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Has there been a silver lining to your colitis?

Chronic Illness Forums
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Ulcerative Colitis
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Tunnelvisionary
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2014
Posts : 527
Posted 9/15/2014 10:50 AM (GMT -7)
I dealt with a heartbreaking recovery process from an eating disorder and severe OCD and to feel like my life was finally back on track was an amazing feeling...and then to feel like that feeling was violently taken away from me with the UC diagnosis almost drove me to suicide.

But through it, I learned that life didn't have to end with a UC diagnosis, and I have used this as another stepping stone for accepting uncertainty into my life, which has been a huge part of recovering from my mental disorders.

I'm glad I can actually take away something positive from the situation instead of taking my own life, but I totally respect the fact that this disease is brutal and can be unrelenting. I do not blame those who feel negatively about the experience at all. This is a pretty horrible disease and I'm not saying I'm 100% happy either, but it's nice to have a chance to express something grateful through all of it.

I'm flaring right now, and I was becoming bitter and depressed about it, but decided to keep on devoting myself to maintaining my mental health instead of letting the disease erase all progress I've made. The physical pain and many trips to the bathroom definitely suck, but I feel much more at ease with the whole thing, and much more accepting of uncertainty despite the fact that my symptoms are on the rise.

I'm not one for trying to cover up the ugliness of life with sunshine and rainbows and happy positive thoughts, but I am about not becoming completely bitter and cynical about life (not calling anyone out, just saying), and once in a while recognizing some of the good things can help with that.

The disease is definitely dreadful and I absolutely feel for all of you struggling to get it under control!
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TroubledTurds
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2004
Posts : 8511
Posted 9/15/2014 10:58 AM (GMT -7)
nope - just a brown lining in my tightie whities :-)
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iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 15543
Posted 9/15/2014 11:06 AM (GMT -7)
lol soy. I both salute and pause in a moment of silence in remembrance of the many pairs of my underwear that were not just stained but rather lost/unsaveable since I first acquired uc.
Moderator ulcerative colitis
M, 35, proctosigmoiditis
Rx: Remicade 5mg per kg, every 8 weeks
Daily 75mg 6MP + Rowasa (twice a week)
Diet: Diet mods and supplements haven't done a thing for me

Post Edited (iPoop) : 9/15/2014 12:09:53 PM (GMT-6)

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Baggravation
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2011
Posts : 434
Posted 9/15/2014 11:11 AM (GMT -7)
LOL @soystud & iPoop. You two gave me a good laugh.
Hello. My name is Gina :)

Condition: Ulcerative Colitis
Symptoms Started: Mid-October 2010
Diagnosed: January 2011
Past Drugs: Ectocort Enema, Sulphasalazine(oral), Salofalk (supp), Pentasa (supp), Pantoloc, Betnesol Enema, Prednisone, Humira, Imuran, Diclectin, Nortriptyline
Current Drugs: Remicade, Motilium, Seroquel
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NiceCupOfTea
Elite Member
Joined : Jan 2010
Posts : 10893
Posted 9/15/2014 11:44 AM (GMT -7)

iPoop said...
Perhaps it is the first sprint of living with chronic illness that is easy for some but soon you realize it turns into a marathon that goes on for the rest of your life... lol I used to be quite optimistic person at 1st but uc has been wearing on me a lot over time and whittling that away. If uc has improved me in anyway I am not sure what it is, I was a pretty good person before, and I don't think I had much I needed to change....

This, a thousand times over. It's what I'm having serious trouble dealing with right now: I don't know how to deal with it to be honest. I'm just worn out. It has been an incredibly gruelling 9 years for me (was diagnosed in 2000, but things didn't really go down the pan until 2005), and I just want it to be over.

In case any newbie sh!ts their pants reading this, I would like to add that this board is home to many of the more severe and intractable cases, and it doesn't necessarily mean your own case will follow suit. Most people do have periods of remissions; the luckier ones are in remission most of the time (like my brother... ¬_¬).

