10 Things People Living with Ulcerative Colitis Want Others to Know

If you think opening up to a new romantic partner is difficult, imagine doing that why trying to hide UC symptoms and constant bowel pains. Bodily functions don't make for the best romantic conversations on a first date, so imagine how difficult it can be for people living with inflammatory bowel disease to date new people. Sometimes, it's unavoidable to have disease symptoms when out with someone new, and it can be really embarrassing at times. The fear of rejection is very real for people who live with colitis, leading them to go to any length to hide their disease from their new partners. This can take the form of starving themselves or limiting their food intake, holding flatulence in for hours on end, waiting and straining for a moment to use the restroom, and pushing through uncomfortable moments with a badly made joke or even last-minute excuse to leave. All these limitations can make it really hard for patients to meet that special someone with whom they can let down their guard.