I'm 23 years old and have just been diagnosed with UC and really struggling to come to terms with it

I feel so sorry for you Kirsty. I was diagnosed on Friday night and I'm a mum to a 3.5 yr old & a 1.5 yr old so can't imagine how tough it is for you right now with a 10 week old to look after. Call your gp or 111 and see if they can give you any pain relief over the bank holiday weekend. I'm guessing you've not been put on any proper meds yet? I've found the foam to be really good but I've only got left hand side colitis. I really hope that someone can offer you some advice Kirsty. Hope you feel better soon. Lol xxxx

I'm sorry to hear of your pain and other difficulties.  I can't comment on how to alleviate your pain except as suggested to get medical help right away.

I do want to say that this situation will not go on for ever. Afte my initial onset and a few weeks in hospital I recovered and lived largely symptom free for decades.  So don't dipair!

Second, UC can be triggered and made worse by stress.  Try and get some daily help if possible from friends or family as taking care of two little kids is stressful at the best of times.  I found daily ten-minute relaxation exercises seemed to help.  I would lie down, close my eyes and in a mantra style say to myself "relax your toes, relax your toes, relax your feet", etc. all the way up your body while paying attention to and relaxing that body part.  During the day try concsiously to relax your body. This won't replace medication but can be a useful addition to your meds.

Good luck and i hope you feel better soon! 

I have it 25 years and this is what has worked for me...asacol suppositories are good for bum pain....cocodamol 30/500 one every 3 hours if necessary... Good for pain and codeine in it is good for diarrhoea....this dose is prescription only..diet ...avoid all sugary things...also yogurts with fruit and all those yogurt drinks...fruit,fructose in it is not great...pork and it's products and in some people meat....chicken and fish are ok....noalcohol or fizzy drinks....I take vit c some b vitamins and oil capsules probiotics and digestive enzymes...the thing I have found best is lepicol with probiotics and psyllium seed mixed together( there is butyric acid in it which feeds coloncytes in the bowel and reduces inflammation) and it has been the one thing which has been my saviour.  Hope these suggestions are of some help and definetly get pain relief from your gp. There is nothing as debilitating as the pain that goes with it. If u have any queries u can mail me. good luck MJ

It began with diorreha and small amount of blood loss at same time . This gradually eased . At first my GP stated she thought may be diverticulitis and I had 2 fecel  calprocetin tests writhe silts of 460 then 140 . Been now to see the consultant at hospital ... Was so worried I asked could it be cancer and he advised on 2 separate occasions that it is not , he thinks it's ulcerated collitis but that he wants to do a colonoscopy to confirm .Just had a call to advise colonoscopy will be this coming Monday morning ...8.30am  . I have been so so worried, feel sick with worry , can't think of anything else... Surely a consultant would not say that it isn't cancer unless they are sure it is not ? .... Pls.... I can't function properly ATM.... I've 2 children and married ... Not coping .....sorry xxx

Kirsty, the chance that it's cancer is so extemely small that it's not worth worrying about.  As for the colonoscopy, ask them to give you as much sedation as possible so that you won't feel a thing and have a nice snooze and wake up half an hour later with no memory of the procedure.  Have someone go with you as you can't drive after (because of the sedation) and shouldn't go home alone even by public transit.

Feel realy sorry for you Kirsty; Iused to be going 15 times a day. people must think we are exagerating. but we are definately not. have they not give you salafalk enamas to have. That will stop the diareah.hope you feel better soon