Baggravation said...
ww, shucks.

More of that please :p
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IamCurious
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2010
Posts : 3393
Posted 9/15/2014 12:34 PM (GMT -7)
I cannot believe the vast amount of pizza, donuts, soda, candy, beer and excessive alcohol etc., that I have avoided since my UC diagnosis.

I have cancer, heart disease, and diabetes in my immediate family. My father and older brother died young from heart attacks. That was my first hint that I needed to stay away from the junk food.

And it worked for about 15 years. I was in outstanding health and everyone remarked how I looked so fit and healthy. I could bench press twice my body weight and place well in competitive 10K races. I love junk food and there was no way would I have eaten only healthy meals if I wasn't so scared of what happened to my father and brother.

My downward slippery slope started again in my 50's when I needed coffee and caffeine to jump-start my day. Gradually the cravings for junk returned. I consider my UC diagnosis as the 2nd hint from the universe to get off the sauce.

If there is a silver lining for having colitis it is that I have to live a healthy lifestyle in order to remain in remission. And that healthy living has so far kept me away from heart disease, cancer, and diabetes that has hit the rest of my family.

Post Edited (IamCurious) : 9/15/2014 1:39:17 PM (GMT-6)

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journey2health
Veteran Member
Joined : Oct 2009
Posts : 2857
Posted 9/15/2014 12:45 PM (GMT -7)
I eat healthier, especially going gluten free.
Clinical remission. Diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis (pancolitis) 9/09. Two more flares since. Taking Lialda 4.8g. Rowasa enemas every other night, when flaring nightly and Canasa daily. Calcium/mag slow release/vitamin D. No gluten, alcohol. green/fruit smoothies. Low dose femhrt. Mood instability: lamictal 200 mg., Zyprexa 7.5 mg. Insomnia: ambien 2.5 mg, Depression: Brintellix 20 mg.
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notsosicklygirl
Forum Moderator
Joined : Dec 2008
Posts : 17528
Posted 9/15/2014 1:30 PM (GMT -7)
I think it takes a lot to get me upset since I got UC. I used to get all worked up over everything. Now I really couldn't care less. I can't get all worked up over petty stuff. Maybe it's not a good thing, perhaps I've retracted on all my passion and goals and just stopped caring. either way, I definitely know how to roll witht he punches.
Co-moderator: Ulcerative Colitis
Diagnosed with Pancolitis, Laryngopharyngeal Reflux & Migraines. Battling Extreme Exhaustion.
Currently: 6mp (25mg) + Lialda (2400mg) + Canasa (1g PM)
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Blue Badger
New Member
Joined : Sep 2014
Posts : 7
Posted 9/15/2014 2:15 PM (GMT -7)
Hey guys, I really didn't think this thread would be viewed with such negativity by some, and I'm sorry that it has been. It was naivety on my part.

If I were to more appropriately express my feelings towards the disease, I'm sure I'd be banned from the forum for the amount of foul language I used! I am so sick of taking 14 tablets every single day, of being able to eat only certain foods, of the embarassment of having lost control of my bowels at various times, of getting so infuriated with my parents because they will not stop asking me how I am etc. I swear a lot of people seem to be expecting me to relapse any day now and it pisses me off more than I can say.

I just need to be able to salvage something from all of this. I NEED to believe there's some sort of upside. Without that, I'm going to lose my mind.

I'm glad some of you like Baggravation have gotten something out of this.

Post Edited (Blue Badger) : 9/15/2014 3:24:29 PM (GMT-6)

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NiceCupOfTea
Elite Member
Joined : Jan 2010
Posts : 10893
Posted 9/15/2014 2:31 PM (GMT -7)

Blue Badger said...
If I were to more appropriately express my feelings towards the disease, I'm sure I'd be banned from the forum for the amount of foul language I used!

Obvs I am no moderator, but not by me you wouldn't.

