Hiding Your Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms from Family

Ulcerative colitis is not the type of disease that you want everyone to know you have. The most frequent word used in conjunction with UC is "diarrhea," and let's face it: That's not a pretty topic. Nevertheless, hiding your ulcerative colitis symptoms can be something of a burden, especially when it comes to family, and whether you should hide your disease depends on your own personal situation.

Drawbacks

The major drawback to hiding your ulcerative colitis symptoms from family is that there might come a time when you need medical assistance. If you are focusing all your energy on disguising your situation, your family might not realize that your condition is growing progressively worse. Some UC sufferers require surgery or frequent changes to medication, in which case you'll want someone to be able to observe your behavior and symptoms.

In some cases, hiding your ulcerative colitis symptoms from family will be impossible, and this is something you should realize early on. For example, if you have to be hospitalized for observation or because of dehydration, your family will want to know where you are and how they can help. They might be angry when they realize you've been less than honest with them, so prepare yourself for that possibility.

Additionally, you should know that hiding your ulcerative colitis symptoms may make them more difficult for you to personally bear. Depression is a common symptom of UC, especially among young patients, and not having someone to talk to about how you are feeling may make that depression worse. It is important to consider whether your family would want you to be open and honest about your condition.

Benefits

There are also several benefits to hiding your ulcerative colitis symptoms from family. For one thing, you'll avoid the questions and concerned glances that will inevitably start to appear more frequently, and family decisions won't be based on "how you're feeling." This is especially true for men who prefer to be the protectors and the fixers in a family, and who cringe at the thought of being "babied."

Furthermore, hiding your ulcerative colitis symptoms from your family will allow you to handle your disease in your own way. You won't constantly be questioned about your diet, medication and lifestyle choices, which will leave you free to pursue whatever alternatives seem appealing. It is impossible for someone without the disease to understand what you're going through, and it is often preferable to suffer in silence, as they say.

Challenges

Will you be successful in hiding your ulcerative colitis symptoms from your family? In all honesty, probably not. It might work if all of your family members live 2,000 miles away, but the people who live in your home and see you every day are more intuitive than you realize. You might be able to hide the severity of your symptoms, but it is doubtful that your spouse and your children will overlook that pained and exhausted expression on your face.

Nevertheless, you can avoid those challenges by keeping a positive attitude and doing whatever you can to lower your stress levels and decrease the length of your UC flare-ups. Drink plenty of fluids, take your medication, report changes in your condition to your doctor, and ask that your family members respect your privacy.