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Christmas 2019

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 12/29/2019 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
How was everyone’s Christmas? Did you take time off work? Was it stressful?
The same? Did UC complicate things?

I have been taking care of me. I am generally fatigued most of the time, and I have anxiety and overthink everything.... I probably have crohns and might have had this for two years undetected... (only taking suppositories for my UC)... because my colonoscopy in July was my first complete colonoscopy ever... hosting Christmas dinner... knowing I face the decision of biologics soon... and finishing my masters in April.

I coped well by pacing myself, took two weeks off work, made all the Christmas dinner dishes ahead of time, and did not go out anywhere at all! I enjoyed having my kids for Christmas, and crocheting before and after Christmas. Googling “spoon theory” helped me manage my guilt for when I feel lazy or unproductivesmile

I am going to try a Zumba class today. My first organized exercise in over a year. It’s tome for me to start moving again no matter what my health is up to.
Posted 12/29/2019 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Rosiedays,

I'm glad you are taking care of you. Like you, I took care of myself and let my family do a lot more to help. My UC settled enough that I actually ate everything available....with the exception of gravy. Lol however, instead of constipation for days on end, I now have 4-6 almost formed bms a day. 🤤 And I think I will change GI doctor to Dr. Chen. She works out of Mission Hospital, so that's better for me.

Zumba is a lot more fun than tread mills eh! Glad you are able to get moving again. I too have hit the gym a few times in the past month. It's the first time in 15 years. No wonder I have no muscles 😕
Posted 12/29/2019 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
I’m glad you had a nice Christmas Rosie! Mine was great — I did a lot of baking and made jelly.

I remember those days of fatigue and just want to tell you not to be so scared of biologics. They could put you right at the type of health you wish for. Of course no one wants to be on an expensive medication for the rest of their life but for me it’s so worth it. I never forget I have UC but I’m living my life as if I don’t. I couldn’t have done all I did this Christmas with that bone drenching fatigue!

I hope Zumba makes you feel better but do be careful to not overtax you’re body!
Posted 12/29/2019 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Not to bad here. My biggest issue at this point is fatigue. I suspect my youngest had the flu right before Christmas, so we stayed home to keep from sharing. Thankfully no one else came down with it.
Posted 12/29/2019 10:03 PM (GMT 0)
Sounds good all around!smile thank you for the advice flowers gal! I need to hear that over and over again!

Sassy you still have your colonoscopy in January right?. I’m so glad you had a nice Christmassmile

Spring I hope it’s just the flu you have? So you’ll feel better. I actually had a flu over Christmas too, and am feeling better now smile
Posted 12/29/2019 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Rosie - Sounds like you had an excellent Christmas. Enjoying family and making memories. There is never anything wrong with taking time for yourself and making sure you are expending the energy you have in the way you want to. Try not to worry too much about the biologics starting - it is a phase of the disease and hopefully it will be the thing that sets you free. At a minimum, hopefully they will give you symptom free times where you can focus on making more memories.

I've been battling this disease for a decade and a half, and looking back I have lots of clear, good memories of friends, family, holidays and fun. I know I had UC in most of them but that doesn't really stand out. Putting this thing as far out of your mind as you can - either because of the meds or just good mental discipline or whatever - allows you to live your life around it and it can never take those memories from you.

I had a low key Christmas. Still only a couple of months out from my colectomy and feeling out my new normal with my new friend Bob. Made a point to realize that while it is my first Christmas with an ostomy, it is also my first Christmas disease free in 15 years. I have things on my mind, but nothing like I used to. And I'm really looking forward to the new year. 2019 was a rough year for me. Good in some ways, bad in others. I mean, any year they take out an organ probably isn't making the wall of fame but I feel a lot of freedom and hope for the future.

I spent the year building a stereo system for my office, and Santa brought me a turn table and a few of my favorite albums on vinyl. In the last few days I've spent some time marveling at how I can listen to an extended cut of an early Wilco album (and all 74 additional tracks they added) without running to the bathroom once. I can get lost in the music for hours. Sometimes a curse brings an unexpected blessing. I don't know that I felt uninterrupted time like I do now.

Best to you and yours.
Posted 12/30/2019 1:48 PM (GMT 0)
Glad everyone survived Christmas indulgences and the extra stress inherent over the holidays.

I'm in remission, so no real troubles over the holidays. Dear wife and I drove from about 3.5 hours to stay overnight with my parents xmas eve. My brother and his wife also came over for xmas dinner. Pretty low key affair, just 6-total. We're not religious at all, so more an excuse to get everyone together. Still worry about bathrooms and overdoing it and upsetting mr colon, anxiety is ever-present with UC. Good to see everyone, don't get to see them often enough.
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