I didn't mean to make people feel bad. There is certainly nothing at all wrong with taking pride in, e.g. getting a 1st class honours degree. It's an amazing achievement.

But I personally still want to drop kick Crohn's in the face. Unfortunately for me it's just ruined my life without giving me anything good in return. Admittedly, my own personality did that to me as well - but the Crohn's certainly did not help and basically caused me to lose all of my 30s to it.
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fightUC
Regular Member
Joined : Jun 2011
Posts : 497
Posted 9/15/2014 2:33 PM (GMT -7)
This disease makes me want to kill myself, to remove myself from the gene pool. There has been no silver lining for me, just eternal suffering. What silver lining could be from neverending pain and feeling like you have to go but you strain for hours and yet nothing comes out? I hate that symptom the most, the tenesmus and rectal feeling. I hate how the medications all come with terrible side effects, like Cushing syndrome, cancer or diabetes/arthritis.

I guess the only thing positive about this was that I now constantly question and research everything doctors prescribe, then decide for myself if I should take it, since I got UC after taking Accutane.

Post Edited (fightUC) : 9/15/2014 3:36:39 PM (GMT-6)

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Dreadsteel
Regular Member
Joined : Sep 2014
Posts : 346
Posted 9/15/2014 4:01 PM (GMT -7)
yup, shorter life expectancy is a +

had enough of this world already, wish we got asked before we're born

27 UC pancolitis dx March 2013
Current Meds: Mesalamine 4gm Enema daily , 100mg Imuran, 3gm Pentaza, Parriet (nausea), Lacteol Forte, FishOil, Boswellia, Aloe Vera Juice
Current Faecal calprotectin : ~150mg/kg , Top Score ! ~2800mg/kg Feb 2014
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iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 15543
Posted 9/15/2014 4:09 PM (GMT -7)
Getting a little questionable here with all of these wanna kill myself posts.
Moderator ulcerative colitis
M, 35, proctosigmoiditis
Rx: Remicade 5mg per kg, every 8 weeks
Daily 75mg 6MP + Rowasa (twice a week)
Diet: Diet mods and supplements haven't done a thing for me
profile picture
notsosicklygirl
Forum Moderator
Joined : Dec 2008
Posts : 17528
Posted 9/15/2014 4:12 PM (GMT -7)
Posts about self harm are not tolerated here. Let's please keep this on topic.

This is supposed to be an uplifting thread.

I can say that i am a more compassionate person. I used to really have my head up my ass (not that it was a bad thing, i actually wish I could squash it back up there sometimes but I can't)

Interesting that we are all so miserable though. Seems to be a commonality. Is it the chicken or the egg though? I've always been a miserable, unhappy person who wondered why people were popping people out left and right.
Co-moderator: Ulcerative Colitis
Diagnosed with Pancolitis, Laryngopharyngeal Reflux & Migraines. Battling Extreme Exhaustion.
Currently: 6mp (25mg) + Lialda (2400mg) + Canasa (1g PM)
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jujub
Elite Member
Joined : Mar 2003
Posts : 10420
Posted 9/15/2014 4:13 PM (GMT -7)
Most of the responses weren't actually negative, though.

I understand (having been there) needing to find something positive in the whole experience.

UC hasn't made been a net plus for me. It may have given me a few small gifts, but the pain and inconvenience have outweighed them.

All in all, I'd rather not have it. I do have it, so I just make the best of it. Sitting around feeling sorry for myself wouldn't make me better, it would only make me alone as people ran to get away from the negativity.
Thyroid forum moderator

Ulcerative colitis since 2001, starting 8th year of remission with Remicade.
Inflammatory osteoarthritis; osteonecrosis from steroids
Grave's disease treated with radioactive iodine and now on Levothyroxine.
Type II diabetes induced by steroids.
Charcot foot deformity
Eczema, darn it!

"It's always something." ~ Rosanne Rosannadanna
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