Recently diagnosed and terrified

@22Knop Hello 22Knop, thank you for opening this discussion and sharing what you're going through. Getting diagnosed with a chronic disease like ulcerative colitis can be overwhelming and stressful. Let me tag some other members of our community who can possibly share some advice with you!

Hi everyone, how are you doing?
Do you remember how you felt when you were diagnosed? Were you scared, stressed, confused, or were you able to accept it? Can you share some advice with 22Knop? What would you like to have known when you were diagnosed?
@Ohhhdalia‍ @Conicam‍ @DeborahCosentino‍ @mvvssaa‍ @amackay‍ @LoriParry‍ @Lala1124‍ @GoldenUmassJoe‍ @Saram01‍ @dorentin97‍ @Mineira100‍ @7042021999‍ @Debhandy‍ @bassgreg‍ @Kowen94‍ @MKearns‍ @Sheila70‍ 

Feel free to share here, we're all here to support one another!

Take care,
Courtney

Thank you for being open about your diagnosis. 

My name is Anthony I was diagnosed in 2016 at the age of 30, after about a year of going to the bathroom 20-40 times a day, weight loss and bleeding (you will get comfortable with being open about this, I was terrified because of the stigma of "bathroom talk".) I had no idea what it was, I was a college athlete wondering why,  what did I do. First thing is you need to know is,  it's not your fault.  I was very scared after looking at web MD and all the internet talk, what made me comfortable was talking to people who have had the diagnosis for 30, 40 even 50 years.  I have a very mild case and am lucky but I recently just kicked my 2nd flare in 5 years, what I have found most draining is the mental aspect of this and its not really talked about with the disease.  Please reach out and there is help,  you are not alone.  Anthony