A Guide to Renting an Apartment for the Ulcerative Colitis Patient

Choosing an apartment can be stressful in and of itself. You have to find one that is in the right location, is the right price, and has all the amenities that are important to you. Finding the right blend of criteria is difficult, but trying to take into consideration your ulcerative colitis as well can be a downright daunting task. Here are some simple things to keep in mind when apartment hunting as a UC patient.

Bathroom Quantity and Location
If you are living with other people, how comfortable are you going to be with the bathroom situation? Consider finding an apartment with more than one bathroom, so that you can have privacy during a flare-up. If multiple bathrooms aren't an option, at least take into consideration the location of the one bathroom within the apartment. Is it in a very central part of the flat, where you might be involuntarily sharing your flare-up symptoms with the other people in the house? Also, does the bathroom have a built in ventilation system (a fan can help with both noise and odor)?

Kitchen Layout
The other central location in the home for the ulcerative colitis sufferer is the kitchen. You need to be sure that the kitchen space is going to be adequate to prepare the food sometimes required by our specialized diets. This can include requisites like extra storage space if your diet is significantly different than that of those you live with. It can also mean that you might need more work space within the kitchen if multiple meals need to be prepared at the same time. For instance, your family or roommates want spicy Mexican food, and you are needing to prepare your food at the same time... Is there enough space for this to happen without you wanting to kill your friends or family?

Overall Comfort and Flow
While having an apartment layout that fosters overall harmony is always important, it is especially important for those of us who suffer from ulcerative colitis. If you have had UC for any length of time, you have probably noticed that you flare up more often when stressed out than at any other time. You want to be sure that the place you are coming home to is relaxing and calming, not awkwardly laid out full of clutter. Pick an apartment that will be a soothing place to be, and you will help to minimize the frequency and intensity of your flare-ups.

Picking an apartment is exceedingly important. You aren't just choosing a place that you are going to put your stuff, you are choosing a home. Be sure that your home is going to be conducive to every part of your life. Even your ulcerative colitis.