_jpstroop: I have had ulcerative colitis for 12 years. I’m constantly exhausted, in pain, and/or running to the bathroom. But the worst part is the shame.
I frequently am not able to make it to a bathroom on time and crap my pants. I dropped out of college 5 years ago because I couldn’t make it from parking to class 90% of the time. It’s happened at work. In movie theaters. At church. Out to eat. You name it.
Only recently have I let 3-5 of my closest friends know how bad my health has been. I feel very fortunate because I have a wife who never gives up on me.
But sometimes, I just want to give up on myself. Just like, “What the heck? Am I really supposed to deal with this forever?”