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I'm 23 years old, I got diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis at 21. Being someone that hasn't really ever had to go to the doctors or take medicine for anything then going into this.... I've realized that I'm in denial, big time, about having this incurable disease. I have been put on so many anti-inflammatories and was on prednisone for an entire year. It's not something that I ever would have ever imagined going through personally, let alone anyone at 21 years old and even younger to go through this. I have lost a part of me, but also discovering a new part of me. I came into this with hopes of being able to relate to someone also young, going through similar trials.

 Reply posted for aconnelly7777.

But you're doing the right thing about trying to find support groups and getting a handle on this. Don't let it win anymore, and don't let it have that control. You can do it !! :)

 Reply posted for aconnelly7777.

Regardless of your diagnoses, you're very blessed to be able to have a daughter. With my disease and the medications I have to be on, my future of having children isn't looking very bright. Cherish every second that you have with her. Just like crohns, ulcerative colitis is also hereditary, but the only person in my family who has anything like this is my uncle and he has crohns. He's exactly how I am, and I rarely get to see him which is hard because we can relate when we are together. He was diagnosed when he was 23 and is in his late 40's now. Yes still just as bad as he was the day he got diagnosed, just like me. And his body rejects any forms of medications, just like mine does. If you have the chance to better it, you should take it. It isn't just you, it's your daughter now. Get better for her. I'm not telling you what to do, sorry, haha. But accepting the fact that you have this, and you can't do it alone is a huge step in any disease.

 Reply posted for drewthetruth.

I agree completely... It just gets so disheartening when they're giving you every possible medication and it will work for a little bit then my body just rejects it. I feel like I was meant to suffer, to have to go through this alone and not have any possible way of overcoming this. It takes so much energy out of me to stay positive and act like I'm okay when inside I feel like everything is just rotting because I'm constantly hurting, constantly hungry, constantly dehydrated. It's hard

 Reply posted for aconnelly7777.

Hello there and this is positing for aconnelly777.

I read your post and have questions to ask you.  Can you explain what you mean by Crohn's Colitis? and by meaning it was self indused? I have crohn's but I am wondering it is could be colitis because I do not have all the issues that everyone on this forum has.

 Reply posted for honeybunny23.

I was diagnosed with Crohn's colitis when I was 25 and I just turned 30 this year.  The unfortunate thing for me is that while many people who have Crohn's it tends to be hereditary, mine was self-induced.  I partied way too hard in my early 20s drinking way too much and eating poorly.  At 30, I am just now starting to take this seriously because I have a 1 year old daughter that I need to think about.  I want to be able to be healthy and watch her grow and run around an play with her.  I can't do that if I always don't feel good.  It is a hard thing to change habits.  That has been my biggest struggle.  I can't hide behind my symptoms any longer, lying to everyone around me that "I'm fine" or that "It's not as bad as it was when I was first diagnosed".  I don't want to just skim the surface of managing my symptoms, but really delve into getting healthy.  I can't remember a time in the past 5 years that I can say I have fully been in remission.  Maybe when I was first put on medication after the initial diagnosis.  I am looking for a support group in my hometown, but there isn't one.  I want to start one.  I am sure I am not the only one living with this in my city.  I don't know if medication is the right route for me to go because I am horrible at remembering to take medicine on a daily basis, but I am willing to give anything a fair shot at this point.

 Reply posted for honeybunny23.

Hi all, been dealing with symptoms from age 19 and will be turning 24. It's definitely tough dealing with something like this but I'm glad we all have a place to talk things out and support people dealing with our same pains and struggles. Hope everyone's feeling better than they were yesterday. I think more than most we have to always try and stay positive and find joy in the small pleasures that life affords us on our good days.

 Reply posted for honeybunny23.

I was diagnosed at 25 and I'm 33 now. I'm still in denial. The reason? That's part of the disease. When you take your meds and its under control you think... "What are these doctors talking about? You see I'm cured, they're wrong." Then bam you stop taking your meds and it comes right back. So... It does get emotional like a roller coaster but you eventually get used to it and keep taking your meds versus stopping when you feel better.

 Reply posted for honeybunny23.

Hi to all, I'm 24 and was diagnosed when I was 11. Back than dealing with it was not easy at all. Not an easy age, also.
After many years and many different treatments, western medicine and alternative medicines I found that this disease is basically the combination of the two - body and mind/soul - and that's the way i should treat it.
The body is the mouth of our soul. If something bothers us and we won't give it it's expression and hide it, our body will revenge us with the need of attention. 
After the disease is already out we can't fix it and bring us back to what we were, but we can learn how to listen to the body and how to make it as normal as can be. 
The thing that helped me was Reflexology. I'm with the same therapist for 8 years now. I'm going to her every time that I feel like things are getting too stressful in my life, that is the signal that things might get painful soon and I need to put my attention on it and prevent.
Trying to bring active peace into your life is what I recommend. I found that Yoga and meditation are a big helpful.
Most of all, though, I think that being ashamed of that disease is taking a big place in ourlife. It stinks and nasty and something we feel uncomfortable talking about with people. Well we shouldn't. It's a disease and  we should be proud of ourself that we are dealing with it, same as any other disease that other people are dealing with.
The shame could crawl it's way to our stomach and than we miss the point of healing.
I also wrote my full dealing story in the Personal Stories page if you feel like reading about the dealing.
I hope for you that you all that you'll feel better soon. It's ain't easy but we are not alone :)
*what doesn't kill you make you stronger*

