Hello Becky Jane,

Your feelings are valid. When I was first diagnosed I was relieved to find out why I was so sick. But, with time I actually went through the five stages of grief because this diagnosis seemed to signify the end of my previous life and the start of a new life.

The good news is that while flare-up times can be anything from mild to very bad - depending on the person - non-flare periods can be very productive and enjoyable.

Not many GI doctors believe that food can have anything to do with the course your UC will take. But, many UCers find that what foods they do and don't eat can make a difference in their overall health. Obviously, if you are in a flare-up you want to eat foods that are kind to your gut - foods that are what I call "white-and-light" such as scrambled eggs, yogurt, white rice, white toast, baked chicken breast or white fish, etc. And then when the flare isn't so bad or is under control you still might need to be careful about eating hard to digest foods like junk food, citrus fruits, nuts and seeds, whole grains, etc. Many of us have to build our systems back up to be able to handle these foods.

There are some really good support communities out there for UCers like www.ibdsupport.org. But do be careful how much time you spend on the internet researching this or any other medical topic as no two UC patients are the same, nor have the same reaction to the disease, nor seem to be able to use the exact same protocol to treat the illness.

At this stage of having UC you will ask many questions, try different diets to see if food is a trigger or problem for your disease, need a lot of patience with your self and your body, and will also need to learn some relaxation techniques for those frustrating times.

Read through my many Shareposts on this site and you should get a better idea of some things that can help you. Also, try very hard to find a GI with whom you see eye-to-eye on your treatment. It can take going through more than one or two doctors until you find the one that seems to be singing off the same page as you.

Write with more quesitons as they come up. And do look through my Shareposts - click on the Connect button above, then on See Elizabeth Roberts' Shareposts

Best to you,

Elizabeth

BeckyJane

4/26/11 5:37pm

   Thank you, Elizabeth, for your advice and good wishes.  It's so good to know that although, as you stated, we are all individuals, with planning and diligence, one can live a full life.