So my 11 year old boy has just had a colitis(UC?) diagnosis.
Wondering at what sort of age people got diagnosed and how people generally live with it. Dont know a huge amount about it yet. Does diet have much of an affect?
as macca says, diet can help but it isn't a cure. also, almost every person with UC is different. 1 food type might send one persons UC through the roof and yet another person else can be fine with it. it takes time to find out what your individual triggers are and even then it's not set in stone. some days i can eat nuts with no ill effects, others it'll have me doing the tiptoe dance to the loo but hopefully he'll learn as he gets 'used' to his UC to read his body and how he's feeling.
it's important with his meds though that he speaks up if he feels they aren't working - i learned that the hard way. when i was first diagnosed and placed on meds the first few years were horrendous. i just assumed the meds they put me on were the best for me but it turned out they weren't really doing much in my case. been changed a few times since then but thankfully, touch wood and all that, my current meds seem to keep mine under relatively good control.
re the age of diagnosis i think i was about mid to maybe late 20's - but i'd certainly had it for a good few years prior to that.
i wish your young lad all the best, it's not a fun or pleasant condition to have. try and not let him get too down about it (though i appreciate that is easier said than done) If he does get on a downer, maybe point out to him that Darren Fletcher was diagnosed with UC while playing for Man Utd and he was able to continue playing top level football.
