Why Am I Sharing?

When I started Colitis Senioritis, I really didn't think much about it. I needed a way to convey to family how I was progressing or regressing and thought a place where they could come and read at their own leisure of my health ups and downs would be best.

However, I did not realize that my reasons would expand and so much more would go into this blog. So why am I sharing my ulcerative colitis intimate experiences and feelings with anyone who has access to the internet?

More recognition. Most people have never heard of colitis, let alone ulcerative colitis. Why would they? It's not one of the more well-known autoimmune diseases. According to MedlinePlus.gov, there are over 80 autoimmune diseases. Most people are only aware of a handful of them. UC is one of the more unfamiliar diseases.

The daily tussle of living with this disease. Basically, what living with a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects your poop, of all things, is like.

Help family and friends know why I do, or don't, take part in certain activities. I'm sure part of it is my age, but part of my missing out is also this maddening disease. I have much less gas in the tank than I used to and when it's gone, I'm done. (Oh, and the tank has shrunk.)

Hope. There is so much fear and despair when diagnosed with a lifelong disease. The younger you are, the worse it is. I wish I had known half of what I know now when I was first diagnosed. I certainly would have sought treatment sooner than I did. And the "devastation" that first hits you is not the whole reality of being a UC patient. There IS hope, and that needs to get out there.

Fellowship. Knowing you are not alone is invaluable. Learning from those living the same experiences as you is vital. There is a comradeship that comes from seeing understanding in someone's eyes that evolved only from personal experience, or feeling someone's pain from reading their pleading, heartfelt words.

There is one other reason why I'm sharing.

Ulcerative colitis is now part of who I am. I refuse to define myself by it, but it IS part of the person I am now and the person I will be in the future. It is important for others to know that, as I never know when the consequences of this disease might hit, or when plans may get derailed.

I have learned so much from other UC people sharing. If they had not, I'm not sure where I would be. Maybe my sharing will help someone else. 

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© Colitis Senioritis 2024

Health Update July 2024: Good News and I'm-Not-Sure-What-To-Think News

It has now been about six weeks since I went completely off the mesalamine, taking only one 33mg Rinvoq a day.

The Good News part is that, for the most part, I'm doing okay. If I had to rate it, I would say four out of five. Mostly solid stool, mostly clean stool, mostly no urgency.

However, you'll notice there were a lot of "mostly"s in there.

In the past month, I have had diarrhea twice. I think both times I ate some bad food, but I'm not sure. The first time was a once occurrence, the second time, things were mushy for a few days and I had to take an anti-diarrhea pill.

I've had bowel movements with some mucus . . . but thankfully, only light mucus.

My stomach has been much more on the achy side, with a few sharp pains a few times. I've had a couple of afternoons, not concurrent, where I just sat on the couch, massaging my stomach. I've had more days in the past four weeks where I just didn't feel good then I've had in awhile.

I have an appointment with my G.I. next month. So . . . we'll see how I'm doing at that time. I will say, though, that even though there have been more blah days and BMs than I'd like, the Rinvoq is still doing it's job. And if this is how things will be, I'll take it. Even if I have to go back on one or two mesalamine pills again, I'll still be better than I was.

Next update: August 2024, Down, Down, Down

Previous update: June 2024, Dong Okay, However . . .

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© Colitis Senioritis 2024