Managingulcerative colitiscan feel all-consuming at times.
Most people use medications to stop inflammation in the large intestine.
(Sometimes, people havesurgeryto remove their colon and rectum when medications dont work.)
Lisa Moses
Im so grateful I can pretty much do anything or go anywhere now.
For Laura Scaviola, 33,ulcerative colitis symptomscame on suddenly in 2013 at age 25.
Scaviola could barely eat or drink for days following these episodes because her pain was so bad.
After going to the emergency room for severe dehydration, Scaviola was referred to a gastroenterologist and began treatment.
Scaviola went through six medication attempts before she found one that helped her achieve remission in 2018and maintain it.
Scaviola says that her social life and personal relationships have improved since remission.
Im so grateful I can pretty much do anything or go anywhere now, she says.
Still, Scaviola says its hard not to let her past experiences factor into the decisions she makes today.
Despite the freedom of remission, I still live cautiously with ulcerative colitis on my mind.
One example, she says, is how she picked out her wedding dress.
I still let my disease dictate some of my decisions.
Its hard not to.
Lauren Scaviola
2.
I remember experiencing pure joy that I wasn’t living with pain and fatigue.
Starshak says her life changed incrediblya true 180 degrees after achieving remission.
Before her remission, Starshak says fatigue severely impacted what she was able to do.
Now I can spend extra time learning and working on personal and professional growth.
Starshak has frequent follow-ups to maintain her ulcerative colitis remission.
Even in remission, we can never stop treating the disease.
Megan Starshak
3.
Now, I can go about my day normally without many preparations.
Rosanne Mottola, 36, dealt withexcruciating painwhen she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis while in college in 2006.
Most of the time there was blood present.
Mottola was officially diagnosed with ulcerative colitis a few months before she graduated from college.
In addition to the gut symptoms, I was exhausted and anxious.
As a last-ditch effort, my doctor tried a new mix of medications, she says.
That mix did the trick in greatly reducing my symptoms prior to my wedding in 2011.
In 2014, she achieved full remission and it ended up lasting.
Remission is life changing.
Now, I can go about my day normally without many preparations.
Mottola now volunteers for theCrohns and Colitis Foundationand urges other ulcerative colitis patients to advocate for themselves.
Shortly thereafter, I had one of the worst flares of my life, she says.
Because of her experience, Mottola says, I always tell IBD newbies to never, ever settle.
If there’s something that doesn’t feel right, you better speak up.
Rosanne Mottola
4.
I remembered what it was to have a life again.
But in 2015, Ulliman started taking two new medications that greatly improved her symptoms.
After a few months, I started noticing differences, she tells SELF.
In the thick of my ulcerative colitis journey, I genuinely forgot how much fun life could be.
Remission, she says, allowed her to live fully again.
I had some extra energy.
I startedhesitant, at firstto exercise.
I could eat food without immediately regretting it afterward.
I could have a glass of wine now and again.
I remembered what it was to have a life again.
Ulliman wants other ulcerative colitis patients to have hope.
Mary Elizabeth Ulliman
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