Are we just a bunch of crybabies?

I think it is because there are probably other topics that have entire websites dedicated to them & this may be a secondary resource. HW was one of the early sites to have a discussion forum for UC. When I joined here, there were a few other sites, but they were not nearly as active.

For example, the topic of allergies, there are loads of sites dedicated to allergy sufferers. Breast cancer is a huge topic, depression, anxiety... I would imagine there are entire communities 100% specialized to breast cancer and depression sufferers. UC is not as commonly talked about.

I have thought on this subject in the past.

My conclusion is that we at least have a chance for remission, or improvement of symptoms.

So we talk about not only mainstream medical treatments but also alternative treatments.

Then there is me, who posts quite a bit of research, since I am driven to find an answer to this disease.

Why? I am watching my grandson play right this minute, and the genetic component of this disease

scares the crap out of me,since his father lost his colon to the disease.

Old Mike

I think overall this forum is active because there are a ton of different possibilities for treatments from medical to alternative that actually do work. Some of those other diseases just don't seem to have that many treatment options. I've actually never been much of a believer in diets or supplements helping diseases once you already have them, with a very few exceptions. For the most part I think almost all of them are a crock. I mean let's face it, after you've already got cancer you aren't going to eat your way out of it and you aren't going to take some crock supplement that's going to work. With IBD there are actually a lot of scientific studies where diets and alternatives actually do work and I take some of them myself.

Let's face it.....poop is a tough subject to talk about. People can come here and commiserate with others in their same position.

And I agree too that's it also because there isn't enough awareness for IBD.

I agree that there aren't many places for us to turn to and that the nature of IBD is not dinner table conversation or something we go in detail discussing with friends and colleagues. I'm "lucky" to have a colleague at work with UC and two former students with CD that i can talk to in person, but everything I have learned here has been invaluable. In fact, I have sent all of my real world IBD folks here as well.
We may whine a bit, but I think this is a thoughtful, caring, and intelligent group of people who want to help each other as much as possible. We are also opinionated and don't always agree, but this is part of life.

Poppie - Interesting point I wonder how much of this happens within families. It was after I was diagnosed that the problems my dad had all his life slotted into place. Sadly a different era completely (born in 1918) he was scalded by boiling water as a child and told that memory of this led to his urgency. He believed that nearly all his life. Total bloody crap ... But didn't realise until my problems started. Quite sad really. Families have a responsibility to share medical information.

Post Edited (Duffle) : 8/20/2015 1:05:28 PM (GMT-6)

Go back and read the list of forums. Of them all, IBD is one of the least understood, least advertised, least funded conditions. It is also one of the fastest-growing "modern" diseases. It centres around a mostly taboo subject that no-one in "real life" ever really wants to talk about. IBD turns you into an anti-social hermit. Everyone around you thinks they're an expert on diet and gut health. It has knock-on effects which interfere with the gut-mind connection and undoubtedly contribute to other conditions such as anxiety and depression. What better place to turn than an anonymous Internet forum under these circumstances.

PS. Don't ever call me a crybaby again.

It's so hard to talk to even my closest loved ones about pooping my pants or not wanting to go out because I have to be near the bathroom. My boyfriend of 5 years wouldn't even look at my colonoscopy photos because they were too yucky for him. It's such a relief to talk about these things with people who really understand.

I also think there's a huge connection between your gut and your mood. When I am having a bad flare I feel very down, exhausted, defeated. That's when you need community.

As for being a 'crybaby,' my uncle died of colon cancer in his late 30's and several members of my family suffer very harmful consequences of IBD. So I don't think that's particularly fair.

We are not crybabies. We are people trying to live normal life's despite having an extremely painful and debilitating disease both physically and psychologically. We are stronger then most people

I totally agree with all the replies and all are valid points.

I cannot go on more than a few days without reading this forum!!!
I would like to give a good amount of credit to our forum members!!!- Our UC forum has many knowledgeable, active and helping members.
They understand the sufferings,embarrassment and pain more than anyone.
So the welcome and reply for the initial post by a new member gives so much comfort and trust to reach out again. Hence more postings and discussion.

I think the verdict is in, Nope, we are not crybabies, cuz we have to keep living though our very real and very painfully debilitating for many of us, disease!! That makes us all fierce warriors!!!!

I am also very grateful for this forum. I think a big part of why it is so popular ,aside from the very intelligent people who post, is that there are so many ebbs and flows (no pun intended) to this disease compared to others. Only other people with IBD really understand what is happening to us. I've had my wife accuse me of "using UC as an excuse" when I was completely drained of energy and didn't want to do anything. She has otherwise been awesome but that one really made me realize that other people will never understand what I'm going through unless they've gone through it themselves.

The lack of a magic bullet cure means most of us never feel fully healed and are in search of that one diet change, supplement, lifestyle change etc. that is going to get us back to our old selves. I know that most days for me are pretty good, but not a day goes by that there is not some reminder that I am sick, and I don't want to burden my friends and family with complaints so I dump them on all you people :). Again, I meant no insult to anyone...I am a huge crybaby and am not ashamed to admit it! Thank you all for the ongoing advice and for a positive place to vent and ask questions.