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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/27/2016 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
I'm 17 and basically since I've been diagnosed with UC my parents started acting differently. They treat me like I'm dying soon they make me eat stuff every hour. I started working at this hairdressing salon and they are so against it they are making me quit because "I'm sick and I need to sit at home and rest". I hate this it makes me upset, I'm stressed out 90% of the time and I know I shouldn't be stressing.
Posted 6/27/2016 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like they do not understand the illness. UCers suffer from periods of flare ups and periods of remission. If you're feeling well and your symptoms are manageable, you should be able to do normal things people your age do. It's good for you to get out and work and experience life.

Even if symptoms aren't 100% managed, many people end up having to learn how to function throughout the day. I understand their concern and it's very sweet of them to want you to get better, but when you're feeling well, it's good to get out and do things. You will learn a lot working at a salon. If it becomes too much for you, you can always tell the staff there that you need to take time off or work less hours. Maybe it would be beneficial to have your GI explain things to your parents.
Posted 6/27/2016 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
this is super frustrating, sorry that you are being treated this way.

I am glad that your parents are trying to be supportive, unfortunately, it doesn't manifest itself in a helpful way at all.

there are a few things you can try.
1) get your doc on your side. email your doc with what is going on, and ask him if he thinks it makes sense for you to work/go to school/lead a functioning life or if you should stay home and rest all day?
I am pretty sure we know how the doc will answer. than you need to show the response to your parents.

2) you can try this instead. instead of making this an emotional argument, try approaching it really logicallly.
listen mom and dad. It makes me very upset when I am treated like I am dying. I am not dying....and explain what is going on.

hopefully more people will come along with better advice
hang in there!

welcome to the forum
when exactly have you been diagnosed, what treatments are you on? what symptoms are you currenlty experiencing?
you can make a profile that can be listed after all of your posts
Posted 6/27/2016 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
I'm feeling well but I'm having cramps now since I got stressed out. I'm taking Salofalk granuls 1g a day, I'm also drinking a tea called "colit mix" and I'm eating healthy food.
Posted 6/27/2016 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Is it possible it's related to your period?
Cramping could be nothing but you want to stay on top of it.
Posted 6/27/2016 10:38 PM (GMT 0)
If your flare heats up and you get lots of symptoms, you might consider taking some home rest and trying to focus on identifying helpful foods for you Advantage of not *having* to work.

If you are in remission or near remission, work seems reasonable. You might try to find work that would be more forgiving if your symptoms turned upwards, such as an office.

good luck
Posted 6/27/2016 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'm also 17 and I know what you're going through. When I was first diagnosed my parents were super strict about everything. I'm Korean and where I'm from, they have a lot of alternate medicine/techniques. My parents wanted to try it all, without even bothering to ask how I felt about any of it. I went through acupuncture, drinking disgusting Chinese herbal medicine, eating 10+ Korean pills/tablets, and some other not so pleasant stuff. I've had many flare ups in the past, mostly cause of stress, and I still have a hard time forgiving them for it.

You have to try and see it from their perspective. Think about how much it must hurt for them to see their own child in pain and suffering. I used to get super stressed out from the smallest things, but I try not to think about it too much. In the end, I know that all of it was truly in their best interest. To try everything that they can when western medicine didn't work for me (remicade, immuran). Seeing my parents at their low points has seriously changed my perspective of them. I really appreciate everything they do for me and try my best for them.

In the end, only YOU can control the disease as best as you can. Try not to stress too much, you'd be surprised at how much it can affect your body. I think it's best if you sit with your parents/GI and try to make them understand that you might be feeling fine and that its not good to force things on you too much. After my recent flare up, I started talking to a health psychologist and it has been one of the best decisions of my life.

If you ever need someone to talk to, shoot me a PM. I've never talked to/met any other teens with UC, I think it's nice to know that I'm not the only one here. Best of luck!
Posted 6/28/2016 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
You have to try and see it from their perspective

The topic creator is 17, she needs to be thinking about what's best for her, not her parents. She'll be legally an adult when she turns 18. If she wants to work, then she should work. Not least of which it gives her the option of saving up money and leaving home if she wants to. Vegetating away at home in what sounds like a stressful atmosphere will do her mental or physical health no good whatsoever (speaking from personal experience here).
Posted 6/28/2016 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Only you know how you feel physically. If you feel like you can work, then you should be doing just that. I think it's a good idea for you and your parents...together with your doctor...talk openly about everything. If you're managing your UC there shouldn't be any reason to sit home and "rest". As a mom, I get their concern. They will always worry about you. Good luck!
Posted 6/28/2016 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, many vent about parents or spouses that just don't get it. I think many of us can relate to this. It's frustrating. You have two choices educate them or restrict them about what's happening with your uc. I'd try educating them. Having uc doesn't increase one's odds of mortality. Most live healthy and mostly normal lives with uc. Once you reach remission (an absence of uc symptoms) then you can go many years and essentially forget about uc.

My spouse is the one who didn't get it, frustrated me, and stressed me out. Just be honest with your parents that they're stressing you out. You know they care, but give you some space and breathing room, as you're doing better.

1 gram of salofalk granules daily isn't much. Consider going to 3 gram daily dosage if you're still having troubles. Ask your gastroenterologist.
Posted 6/28/2016 3:34 PM (GMT 0)

Dikid said...
this is super frustrating, sorry that you are being treated this way.

I am glad that your parents are trying to be supportive, unfortunately, it doesn't manifest itself in a helpful way at all.

there are a few things you can try.
1) get your doc on your side. email your doc with what is going on, and ask him if he thinks it makes sense for you to work/go to school/lead a functioning life or if you should stay home and rest all day?
I am pretty sure we know how the doc will answer. than you need to show the response to your parents.

2) you can try this instead. instead of making this an emotional argument, try approaching it really logicallly.
listen mom and dad. It makes me very upset when I am treated like I am dying. I am not dying....and explain what is going on.

hopefully more people will come along with better advice
hang in there!

welcome to the forum
when exactly have you been diagnosed, what treatments are you on? what symptoms are you currenlty experiencing?
you can make a profile that can be listed after all of your posts


THIS^^^^^^ is excellent advice!!!
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