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Does anyone live alone with Colitis?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/7/2015 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thinking ahead I'm supposed to get a scope soon. I'm fairly introverted, this disease keeps me from socializing like I probably should, and I am pretty busy with school. I don't live anywhere close to my family and really am not close to anyone in my family to begin with. I wonder if you could hire someone to take you to and from the endoscopy center?

Anyone else deal with this disease alone or live alone with this? Merely curious.
Posted 9/7/2015 7:51 PM (GMT 0)
I deal with these issues a lot too. I live with my boyfriend but he works all the time. I don't have friends or family to lean on. I have always had a hard time finding people to drive me and they will not let you leave without a driver. I don't think you can use a car service either. It really stinks. Thank goodness I am done with step one of surgery. Only 2 more surgeries where i need someoen to look after me and then, hopefully no more worries :(
Posted 9/7/2015 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe ask the doctor's office/endoscopy center for advice? Surely they deal with this for other patients.
Posted 9/7/2015 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
notsosicklygirl: Before my last colonoscopy when I was asked the question regarding a ride from the center I inquired about using a taxi or uber service to pick me up. They said that wouldn't work. Do you think you could've managed without your boyfriend after surgery, I know it's an intense procedure but would they have let you drive out of there after the initial post-operative monitoring and more importantly do you think you could've? Again I'm just curious for later down the line.

Thoreau: I'll do that and that's actually a good idea. Thank you.
Posted 9/7/2015 8:50 PM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately, i do not think so. I was still in quite a bit of pain and on pain meds when I left there. I have a high pain tolerance and I took very little meds so that wouldn't have been the issue with driving, the issue was more so comfort level. I was uncomfortable in the car. The seat belt hurt. I would think it would be better to get a hotel room near the hospital or stay longer if you could. I worried about that a lot too. My boyfriend is a flake so I didn't know if he would be dependable through all this. Luckily he has been. I feel so needy and dependent having this going on. I can't wait till it's over. I am fine now but next surgery is coming... I don't even know if i could have managed at home right after without him. I have pets and chores... It's hard to get up and down for about a week after you get home
Posted 9/8/2015 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
I live alone and have had the same issues. I have other single gal friends and ask if any are available to drop me off and/or pick me up. So far it's worked out. I also work in healthcare and one of my gal friends/coworker would pick me up on her way to work which was the same hospital she works at. I now get scoped at a different hospital and will have to figure something else out. Last year my boyfriend took me but we have since broken up. We have remained friends but I don't know if he'll be available for future scopes.

I was married until 2008. After my divorce, my UC progressed and I went on remicade in 2009. It never occurred to me how stressful it would be having a more severe UC and being single. I've had several hospitalizations and rely on friends. My family lives 800 miles away so this is what I've done.

The only way you will be able to drive yourself home is if you have no sedation for your procedure, however, I do not suggest that. You aren't supposed to drive after sedation/anesthesia nor make any major decisions that day. Really for 24 hours but I always resume my normal the next day.

I wonder if you could hire someone from care.com? I just thought of that after proofreading my post. It's something I would use for myself if my friends were unavailable.
Posted 9/8/2015 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
I lived alone during my worst flares. Back then I didn't really like to let people know just how bad I really was or felt, and didn't want to go out with friends because I could not drink and do the things they wanted to do. I think this happens to many who are single when the disease hits. Some however manage to find someone to settle in with.

And I think you can actually drive if you have a reason such as yours - but they would require you to stay for longer after and most likely sign a waiver just like Remicade infusions.
Posted 9/8/2015 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
You could do a search in your city for 'medical transport service' or 'medi-cab'. I checked into it a few years ago and one I spoke with had a 'basic' service that was more or less just a cab ride but the driver would also come inside to the clinic to pick you up and assist in getting you into your house and settled safely.

I don't remember the cost but it was pretty reasonable. My doctors office said this was acceptable but I ended up finding someone to pick me up so didn't need it. My plan was to take a bus or cab to the appointment then have the medicab take me home.
Posted 9/8/2015 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Wow I didn't expect so many people to be in a similar position, thank you all for the support and for responding.

notsosicklygirl: thank you for sharing, thoughts of surgery have been floating around lately particularly with the back and forth nature of this disease. I always thought if I had surgery I could just pester the hospital staff with not having anyone to lean on to prolong my stay. Insurance might not like that...

platinumpixie: small world regarding working in healthcare, after my graduate studies my plan is to acquire a hospital based job. In the back of mind I do not want to graduate until I either obtain remission or get this thing cut out of me so I'm taking my time. I've had no sedation 1 time and that was an experience I'd rather not repeat. Great recommendation with care.com I'll look into that this afternoon thank you!

Alice22:I never would've even thought about that as an option. I wonder if options like 'home instead' are applicable to the younger population. Also you're much too kind with your offer which I greatly appreciate however I'm a few states over. Thank you regardless!

Canada Mark: I cannot agree or relate more with your post. That'd be fantastic if that were an option which I'll certainly look into.

cantankerous: I think you nailed it and that's honestly what I was planning on doing for this scope. Take a cab to the appointment then try to figure out something for the return trip. Thank you for the input!
Posted 9/9/2015 2:09 PM (GMT 0)
I am glad you wrote this post. I have thought about this a lot. I currently have my husband to drive me home, but I have often thought - what if something ever happened to him? I do not have a very large social circle. I have no family here. Just my in-laws and if my husband were out of my life, they would be too. I only have a couple of close friends I could ask to do something like this and they both live at the farthest ends of the city. We always meet up in the middle when we get together. I would so hate to ask one of them to do it.. I would rather pay a service if they had such a thing here.

I think I would follow the suggestion I read here to call the hospital and ask if they knew of any such service. I didn't think there'd be anyone else in this situation except perhaps an elderly person. I know there are such services for the elderly but not sure about the not-quite-elderly. ;)
Posted 9/10/2015 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to know that other people also have this issue.
Posted 9/10/2015 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I'm very much alone however I have my dogs, they can't drive or anything, lol they are there when I have a pity party for myself! Rightfully so, I can, this disease is horrible ,I disapprove of it and GOD knows!! :)
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