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When I was 14 years old, my family physician demanded the gastroenterologist next door see me as soon as possible. I had been experiencing bloody diarrhea, lack of appetite, insane weight loss and low energy. One sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy later, the diagnosis was in: I had ulcerative colitis (UC), a kind of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The two types of IBD—Crohn's disease and UC—are gastrointestinal (GI) disorders affecting various parts of the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis resides in the colon (large intestine), and up to 900,000 Americans are thought to have it. I was found to have it early; most people are diagnosed between 15 and 30. There is no known cure for UC, though surgery to remove the colon is an option for patients with severe cases that have not responded to other forms of treatment. UC is also a risk factor for colon cancer, so we look for signs during my tri-yearly colonoscopies to check on my remission.
I knew nothing about UC when I was diagnosed, so I've spent a lot of time learning about it since then—the facts, treatment options and tricks to live with my disease. I've shared my own story of struggle and triumph with rooms full of people. I've had others approach me, asking if I would talk to their loved one who's struggling. I've built an exceptional life for myself with UC over the last 17 years.
Still, there will always exist the behind-the-scenes reality of what life with IBD can look like. Here's a quick glimpse.
