Posted 9/4/2015 2:11 PM (GMT 0)
Many live a normal life with uc, and there can be long periods of remission without worry about uc. The initial diagnosis and finding the right combination of medications and dosages can be quite a struggle and trying for uc patients. As, a lot of the initial treatment can be trial-and-error (try this and we'll talk in 3 weeks). Some get lucky and find their solution early, while others struggle and suffer for years with uc symptoms (it took 2.5 years to find my solution, and I'm now a year in remission). Some (about 25 percent) find themselves in surgery as they are nonresponders to all available treatments. It's just another treatment option that gives people their lives back.
Best thing you can do is educate yourself and your girlfriend about this disease. Know your treatment options and become an advocate for what you need to have the best quality of life possible. As blind faith in your gastroenterologist specialist can often steer you wrong, rather you need to be active and involved in treatment.
And, Kenny, get your girlfriend on the forum. As uc is an invisible disease and it's very isolating. It's good to know others who've experienced the same struggles and to just vent when nothing works, and we can offer advice.