Allie Needs Moral Support

I live with someone who has Ulcerative Colitis and I wish to help her start a network of people who understand where she is coming from. I am doing this, and not her, because she is pretty stubborn and shy.

She was diagnosed in 2006 and lost so much blood back then that she had to have a transfusion. Since she had been flare free for over 18 months she and her doctor decided it would be okay for her to try to stop the azathiaprine; she’s very concerned about the side effects. Three months have passed and she is in a pretty bad flare, the kind where sometimes water goes straight through. It’s so bad that she has taken 4 months medical leave off of work and quit her part-time job at a barn; she LOVES horses. She has had a lot of ups and downs in the past several weeks but the past couple of days have been pretty down. She doesn’t know anyone with Ulcerative Colitis and when she was at the emergency room for it a while a go she felt like they really didn’t take the disease seriously, so that’s why I’m writing to all of you good people. I know that there is someone out there who can relate to a severe flare and the hopelessness it causes, she’s in a really bad spot right now and I don’t know how to help. Since I haven’t ever had to deal with this horrible disease all I can do is comfort her by telling her it’s going to be alright and that this will pass too.

If it were me I’d feel better to hear a story from someone who has been there before. Allie is not typing this herself because she has “given up” she told me and said that she just wants to be left alone. If anyone out there can help out it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

submitted in the Colitis Venting Area