There are serious health issues that don’t get talked about as much, and this makes it harder for those newly diagnosed individuals to cope. Ulcerative colitis is one of these chronic illnesses.
Ulcerative colitis is part of the irritable bowel disease (IBD) family of illnesses, and because the symptoms of IBD and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) are hard to talk about, patients are often embarrassed to even reveal they struggle with it. We’ll talk about some of the ways you can cope with ulcerative colitis, both physically and emotionally.
We’ll also discuss the ways your financial well-being is affected by the disease, such as getting ulcerative colitis life insurance. Holding down a job can also be difficult when you constantly have to go to the bathroom. We’ll try to help with this development in the disease and how others have handled it.
What causes ulcerative colitis?
This is a fairly simple question to answer. According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, ulcerative colitis is “a chronic disease of the large intestine, in which the lining of the colon becomes inflamed and develops tiny sores or ulcers. This condition is the result of your immune system’s overactive response.”
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But what causes someone to develop colitis? It can be very frustrating for those who are newly diagnosed, and it is vital to understand that sometimes you simply can’t control the health issues that enter your life.
Genetics is always prominent when predicting chronic diseases like colitis. If you have a family member with the illness, look for symptoms in your own body as well. Environmental factors and lifestyle stressors can also cause colitis to become worse or flare up.
If you have not been diagnosed with it, try to limit your exposure to stress and unhealthy foods that upset the gastrointestinal system in your body. Talk to your doctor right away if you have any stomach problems, bathroom issues, or intestinal abnormalities of any kind. Even if you don’t have colitis, you could have another disease that is part of the IBD family.
Does ulcerative colitis affect someone’s finances?
Ulcerative colitis can be incredibly hard in your intestines, even leading to an increased risk of colon cancer. This means that many life insurance companies may increase your rates if they find out you have ulcerative colitis. It is still important to be honest with your doctor and your life insurance provider so the problem can be alleviated as much as possible.
Taking steps to improve your health while living with colitis will get you better life insurance rates, along with several of the other usual factors that insurance companies take into account. Age and gender play a small part in life insurance eligibility.
Older men who have been living with colitis are more likely to see a spike in rates than older women. Men typically die at a younger age than women do. Other lifestyle choices that make colitis worse, like a diet high in nitrates and fats, can lead to harsher symptoms when living with the disease. This will also affect the insurance prices you get for life insurance with colitis.
Smoking or using alcohol with colitis may also lead to increased rates. Staying as healthy as possible in other areas of your life is always a good way to show you are a lower risk for an insurer. Other chronic conditions like heart failure and diabetes can combine with colitis to make you a risk factor for life insurance companies.
People living with multiple illnesses are more likely to face complications from one or both diseases.
Working With Ulcerative Colitis
Getting a job and maintaining good work habits while living with colitis can also be difficult. People with colitis have to use the toilet more often, and this could lead to productivity issues. Colitis patients should talk with their employers about how they can handle their disease at work.
If you are a valuable employee and have proven to your boss you are not using your condition to get special treatment, everything should go smoothly. These discussions can be difficult to have, though. IBD illnesses are not as common among the general population. It’s not exactly the same as having cancer or heart disease.
This is why it is important to accept your condition and not become embarrassed of it when it’s time to tell others. Colitis can and will take over your life if you let it.
Mental Health Problems While Having Ulcerative Colitis
Having a chronic condition like colitis is just as mentally draining as it is physically. This is because you have to accept the fact that you can’t permanently cure your illness. Treatment for colitis, much like diabetes, is something a patient has to incorporate into their lifestyle.
Listening to your doctors and trying your best to follow their advice will give the best outcome in the end. If you are showing signs of anxiety or depression due to a diagnosis, speak to your doctor immediately about your mental state.
Therapy for People With Ulcerative Colitis
It can be both shocking and overwhelming to receive a new diagnosis of any kind. Therapy is a vital tool to combat all of the emotions that come from being diagnosed. It’s hard to speak about issues like this, especially because ulcerative colitis is about something so private.
Colitis can lead to feelings of wondering what you did wrong. Others who don’t have colitis won’t go to the bathroom as much or have to go to the doctor as much. Seeing the way you have to change your lifestyle after a chronic illness diagnosis makes you wonder whether you could have done something to prevent it. Feelings of guilt and sadness are likely.
All people can do in life is act accordingly. When something like a chronic disease becomes a part of your lifestyle, you can’t focus on the past. Focusing on the present is the best way to curb negative thinking and results.
Colitis patients can live fulfilling lives. Going to the doctor for checkups, taking any medications, and having a good diet are all ways to lessen potentially poor outcomes.
