Ulcrative colitis?!
Question:
Ulcrative colitis?
hi i am 13 and i have uc (ulcrative colitis) i bugs me because when i go to my friends i have to try and sneak my pills. its getting better but i need someone to talk about it my e-mail is jerseygirl5794@aol.com
Answers:
i have Crohn's disease. Why in the world are you sneaking around your friends? If they are your friends, share this news with them. If one of them lost a leg tomorrow or an arm or something - would you support them and be their friend? Of course you would!
I understand it's embarrassing but take charge of it - own your disease. Don't let it own you! Tell them flat out what is it - that it ISN'T contagious - and what happens and how you feel sometimes. I know that anything to do with the intestinal tract isn't a pleasant thing to talk about - but honestly....it can be quite funny once you get it out in the open.
If they are your friends - this won't matter to them.
When I was 20 or so, I met a younger girl (probably 14) who was severely depressed about her Crohn's. She had to carry Lyson in her purse! She was so scared about her friends finding out. I met up with her and she saw how I interacted with my friends - they knew the icky details of my disease and we - at times- joked about it. She saw how they supported me without making me feel awkward.
You wouldn't want your friends hiding something like this from you - you'd want to help and shoulder some of the burden.
Maybe you can go to a UC website and print out what it is and give them all a copy so they can have it.
Take care, don't feel alone and keep your chin up!