From the article: Tell Your Friends About IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the type of illness that can be embarrassing to discuss, even with your physicians, let alone your friends. When, where, why, and how you decide to tell your friends about your IBD is very important. You want -- and need -- the support of your friends during difficult times with your IBD. How did you approach your friends to let them know how your IBD has affected your life?
Share Your Tips
Honesty Is The Best Policy
- Just be honest. Trust me, they have other people they know who also have the same issue(s). It will be a burden off your shoulders. Be straight forward, and share the news, tell them it hurts, you can't go out...they'll understand.
- —JITS79
A Terrible Tummy
- I have had UC for 13 years. At first my disease only affected the left side and presented with mild symptoms. In year seven it progressed to pancolitis and now my symptoms are much more severe. As such, for the past several years, I feel I have to share just enough information to let people know why I can and can't do certain things. To explain my situation, I tell people that I live with a chronic illness that affects my digestive system. Or, when people ask why I am not eating or eating so little at a social event, I might say, "I live with a terrible tummy," or something like that. Most people are content with those answers. I have shared more details with close friends and relatives, elaborating on meds, pain, periods of remission etc. That being said, it is a very difficult disease for the uninitiated to understand. Sometimes I am fine, sometimes not. Sometimes I am able to travel, sometimes not. Sometimes I live almost like a "normal person," sometimes not.
- —Guest GKLOR
Different Levels of Information
- I never hide my diagnosis. I don't blurt it out on first meeting someone, but when something comes up in conversation I mention it. Usually it's someone asking me what I "do" and I tell them I'm a disabled veteran with Crohn's and a stay-at-home mom with a toddler. I don't mind them asking what it is and gear my response to how much they seem to want to know. If they're just being polite, I say it's an inflammatory bowel disease that makes my guts have sores and hurt -- like rubbing a sunburn. Otherwise I expand that it affects my diet and that unfortunately I have to use the bathroom a lot. If I feel like wow-ing them, I describe it as diarrhea 7-15 times a day for the past 12 years. But I try to end on a positive note, say... trying a new med that might help, or that surgery removed the worst spots and I'm much better now and we hope it lasts a while! If I need help, most friends like the thought that there's some way they CAN help. I try not to ask for much so no one feels used.
- —Guest Sofi
