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Andréa, age 34
UC Managing My Life
My UC diagnosis came my senior year in college and took over all aspects of my college life. My grades slipped, I wasn't able to spend time hanging out with my friends, and I missed out on a huge part of my college experience. Then, it hindered me professionally because I was scared to take any job that required extensive travel. I let UC take over my life for the first three to five years. I did not schedule vacations or go on camping trips with friends because I was too afraid of having a flare or being too sick on the trip. I often did not take my medication, or would forget the afternoon and evening dosage. I did not manage the disease, but let it manage me. There were many months I did not want to take any medication because I finally felt healthy-taking the medication just reminded me that I was sick. I went from doctor to doctor to get a "quick fix" to stay flare free. I finally realized that until I took my medication as prescribed, along with watching what foods and emotional stresses triggered flares, I would never gain control over my UC.
Me Managing My Life
I'm working on that right now, but it's not always easy. I joined the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, started volunteering, and began sharing what was really going on with me. I also decided to work with my doctors to find what the right medications were for me, and I'm trying my best to stay compliant-even when I start to feel better. It's a constant struggle though. It's easiest to take my medications in the morning, because that's when I'm taking my vitamins. Somehow that makes it feel like I'm in control and the medication is just "helping" me to get through my day. When I have to try to remember at lunchtime and in the evening, however, it starts to make me feel like the UC is trying to control me…a once-daily medication would help me feel like I was back in control.
This is one person's experience.
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