One Father’s Journey to True Ulcerative Colitis Control

For Eric, the journey with ulcerative colitis (UC) began abruptly in 2016. After experiencing blood in his stool, a symptom too alarming to ignore, he underwent a colonoscopy, which revealed mild inflammation. However, with no family history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and lacking information on the condition, Eric quickly normalized his symptoms. For three years, he lived without a solid stool, assuming the ongoing urgency was simply due to his diet or stress.

By October 2019, his minimized symptoms escalated into a full-blown health emergency. Juggling the demands of a highly intensive on-site professional role and the pressures of being a new father to a 6-month-old son, Eric tried to mask his deteriorating health. He began starving himself during the workday to avoid the bathroom, resulting in a rapid 20-pound weight loss. The physical and emotional toll peaked during a shift at work, where severe dehydration caused tunnel vision and urinary complications, leading to immediate hospitalization and a formal UC diagnosis.

The diagnosis brought both relief and a steep learning curve. Because UC is an invisible illness, Eric realized how easily patients can suffer in silence. Initially, standard biologic treatments offered some relief, bringing him down to five or six bathroom visits a day. While Eric was willing to accept this as his “new normal” compared with the severe flare, his proactive gastroenterologist pushed for more than just clinical improvement. She advocated for endoscopic remission — healing the tissue inside, not just masking the symptoms. A subsequent switch in medication dramatically altered his quality of life.

Timed with World IBD Day, Eric’s message to other patients is clear: Do not minimize early warning signs or delay crucial medical care. Managing an invisible, chronic condition while balancing work and family is an immense mental and physical burden, but early intervention is vital. Eric urges individuals to look past superficial relief, actively partner with their health care teams, and explore educational tools and resources to better understand their health and advocate for a higher standard of care.