Share something positive about UC

I know there are many newbies around here like myself who want to hear anything positive. Long remissions, mild flares, maintence meds controlling things, children don’t have it, surgery not so bad, etc. I love positivity and it helps in this fearful disease. Thanks!

I won't die from it.

I have been at least moderately overweight for most of my adult life, sometimes borderline obese. After getting UC I dropped 35 pounds in 5 months. I regained 10, and am now close to my ideal weight.

Blood pressure is down, resting pulse rate is down, cholesterol is lower, back pain is improved. Aside from UC, my general health is otherwise improved.

A silver lining to the cloud of UC.

I have an excuse to avoid other people's cooking if I hate it. "Oh I'm sorry I can't eat your fruitcake, ulcerative colitis" and I can leave boring parties early without being a jerk. "I'm just not feeling so great". Nobody wants a party pooper. Literally.

I agree with momto2boys and that is exactly how I would have responded.

The only thing I would add is that it has actually made my spouse and I closer as I appreciate how patient he has been with me through all of this. It is easy to take a spouse for granted.

Should I just accept my fate that I will eventually poop my pants one day? 😩

Dear chikin,

You might not ever poop your pants. Then again you might poop them so many times you finally accept it and start to move on and enjoy the good days. I used to be so squeamish about poop! I remember the first time I had to do a stool test I was beside myself. Does that qualify as a positive? How about learning to have a sense of humor despite the sometimes horror.

Entyvio has been my ticket out of despair. 6 infusions in I am close to remission.

totesmagoates said it all in her/his post, made me cry, because all of it is true.

No, you didn’t upset me. I’m just being silly in the darkness of this all. I’m not really all that squeamish about poop, I’ve done many stool samples myself and whatnot and I have two little boys (poop machines)... but the idea of pooping myself in public is pretty terrifying. I suppose it’s one of those things that once it happens, well, it happened and you have to move on.... but I don’t like thinking of my disease simply being unmanageable to that extent.

And I’m really glad to hear these positives! I know it’s an ugly disease and there sometimes isn’t much to say, but it gives me some hope nonetheless.

You can't spell "UC is positively awful" without positive.

Do you want to start a new thread with this as the subject?

Do you know the extent of your inflammation from when you were dx’ed via c scope? Uc starts from the rectum and spreads up. It heals down with the rectum being the last to heal. With how your healing the inflammation could be in an area that causes d. It could be a symptom that will pass like the mucus as you heal more. You may need a rectal med to help that area heal.

If it were me I would call my gi and tell him/her what was happening. In the beginning med adjustment can be common as you find the right med or dosage. I was relentless in the beginning lol. Constant questions. Constant follow up. I didn’t care bc it’s their job in my eyes. You may also be able to speak with one of the nurses. I also went thru a few gi’s til I found the right one for me. And I love my gi but I still have a second opinion gi at a teaching university in case I need to verify the best treatment options.

You could also get a flex sigmoidoscopy to take a quick look. It’s not a full c scope. Just a fleet enema before it to clean out the bottom portion of your colon and they can do it in the gi office. I do these when I have symptoms I need checked. Is it ibs? Hemmies? Is it inflammation? Where?

What your feeling and the questions you have are normal. One thing I’ve learned is to be my own advocate. And this forum is so helpful!!

The first time I pooped my pants in public was the absolute worst: it's defeating, embarrassing, filled me with great anger over UC, etc. Now the 12th time you poop your pants, is just emotionless and just routine: it happened, you can cleanup with machine like efficiency. I hope it happens to none of us, but it can and does to some of us when UC gets out of control. Bottom line, is take evasive action and try strong meds should it happen to you (if it happens once it can happen a dozen times if we're not aggressive in treating the underlying problem).

Well, I for one would appreciate many things so much more if I had excellent physical and mental health to appreciate them with. Suffering isn't ennobling! It's one of the most boring and tedious things I can think of. It hasn't made me a stronger and better person - I would be blatantly lying if I said it had. I try to be decent to people, but you should be doing that anyway, illness or not.