. I think my body must be trained to understand when I am on a subway, ha!

Poppie, being an artist sounds great! I loved architecture school, but reality has me doing more paperwork and going to meetings than doing anything creative. I dream of quitting and becoming an artist in Vermont or Maine or somewhere pretty :)

I haven't been socializing much either, I'm trying to calm down a flare so I'm avoiding alcohol and coffee and many foods...all my favorite things!

I was hoping more people would reply to this, I am so curious where everyone else lives!

Parallelograms,

In the Pacific Northwest coastal area. It's always green and it always rains. Live by the Oregon /Washington boarder near the Columbia river.

So much to do.... From water skiing to snow skiing..
Summer to winters are always a surprise from winter snow and wind. We are lucky to have access to a wide variety of landscapes, desert to forests & the Pacific Ocean. Mtn climbing is a popular sport. St. Helens volcano area is recovering form the last blast in 1980's.
Home of the largest & oldest Sitka Spruce Tree in the world. 500 yrs. old. Many beautiful Gardens of the world growing regions arena.

Due to arthritis in heads I can no longer paint or draw. Now my home garden paints beautiful pics all thru the four seasons.

Poppie a artist do u have a blog? I used to paint graphics & murals commercial, & illustrations for magazines...

In any city state living with colitis ordering food from a restaurant takes a bit of planning ahead. Most are online to view and apps available to check out the menu. Always stay away from known foods that cause flares and plan as best as u can.. Take meds ahead of time if needed and be prepared with what is needed for a flare .

Use UR experience with foods to give u freedom to eat out. My biggest issue was greasy foods, fried. Seeds in foods and some coatings on veggies. Stay away from foods known to cause issues and common sense with give u the confidence needed to venture out. Ask the waiter to ask the kitchen if u have a question about the preparation of foods.

I basically stayed away from eating out during a flare.. Always ate safe foods to avoid hours of pain and flares. No alcohol....warm teas help tummy issues when eating out. Hot teas is a life saver... Really helped with pretreatment of cramps, always drank when dinning out.

Hope this helps. Within time u will find UR routine.

Happy Trails.

I live on Madeira Beach in FLorida. I currently work from home full time as an RN for an insurance company, I also work every other weekend at the hospital. I'm also in school working on my Master's for Nurse Practitioner.

I try not to think about my UC then I'm suddenly reminded when I gotta go-like RIGHT NOW, or I shoot up my Humira!

I'm a Technical Writer for a software company in the New England states of US. It basically means I write that software online help and user manual that many opt not to read (maybe my manual is collecting dust on a shelf somewhere lol). It's office work, with a bathroom near by. And if my uc acts up then I can work from home.

I am pretty sure I only have a job right now because I worked from home....if they knew how little I worked during my first (and only so far) flare...I would probably have been fired! I managed to meet my goals and keep my case load...so they didn't ask. Plus the office is a good hour commute...with a 7mile bridge with no exits...that would have been a really messy car trip at that time

@parallelograms..Yes being an artist is great! maybe you could try to do a little bit of painting between working..its relaxing!
@Canada Mark...I'm right near San Jose! People that visit Costa Rica are often mesmerized by its beauty, really, and the beaches are probably the best I have ever seen, so you should try to come out, I think you would be surprised.
@Chotti..Sorry to hear about your arthritis in your hands! I don't have a blog, but I see no harm in letting you know where you can find me, I am on Fine Art America, and I go under the name of Katie Black...I have a huge body of work on there.

Hi,

I live north of Montreal (100 mile away) in a small and quiet city. I've been a government employee since 2008. I've been working hard because there was a job position I wanted to get... Moving up the lather I've finally got the job position I wanted. Now I aim another one ;)

Beside the winters that I find very hard to handle (physically and morally) I love everything about where I'm. Having a nice back yard to do some gardening (only 5 months in a year) really is amazing for stress relieve.

City is small enough to get to know a lot of people but not too small that all knows about your life :) Bathroom situation is very fine, since it is a small city any store would accommodate you.

There are not good night clubs nor many nice restaurants, so people prefer having friends over for a nice BBQ or a nice super. Or we all meet
at the beach for a pick-nic. So most of these activities you arrive when you want and leave when you want.

Most of my flares happen at stress full moments (not related to work generally) in my life or in the fall. I've been very lucky cause most of my flares last 2 to 3 weeks if I start the med right a way and take a few days of work to rest.

That is beside my last one that started in November, now out of it for the last 3 weeks, it was probably related to the fact I stopped smoking. I'm pretty sure being out side more, the nice weather and more light have helped along with my new meds.

NYC is beauty I love going for a small get away. But I'm sure leaving there is a different story and it must be stress full.

Hawaii, IT Project Manager.

Well I find it very encouraging the variety of things people seem to do despite us all having to deal with flares and all the other things that come along with UC!

However I must say having UC has changed the way I see things a lot. I am somewhat of a workaholic type, but more and more the idea of taking entended breaks and even retiring (I had never thought I would before) are sounding nicer and nicer! Too bad I am only 30...

Pluot::UR story was so uplifting & encouraging. U r very brave to follow thru with UR dreams in spite of the daily issues u face.
Great job Liz... UR a talented writer too!

Poppie: now that's what I call beautiful! beautiful ! beautiful! I am stumped for words. UR talent for painting & other mediums is off the wall. Thanks for sharing.

What an inspiration u all are... U all made my day! This string is probably something to add to my book mark... A great reminder like parallelograms said above ...of the many of us who push on for a better life despite the daily issues we face.

Aloha Yankee a new baby and a toddler staring a family and career. Amazing and we are all truly living as life goes on.