"Old-man's Disease" - mile 161

Ok, as a warning, this post is serving as a type of vent for something I overheard and frustrated me.

I was leaving my GI doctor's office and I overheard a conversation that one patient was having with a nurse in the waiting room (of all places). The patient was a man, probably in his mid-thirties, and was dressed well (successful business-man look). I overheard the conversation due to the brash tone with which he was speaking. Mostly because the tone and mannerism seemed unfitting for his appearance. However, it was his words that truly caught my ear.

Speaking with anger, the man stated that this was an "old-man's disease" and that he was too young to be experiencing it. Not knowing the rest of the conversation I assumed that he had recently been diagnosed with Crohn's, UC, diverticulitis or some other GI malady. I acted as though I had not heard anything; much like the faces of others in the waiting room. However, this comment was not something that left my mind easily.

My first reaction was one of agitation. Perhaps I was feeling self-conscience about my own difficulties. I am a good deal younger than that patient and his "old-man" comment hit home. I began to wonder if others in my life would view me as an incapable "pre-elder." I still have a lot of ambition and goals for my life and this comment made me revisit my own doubts (that life could be normal) when I was first diagnosed.

That is when my thoughts about the situation changed. I realized that the patient was probably recently diagnosed and going through the normal frustrations that come with the experience (although, the patient would have been better off discussing this in private with his doctor). Ironically, witnessing this event turned into further inspiration for me. I realized that, despite currently feeling well, I had once been in a poor condition. Coming out of that was something to my credit, but mostly it made me want to share my experience and hopefully encourage others to work through the rough periods. You can live a happy, healthy, active life with UC and an occasional reminder of that is helpful.