Dealing with Ulcerative Colitis as a Teen Attending High School

In a recent article I touched on battling ulcerative colitis from my teens to my thirties. I discussed my symptoms when it began, and how I felt, down to when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. When this opportunity came up for discussing ulcerative colitis and school I thought it would give me the opportunity to go more in depth to the emotional strain ulcerative colitis can cause. The physical can be stressful, but the emotional effects can be just as harsh.

After having major back surgery in the 1970's my body never fully recovered. As I started middle school there started an issue with my stomach. In one day I had diarrhea 2 to 3 times a day, and discomfort that was so intense at times I could not stand laying down. No amount of anti-diarrheals helped. My mom thought it was the way I was eating as I was quite overweight at this time. But, when my eating turned finicky my mom grew worried, and I was taken for tests.

I was diagnosed with Proctosigmoiditis, one type of ulcerative colitis. This type causes painful cramps, pain in your side and rectal bleeding.

My doctor prescribed anti-inflammatory medication, and it helped with the inflammation, but it did not really help the attacks. I was put on a different diet of less meats, no raw vegetables and just all around foods that were more bland. This was not easy for me as I loved potato chips, soda, burgers, and pizza. My school days were also changing since all this started.

It was hard enough attending school as a disabled teen, but now I had an added issue to deal with, ulcerative colitis. While at school I relied on a caregiver to feed me lunch, and write for me in class. She was very kind. But, when my ulcerative colitis flared up at school she was put through her paces. My attacks could and often did, happen when in class. The cramps would come and before I could warn my caregiver, the diarrhea started. She would rush me to the bathroom as quickly as possible, but 8 times out 10, we never made it. I ended up going home wearing my jeans, but no underwear.