Young mother battles through ulcerative colitis

Monica, a young mother, walks through her symptoms, ulcerative colitis diagnosis and managing the disease.

Transcript

00:00

SPEAKER 1: So I was first diagnosed with UC in 2016. I had no idea what ulcerative colitis was

00:08

and honestly, I felt terrified. And the doctor at the time, he said, we don't know what causes it.

00:15

There is no cure. So that was very jarring, and I was frightened.

00:24

When I had to be hospitalized, it was very, very frightening. In 2019, I had a major flare.

00:32

And I didn't know it at the time, but the inflammation had spread to other parts of my colon. So I started to have symptoms that I never had before.

00:41

I had to go to the bathroom, sometimes, 20-25 times a day. And it got to the point where I couldn't

00:47

keep any food inside my body. And I had lost about 30 pounds within two weeks.

00:54

It was really my husband that was forcing me to go, because I didn't want to go. I was teaching at the time. It was a new school year.

01:01

My husband was like, no, you have to go. I just didn't realize the severity of it. So when I had to be on fluids and then they

01:08

wanted to keep me overnight, that's when I realized, OK, this is really serious. And so, having had this disease for some years now,

01:18

I am proud to say that I am my biggest advocate. And I speak up, I ask questions, I make

01:24

recommendations for myself. And I'm proud of that. Some of the ways that I manage UC

01:32

so that it doesn't take over my life-- number one, definitely with medication that makes life a bit more normal.

01:42

I also manage with diet. I've taken out several foods that are triggers.

01:48

Exercise is a very important component of managing ulcerative colitis.

01:54

For me, I love to do morning walks. Good morning, all. I'm on my morning walk here to encourage you.

02:02

I hope you can do some exercise today too. And I also manage by decreasing stress in my life

02:08

and doing the things that I love to do that bring me joy.

02:15

It's very difficult being a mom with ulcerative colitis. I have two sons. One is 5, and one is 3.

02:23

5. SPEAKER 1: Good job. They are so much fun. They're so bright. You're stirring it so fast.

02:31

[INAUDIBLE] SPEAKER 1: They're the best things that have ever happened to me.

02:37

Friends and loved ones have helped me and supported me tremendously. And I would also say that my husband has been my number one

02:47

supporter. He's been an advocate for me. And so, I'm just so grateful to have a partner that supports me and loves me in that way.

02:56

I really try to be grateful. I share my story, because I find that other people are

03:03

encouraged because they may be going through something. It makes me feel better, and it shows me that there's purpose in what I'm going through,

03:11

especially when I have really dark days. I have had UC for several years.

03:18

And though it has been challenging to live life with this disease, there is hope.