Hi to all, I'm 24 and was diagnosed when I was 11. Back than dealing with it was not easy at all. Not an easy age, also.
After many years and many different treatments, western medicine and alternative medicines I found that this disease is basically the combination of the two - body and mind/soul - and that's the way i should treat it.
The body is the mouth of our soul. If something bothers us and we won't give it it's expression and hide it, our body will revenge us with the need of attention. 
After the disease is already out we can't fix it and bring us back to what we were, but we can learn how to listen to the body and how to make it as normal as can be. 
The thing that helped me was Reflexology. I'm with the same therapist for 8 years now. I'm going to her every time that I feel like things are getting too stressful in my life, that is the signal that things might get painful soon and I need to put my attention on it and prevent.
Trying to bring active peace into your life is what I recommend. I found that Yoga and meditation are a big helpful.
Most of all, though, I think that being ashamed of that disease is taking a big place in ourlife. It stinks and nasty and something we feel uncomfortable talking about with people. Well we shouldn't. It's a disease and  we should be proud of ourself that we are dealing with it, same as any other disease that other people are dealing with.
The shame could crawl it's way to our stomach and than we miss the point of healing.
I also wrote my full dealing story in the Personal Stories page if you feel like reading about the dealing.
I hope for you that you all that you'll feel better soon. It's ain't easy but we are not alone :)
*what doesn't kill you make you stronger*

Hi to all, I'm 24 and was diagnosed when I was 11. Back than dealing with it was not easy at all. Not an easy age, also.
After many years and many different treatments, western medicine and alternative medicines I found that this disease is basically the combination of the two - body and mind/soul - and that's the way i should treat it.
The body is the mouth of our soul. If something bothers us and we won't give it it's expression and hide it, our body will revenge us with the need of attention. 
After the disease is already out we can't fix it and bring us back to what we were, but we can learn how to listen to the body and how to make it as normal as can be. 
The thing that helped me was Reflexology. I'm with the same therapist for 8 years now. I'm going to her every time that I feel like things are getting too stressful in my life, that is the signal that things might get painful soon and I need to put my attention on it and prevent.
Trying to bring active peace into your life is what I recommend. I found that Yoga and meditation are a big helpful.
Most of all, though, I think that being ashamed of that disease is taking a big place in ourlife. It stinks and nasty and something we feel uncomfortable talking about with people. Well we shouldn't. It's a disease and  we should be proud of ourself that we are dealing with it, same as any other disease that other people are dealing with.
The shame could crawl it's way to our stomach and than we miss the point of healing.
I also wrote my full dealing story in the Personal Stories page if you feel like reading about the dealing.
I hope for you that you all that you'll feel better soon. It's ain't easy but we are not alone :)
*what doesn't kill you make you stronger*

 Reply posted for honeybunny23.

Hey! I am 18 and was diagnosed a year and a half ago. I completely understand what you are talking about. I get so frustrated with myself and feel like I should be able to deal with this better than I have been but it's very difficult. And I hate talking about it for obvious reasons, but of course people make their assumptions. I'm just trying to do the best I can and even though it is hard, it does get easier. Hopefully this will make you feel less alone! Always here if you need someone :)

 Reply posted for jabeck.

It's hard to accept the fact that your life is never going to be the same, you can't go out to eat wherever, you can't socialize as much, your bed becomes your best friend. I've had this for almost 3 years, and I'm just now coming to terms with it. Even after it has put me in the hospital, and made my organs fail. It's very scary and I pray that your doctor is putting you on the correct meds that are going to help you. Try to stay away from prednisone as much as possible ! And if you have any chance for surgery, take it. I went through three GI doctors and they didn't give me surgery when I could have had it. Two of them kept me on prednisone for almost a year and because of that not only has my body never been the same, my memory has been shot because of it, but they made me miss my chance of any possible surgery. I'm not trying to scare you or make you worry, I just don't want you to suffer like I have going into it not knowing a single thing about this disease. You will get through this though, just don't stress out if you have any accidents, or you have to stay home for a few days. It affects everyone differently, this is just my experience. But like I said if you need anyone to talk to or need advice, I will always be here

 Reply posted for eestrella13.

I apologize for the late response, I didn't get notified. But I agree entirely, I have accepted the fact that nothing is going to change and I have to take the good days with the bad, even though the bad outweigh the good. Especially lately, I got let go of my full time job a few weeks ago due to my disease, I had health insurance through them and now I have nothing and I've never been more sick as I am now. It's scary, it's a very scary thing to have to go through, especially when you feel like you're the only one. I truly pray that the remicade helps you and takes the pain away. Keep fighting it, we can't let this disease win :)

 Reply posted for honeybunny23.

I hear ya! I'm 28 and was diagnosed just a few weeks ago. This is a life long disease. And everyone keeps telling me you've got to accept it and just deal with it. I can't say that I have accepted it yet...

 Reply posted for eestrella13.

hi, i'm 25 and was diagnosed at the age of 17. sometimes it seems like i'm still in denial with all of it, other times i get so depressed because i can't believe that this happened to me. i was always a very otherwise healthy girl. if you ever need someone to talk to, just shoot me a message, always happy to talk. 

hey im 24 diagnosed with crohns at 22. Its a similar situation for me. Never went to the doctor until this happened. I was in denial at first but with everything ive been through im forced to come to terms with it. Im trying to live life as before but it is difficult when i have my body working against me. Just started remicade and it seems to be working. I hope you're doing ok though.