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Scott, age 37
UC Managing My Life
Over my 14-year battle with UC, the disease has limited my freedom, ruined a few vacations and holidays, and even led to hospitalization. Unfortunately, my struggle isn't just with my disease, but with my medications. Lately, the combination of being a new dad and working to establish a start-up business has made it even more difficult to stay compliant. When you're helping to raise a child and build a business, your needs automatically get pushed to the back burner. That means maintaining any kind of personal regimen, whether going to the gym or taking medications, becomes a struggle. I'm aware that being noncompliant with my medication is gambling with my health. Flares and complications from UC don't just impact me, they impact my family and business. I always intend to be compliant, but when you're running to a meeting or running off to class with a baby, you can't always stop everything to make sure you're taking the right medication at the right time of day. It's a burden to always have to think, "Where will I be when my next round of meds are due-with a client, on a plane, changing a diaper?"
Me Managing My Life
For years I hid my disease. I was guarded and saw it as a weakness, which only increased the chance I would be noncompliant. I never wanted to reveal that UC controlled my life or what I could do. Now, I am more open about my disease and have become an active participant in UC support groups. I also research UC through the Internet and am always looking for improved treatments. I've read about the development of a once-daily treatment that would help my routine. I lead a busy lifestyle, so something that would help ensure compliance would be tremendously helpful…anything that can make me feel like I'm managing the disease, not the other way around.
This is one person's experience. |
