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Posted 12/4/2007 12:03 AM (GMT 0)

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post on the site and I just have to let you know that this forum is PROFOUNDLY more helpful than many of the other websites I have visitied. I feel like I have learned more here than anywhere else is my quest to gain a better understanding of this condition that we all live with.

Here's my story: I am 25 years old and was diagnosed with UC almost 3 years ago. After hearing other people's stories on this site, it seems that I am lucky enough to have a fairly mild form of UC. I have had my share of flares and am currently dealing with one right now, but I've never felt any pain or much discomfort because of it. Mostly just frequent urgency and multiple bowel movements throughout the day (mainly in the mornings). I am also fortunate to be surrounded by a very supportive network--my family is wonderful, my friends are very understanding, and my boyfriend is constantly patient and supportive when I'm not feeling well. But as great as they are to me, they simply DO NOT understand what it is like to deal with this every single day. That is why I am so grateful to have found this forum and know that I am not the only person out there dealing with all this.

One aspect of UC that I seem to constantly struggle with lately is the anxiety that comes with having to venture outside my comfort zone. Basically every time I know that I have to take a car ride, immediate anxiety sets in. I wonder if I'm going to make it to whereever I'm going in time, and I hope that if I do feel like I have to go, that there will be somewhere to stop along the way. I never really had this problem before until recently when I experienced a couple close calls and accidents. Ever since then it's been hard for me to shake these thoughts. I feel like if I could get this under control, I would feel SO MUCH better.

My question to all of you is, how do you deal with leaving the house? How do you quell this anxiety? Is it only me? I feel like I have to conquer this because I don't want this condition to control my life. I have had times where I've felt completely normal and don't even think about this. I want so desparately to get back there, but I am struggling. Please help or shed any light on this if you can.

Thanks for listening!

Posted 12/4/2007 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hey and Welcome! We are glad to have you here. I still get that anxiety when leaving the house! And boy when flaring...I barely want to venture out the front door! I always carry Imodium in my purse. If flaring I have an emergency kit in the car (change of undies, towels, wipes, etc). For some reason having that stuff in the car makes me feel better. And I know where every fastfood and gas station is around my house!

There is always the anxiety med route. If you are thinking about that I would definitely run it by your doctor.
Posted 12/4/2007 12:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Tabitha. I appreciate your kind words. I too am aware of every possible bathroom stop near my house and the surrounding areas. That does make it easier. I was actually thinking about bringing up the possibility of anxiety medication to my Dr. who I see this Wednesday. We'll see what he thinks about that.

Posted 12/4/2007 12:38 AM (GMT 0)
So many of us deal with this issue! It's nice to have this forum where people can speak openly about the anxiety about having an accident in public.

I think that anti-anxiety medicine can be very helpful. There are two different routes, as I see it:
1) take something all the time -- (I take a low dose of Celexa every day which I'm sure helps)
or
2) have something like Xanax that you can take just when you need it.

The thing with Xanax is that it can be addictive if you're prone to addiction. For me, I like to have some Xanax on me at all times. I bet I only take it about 8 times a year but there's a nice security in knowing that I have it if I need it. (Like, say, if I get caught in traffic or on the subway and I'm starting to panic about getting to a bathroom.)

Another thing that I've mentioned to this board before is meditation. If you can learn a few relaxation techniques, I think it's helpful. Sometimes it makes the difference for me between not making it to a bathroom and being able to calm my body down long enough to get there in time!

Last, I try to remember that I've had accidents over the past few years and each time it's worked out ok and hasn't been a disaster. Still, I'm going to take the advice above and put together a little security package of extra undies for my car! Great idea.
Posted 12/4/2007 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
I keep wet wipes and a change of underwear in my desk drawer at work. When I was flaring really badly, I kept a spare pair of black slacks there, too, just in case. I also keep light days pads so if I have a day that's of extra concern I can stick one of those in the appropriate place on my underwear as a little added insurance.

I was in flare for so long after my initial diagnosis, my body seems to have developed a bit of a mind-colon loop. If I'm going to need to go to the bathroom in the next couple of hours, it's impossible for me to go to sleep. And so often I'll do fine all day at work or all evening when I'm out, but then as soon as I walk in the house I have an overwhelming need to go. It's a handy thing, but I can't tell you how I developed it.
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