HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Could I live a normal life?

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted Yesterday 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
For the past couple of years, I've been wanting to go look for a job, get back to school, & get back to California. I've been wondering even though I have UC, could I still live a normal life, like if I didn't have UC?
Posted Yesterday 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
I am living proof that you can have a normal life. However, my UC is considered mild. There isn't much that I haven't been able to do b/c of my UC. When I'm flaring, I just make sure I know where the bathrooms are. If it is a bad flare, I might stay home a couple days, but for the most part, I live my life as usual with the exception of being able to eat out.

Good luck and glad to see you are in remission. Keep on your meds!
Posted Today 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
whats "normal" these days anyway?

everyone is screwed up in some way or other. i've had a severe flare for over a year and there were 3 months that i didnt even get out of bed. been hospitalized and all.

i still go out, just have to scope out the toilets whereever you go.

if you want to live a normal life you can. cuz whether you think you can or you can't, either way, you are right.

so its all in your mind. i went out the other night, was in lots of pain and had to use the toilet 3 times.. but i still went. half way thru the evening, you surroundings take your mind off things and you start to enjoy yourself (until the next trip to the can of course), but yes, some days are good, some are bad and some are in between.

you can definitely live a normal life!

and remember to laugh!!! always
Posted Today 1:03 PM (GMT 0)
ABSOLUTELY! Pick ANY Normal and get on with your life!

Hey I'm into this nearly 20 years. Good times and bad times with the disease. Even one remission that lasted for years (that was wonderful)

I've had children, changed jobs, traveled and in general just had a ball! YES - I do have my little "kit" in the back of my car. I have chosen an SUV with a lovely blind spot. But HEY - it's all about the attitude!

I'm entering year 30 on my current job and have days and days of sick time stacked up if I ever need them. This WHOLE thing is manageable. Who cares if you disappear for 15 minutes to take care of "stuff".....?

You can do this NORMAL life thing.

Be glad you are not a nomad on a camel with no gastroenterologist within 1000 miles....and your camel spits.

BEST OF THE SEASON and BE WELL.

Rot Gut
Posted Today 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Absolutely! I'm sure that a lot of us have asked ourselves the same question. And then we go on to prove that we can have "normal" lives. (And then we forget and ask ourselves the question all over again!)

When I've started to worry about this, I try to remember all the things I've already done and the ways that having this disease hasn't held me back. Of course there are times when it's definitely de-railed my plans for a while, but I prefer to think about all the things I've done despite having the disease.

I don't know about others, but I think that I tend to worry a lot in advance about the future. I was afraid to apply for a job and then I had to remind myself that I'd already worked several jobs for nearly 10 years. So what was I worried about? It always works out somehow!

I think it's be better to assume that everything will be fine, go for the things you want to do, expect the best, and if there are some setbacks you can deal with them as they happen. Easier said than done, but that's what I'm trying to do.

:)
Posted Today 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
Amazingly enough, everyone has something to deal with. The more people I talk to, the more I realize it...so I know I'm not alone because everyone has some sort of hesitation due to a situation they have. You just have to live each day for what it is. I can tell you that looking back to five years ago; I would have never imagined living the life I am now. Things have surely changed and all because of unforeseen circumstances, nothing I planned on for sure! So come to California, get a job and live today the best you can.

Posted Today 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that normal is subjective....and we all adjust to our needs accordingly. Make plans for your life, make plans for your future....but don't make them rigidly....create options and start.

Know your options for meds (I don't see rectal meds on there...and they can end up being your best friend especially at the first sign of flare symptoms).

Do you have a good support "system" in California?..friends, family..etc? Personally, I don't think you'll be any worse off health-wise there than here....and if you're doing what you are wanting to do in a place you want to be...you'll probably be better and realise you can do things you want to do (albeit,sometimes with some tweaking).

You'll never know until you try....Many of us seem to go through the stress with some symptoms...but once we're settled in to more of a routine, things level out.

It is what you make of it.....goals and dreams and plans shouldn't be static...always have options.

quincy
Posted Today 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Listen to Quincy, she is right. It's lame getting told you are subject to inconveniences but I learned to cope. Therapy helped me come to terms with having UC. But it is always a work in progress. If you just try to pay attention and keep yourself maintained meds wise, you should be fine most of the time. Than the hardest part here is living life. UC is just a part of it. I know we might all sound like a broken record but put yourself on an anti depressant if you can't bounce back emotionally. Just ease back into it. I have, I had my first bad flare and I am out of it and wiser. Let yourself be the judge, of course. But California is the place to start. Good luck my friend.
Posted Today 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Wow guys such wonderful words of advice. You gave me hope just reading all of it. I have been in this flare and off of work for a month now. To be honest i was feeling like giving up, so scared thinking my life was over and that this sickness had finally won. Your wonderful words of encouragement and wisdom helped me to see that im not alone in this and yes i can go back to work and start living life again! Thank you so much!
Posted 12/1/2007 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
I have a normal life and you can have one too. Have a positive outlook! Dive in and do what you want to do.
Posted 12/2/2007 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
You all have given me so much hope. Everynow and then I just get so scared with everything that has happened (major flare and trips to the ER) and all the things that will happen. I have always made it a point to live my life to the fullest.
I used to go out 4-wheeling, camping, skydiving and travel whenever I had time off work. Since I have been diagnosed I haven't done any of those things. And I miss them. I was scared that I would never be able to do them again. Fear of being to far away from a bathroom.
But here I am now. Working 2 jobs and going to college.
I am not going to let this disease keep me back from the things that I want to do in life.
I have always wanted to move down to southern california and live by the beach. I am going to do everything that I can to be sure that I will be able to do that. I don't want to live here for the rest of my life wishing that I had gone out and done more.
I knwo that there will be times when I can't go out and do them but I wont let them hold me back when I am feeling well. I am going to make sure that the days that I do feel well that I am going to go out and make the best of them.
I am not going to sit around. I am 20 years old and have my hole life ahead of me. And I am determined to make the most of it.
Posted 12/4/2007 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Toughkicker, life can be had, we just have to remodel our idea of how to live it. My mother has leukemia, my youngest brother has severe diabetes, and I have UC. All with bad symptoms, off and on, and we have managed to live productive and happy lives. I've been so bad with my UC during my two major flares that I would go to the bathroom over 20 times a day, my gut was distended over two inches, and i was bleeding and in so much pain. But I still managed to do the things I wanted to. Somedays you wont be able to do much, sometimes, plans will be cancelled, but you can, and you WILL learn what works for you, what meds help, and how to "cycle" your fun, work and rest.

Sometimes when we are at our lowest and having a really bad flare it all seems so overwhelming. But this forum is a great source of strength and friendship and support where you can air your feelings and concerns. I had so much support here during my worst flare a year ago, and then during my recovery after my hospitalization. And I learned so much from the members here. The pooling of knowledge is incredible. And you will see people from all walks of life that are managing to have careers, families, and hobbies.

Keep your chin up, it will get better. :)
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply