Some Basics About Mike:
22, Male, Jewish, New Yorker, College Student with mild to moderate Ulcerative Colitis. Was diagnosed in December of 2011, but had symptoms in early 2007.
Mike’s Current Colitis Symptoms:
Frequent bowel movements (around 5-8 times a day, sometimes more and sometimes less) with mucous, cramps, mucho gas, kidney stones, MAJOR anxiety and depression. No blood (thank God)
Mike’s Story:
Hey guys,
I was wondering how you disclose (if you do at all) to people that you meet that you have UC. I feel a bit COMPELLED to reveal to people (even people I just met) that I have UC just to save them the trouble.
For example: I went out to a bar last night. I saw this beautiful blonde model (at least I think she was) and started chatting her up. She was really nice and we seemed to hit it off nicely, but the most pressing issue on my mind was my UC. As shallow as this may sound, when I meet a girl, I want her to be as flawless as possible. I mean, don’t we all? Don’t we all want to find someone who is perfect for us? That’s the key to commitment, in my mind. But anyway, physically, I don’t want to find one thing wrong with her and emotionally, I want her to be sensitive, sweet, caring, intelligent, etc. I don’t want to find one flaw about her (I know, very shallow, but that’s just my nature). Anyway, I hold the same standards to myself and ever since I was diagnosed with UC, I always felt like this big, fat elephant was in the room. So I mentioned (probably because of my OCD) to this girl I just met that I have this colon disease called “Ulcerative Colitis” (I know, I’m quite the smooth talker) and she just seemed turned off. I blew it with the girl because I mentioned this depressing subject out of the blue, but I do feel like I need to disclose it to people.
I know UC is not contagious and it’s not a taboo disease like HIV/AIDS, but somehow, I feel like people in my life NEED to know about it. Let’s say I took that blonde home with me and she spent the night…I wake up every morning between 6:30-7:30 and go to the bathroom and can’t go back to sleep. In the morning, I usually go defecate 3-4 times. That and I have major gas in the morning and throughout the day. It’s embarrassing and a turn-off. I know that.
So what do you guys do? Do you feel compelled to tell people that you have UC? Or is it not vital to disclose since it’s not contagious and can’t spread like HIV? Do you guys feel the cloud known as Ulcerative Colitis constantly hanging over you (not necessarily the physical symptoms, but knowing in your mind that you have this disease) when you’re at social gatherings? Does it hinder you? What about the people around my age, who are not necessarily looking for a commitment? How do you broach the subject, if at all?
I don’t know, this could just be my neurosis. I do have an anxiety disorder and I am clinically depressed.
Where I’d Like to be in 1 year:
Cured (don’t we all?). If not cured, then showing 0 effects of UC. I want to be happy, healthy and successful. I want to forget that I ever had UC.
Colitis Medications:
Asacol – 2400 MGs in the morning
Prozac – 60 MG
Florastor
Centrum
written by Mike from NYC
submitted in the colitis venting area
—
—
I was finally diagnosed in December of 2011
