10 mistakes I made on my way to UC Remission
Mistake #1: Ignoring the symptoms. I started noticing more and more blood on the toilet paper. It came and went, so I told myself it was hemorrhoids. I actively avoided seeing a doctor because, subconsciously, I feared the worst (cancer ) and wasn't ready to confront it. So I delayed and made excuses until I literally shat myself at the gym. That was the moment I finally booked an appointment.
Mistake #2: Not choosing the first doctor carefully. My first GI wasn't bad, but every time I left a consultation, I had no clear sense of what was normal, how I was progressing, or whether we were even on the right path. When I switched doctors, it was night and day. Don't settle.
Mistake #3: Being too cautious about biologics. I started on mesalamine, which did absolutely nothing, my UC just got worse every week. I chose Entyvio next because it had the best safety profile, without realizing it's also one of the slowest acting biologics out there. By the time I finally got on Skyrizi, almost eight months had passed since diagnosis. Within weeks of starting it, everything started improving.
Mistake #4: Thinking I could beat it naturally with supplements. Don't waste your money, don't waste your time researching it, and don't waste your hope. There's no natural elixir that Big Pharma is hiding from you.
Mistake #5: Leaning on ChatGPT. Before my first colonoscopy, I plugged all my symptoms into ChatGPT and got told I "100% had UC." That made me start trusting it more than I should have, and I spent way too long having pointless conversations about my treatment. It just added confusion to my recovery.
Mistake #6: Underestimating mental health. On the path to remission, your mental health matters more than ever. You'll probably get lousy sleep, struggle to absorb nutrients, lose social contact, and struggle at work. All of it chips away at your ability to keep fighting. Build a real framework to protect your mental health, therapy, meds, friends, routines, whatever works.
Mistake #7: Skipping exercise. I felt awful every day. I was glued to the toilet. But when I started moving daily, even if it was 10% of a normal workout, it improved my mental health and grounded me.
Mistake #8: Chasing the perfect diet. I tried every diet known to man.. What ended up working best for me was keto, lots of fat and protein, low carbs. It helped me manage symptoms & energy levels but did not treat the disease or stop it from worsening.
Mistake #9: Losing hope. Don't start believing you'll always be like this. Even if nothing has worked yet, more drugs are coming to market all the time. Don't accept defeat. Keep pushing for remission, even when you feel totally hopeless. There is another side to this valley. Everyone's journey across it looks different.. more clouds, rocks, rivers, forests to push through. Whatever you do, don't set up camp and decide to live in the valley.
Mistake #10: Not getting a bidet sooner. Seriously. Just get one.