drink) and NG tube (feeding tube). For the feeding tube I also had module. My operation
was on the 25th of July 2013 and I am now on no medication or treatment.
The quote I now have since my surgery is: “don’t look back, always look to the future”.
Now I am well. You don’t want to be looking back on all the painful times and hospital
stays, you just need to concentrate on doing as much as you can while you’re well. My
best piece of advice to anyone newly diagnosed is this: it is normal to be worried when
you’re first diagnosed, but there are an awful lot of people going through what you’re
going through at the moment. Get onto twitter and find them, or even just join your local
group; just remember you are not alone.
HELEN R. @CHRONICINSPIRE
chronicinspirations.com
I was diagnosed with uclerative colitis in
1994. There was no Internet, much less
social media, back then. I was offered
no information or support beyond
medical care. These days it is much
easier to find others online who are in
the same boat. I badgered my Doctors
for information about the disease &
treatments, as they had minimal printed
material available.
I was diagnosed in 1994 when I was
21 and had my first surgery in 1998 to
remove my colon. Two more surgeries
followed to create a JPouch. It is nearly
20 years since that initial diagnosis and
many more surgeries to deal with problems from adhesions.
My advice to those who are newly diagnosed is to educate yourself about the disease
and the treatments. You will be expected to sign informed consent forms for any
procedures, so you might as well be informed. This disease can really impact on all areas
of your life, so professional psychological support is important too.
The best source of information about the disease for me was doing a health science
degree at university. That happened 9 years after my diagnosis, as I wanted to really
understand what the big picture of my health situation was as well as begin a new career.
In finding a Doctor &/or health care team, look for people who are comfortable with
9