How I am Coping with the Effects of Ulcerative Colitis

I was first diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in August of 2001. I remember I had gone to see the gastroenterologist with my mom when I first got the news. I sat there and a million thoughts raced through my head. How was I going to deal with this? What was my family going to do? How would my friends react? It is indescribable how it feels to find out that you're sick and that its something you're going to have to deal with for the rest of your life. My doctor told me that with medication I'd be able to lead a happy, normal life, but that hasn't happened yet.

We went home and told my family and I remember both of my siblings breaking down and crying. My dad didn't react much because he didn't know how to, he was in shock. Most people don't know how serious Ulcerative Colitis can be and how much it affects a family's daily routine. It's deceiving because from the outside we look normal but on the inside is another story. My family has had to deal with just as much as I have on an emotional level. They've tried to understand what I'm going through on a physical level but there is only so much they can comprehend.

At first it only affected us in small ways. My diet had to be changed so mom would cook separately for me. If we had family outings we had to make sure there were restrooms nearby. Even though the daily routine was interrupted it was something that we could all deal with. But then my symptoms started to get worse and my disease progressed very quickly. We had tried all medications that were available for Ulcerative Colitis and had no luck in alleviating my symptoms. I became ill to the point that I had to have my entire colon (large intestine) removed.