The survey says it is for those living with or caring for someone with UC, so the rest of you who are like me (loved ones) should probably skip it too.

I should have also mentioned that the survey above is completely anonymous.

My dad has it, and I have it's milder cousin, IBS. A maddening condition because it waxes and wanes on its own little path. What helps to relieve it one flare up doesn't the next. There is a fantastic organization, the Crohns Colitis Foundation with lots of resources. Overall, I would say the hardest thing your son is going to have to deal with is that he is no longer Superman. He has a touchy constitution and has to watch his health regime--eat right, get a enough rest, practice stress relief techniques, learn coping strategies for having a chronic illness. And despite what people say, it is not about what you eat or your stress, although managing those things can help lessen your symptoms and lessen your suffering. It is an autoimmune condition. Keeping yourself stress free and healthy is good for the immune system, no matter how you look at it, but not always possible. We do what we can. It is also related to seratonin. I have migranes, another seratonin related condition, which is also chronic, so I definately can related to what your son is going through. Like I said, he needs to just realize that this is part of being human, he won't always have flare ups, it will pass and he will have many, many good days. And when he has a bad day, he will just have to take it easy and people will just have to understand. Then he can go back gangbusters on the good days. If you try to drug yourself into "normalcy" with these chronic conditions, my experience has been that you just drag out the hard times all that much longer. At least that's the way it is with my migranes. I can drug myself into a three day migrane to try and function, (which I can only manage to do marginally) or take a day off work and be back 100% the next day. Same with my dad, he was ill on steroids for 10 years, absolutely miserable, until he accepted his disease, went off steroids, adjusted his lifestyle and has been feeling great ever since. He also ended up with steroid related degeneration, so I would avoid that route if I possibly could with your son. My friend was taking steroids for asthma for years (which actually ended up being misdiagnosed and who knows how many of her subsequent health problems were a result of the steroids), and has had nothing but grief the past five years from fallout from that. I'm not saying steroids haven't saved some people's lives with these chronic conditions, but IMHO the best route is to try holistic management of a chronic condition first. My friend didn't even HAVE asthma, which shows you how the medical field can get things VERY WRONG some times. You need to educate yourself and be your own advocate. Your son is not alone! Just from my own experience, a mild diet low on the rough fiber (from wheat bran and vegetable and fruit peels) and low on dairy, but including soluable fiber (from things like applesauce, barley and oatmeal) is helpful. Some people are sensitive to onions, peppers and cruciferous vegetables, but if your son is not, then don't worry about that. Doctors say stay away from lots of fat, lots of sugar and caffeine and eat smaller meals spread out througout the day to keep from hyperstimulating the digestive tract. But that's good advice for anyone. Again, your son will just have to watch himself. He doesn't have an iron gut, but then no one should actually act like they do, although a lot of us do. My friend who has it swears by herbs, (and she's a scientist), but your mileage may vary. Everyone is unique in how they respond to various natural treatments. That's one thing you learn with a chronic disease, you have to find your own unique combination of coping techniques that work for you. There are lots of resources out there. Approach all with an open mind but a healthy dose of skepticism. It has been my experienc that a LOT of doctors know nothing about treating chronic diseases through prevention and lifestyle managment. They only know to prescribe this or that pill which is what they get from the pharmaceutical companies. I'm not totally dissing pills, but bear in mind that these pills all have side effects, many of which are NOT reported on. For example, my dad was on cholesterol lowering medication for TWO YEARS which gave him chronic lung congestion. He was on round after round of antibiotics and claimed to have a constant cold. Well FINALLY after going to many doctors, one realized it was a little publicized side effect from the medication. Same goes for my friend with "asthma," she actually had a rare swelling of the trachea, and 10 years of asthma treatment, (which is a bronchial condition), treatment for swollen vocal chords, etc. did nothing for her. Eventually x-rays revealed the problem was in the trachea, which is between the vocal chords and bronchial tubes, which had not been looked at all that time. I'm mentioning this because I really think that my dad got some BAD advice early on in his battle with ulcerative colitis and I would urge you to not take the kool aide totally with all these drugs the doctors push. Find out some alternatives from people who are also scientific in their approach, knowledeable, flexible and skeptical, but aren't totally under the sway of the drug companies and the billions they pump into research. Good information takes a little rooting around to find. There's probably an active Chrons Colitis group in your area to join. Here is a link that might be useful: Chrons Colitis Foundation

Wow noda what you describe is exactly how I feel....since my last bout with this about 5 or 6 years ago....I have been fine....I have had trouble for the last year on and off...but started the vomiting old blood and clots and KNEW I have to get to the doc..... (sorry probably to much info there)...Yep I can't eat and bubbly is a good way to describe how my tummy is besides when I get like the sharpe burning shooting pain in the middle of my chest....like heartburn....I hate this but know it will get better...I have been using the prilosec on and off for the last year....probably should have been better at taking it...but I wasn't....Anyways thanks all for the kind thoughts....and i will keep you all posted... I will ask my doc about that on Friday....Stacy