Introduction:
I am 21 years old from Massachusetts and was just recently diagnosed with UC in August of 2011. I have no family history of IBD so the diagnosis came as a bit of a surprise. It has been difficult dealing with symptoms and also balancing school, work, and continuing doing the things I love like horseback riding and traveling.
My Story:
Hey Everyone! My UC diagnosis is pretty recent and came while in college, so it has been difficult dealing with a disease that is new to me and also balancing the stress of school, work, and a social life. So far the only thing that has given me good results was prednisone, but I was on it for so long at such a high dose that my doctors were afraid of potential harmful side effects. I am currently on Imuran, Humira, and a hydrocortisone enema, but have seen little relief from my symptoms so far. My family and friends have been very supportive and helpful, and I couldn’t be more grateful for how great they’ve been.
Although the symptoms are difficult to deal with, one of the most difficult things about Ulcerative Colitis that I have experienced is being in a relationship. I have been with my current boyfriend for four years. He has been with me through the onset of symptoms and through the diagnosis process, and I know he is trying his best to cope with me and my symptoms. However, I can see that he sometimes gets frustrated when I say I am too tired to go here, or my symptoms are too bad to go there. So I was just wondering if any fellow UC’ers have any tips on how to explain to a significant other exactly what’s going on. This is especially difficult when he is in the mood to do more “physically intimate” things and I just don’t feel anywhere near up to it. I feel awful that I can’t fulfill that aspect of the relationship as often as I’d like to. There are days when I feel well enough, but there are days when I just can’t. He has been with me for three and a ha lf years while I was healthy, and I’m finding it hard to explain to him how there will be periods of time when I just can’t, or that we may be interrupted by my symptoms. So i was just wondering if anyone has been here or has any advice?
written by Erica
submitted in the Colitis Venting Area
I am 21 years old from Massachusetts and was just recently diagnosed with UC in August of 2011.
