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Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone has any tips for keeping "googling" in check. What I mean is, sometimes when I'm feeling worried about my colitis, I'll google every little symptom and find myself on the internet for hours, making myself nervous and reading horror stories or sob stories, etc. I waste so much time this way and I know it's not good for my mental health, but I just get sucked in. I feel like I don't have a lot of places to go for information.

Any tips for coping with colitis in general would also be appreciated. I'm a 21 year old college senior who was diagnosed this past September and I'm SO sick of thinking and worrying about my COLON!! The scariest part of this condition to me is not knowing what is going to happen - I hate the unpredictability of it. I'm just having a hard time with all of this. I've made an appointment with the counseling services at my school but could use all the advice I could get.

Thanks and best wishes to all of you.

 Reply posted for acm1218.

My 19 year old daugher was diagnosed with UC 3 years ago.  She was going on the internet also like you.  I told her first pediatric GI doc about it.  He said so many sites have such old outdated information that can scare her so much.  He said this website, ccfa, is a great site.  So is this forum.  He also said there have been so much research on IBD that there should be a cure in 10 years.  She is currently seeing a new IBD specialist since she turned 18.  My daughter really loves him.  Do you have a really good doctor?  He told my daughter that many UC patients have "bacteria overgrowth" and probiotics really do help.  My daughter is on the probiotic called Ultimate Flora Critical Care 50 Billion.  She's also on Women's One a Day vitamin and Oscal.  She also takes Azathioprine and Lialda and has her blood tests every 3 months.  Are you feeling ok right now?  Keep us posted.

 Reply posted for acm1218.

Use "Google Scholar" if you really want to get into the deep medical info.

 If you just use regular google you get a bunch of junk.

But if you are going to google I would recommend googling "Jini Patel Thompson" buy her book.  Read her book and never google again for IBD.

 Reply posted for acm1218.

Hi there,

 Reply posted for acm1218.

The internet is a great tool for informational purposes other than medical.   You can truly make yourself crazy.  When my daughter was very sick as an infant, I would turn to the internet for answers often because the docs weren't cutting it.   After 4 yrs. and her CD diagnosis, I practically lost my mind.   I finally stopped the googling and began educating myself of the disease and focusing my attention on cooking and baking in a lifestyle that will benefit her.  I also found a support group (through her doc) that was helpful too.   It isn't easy to do, but you should STOP THE GOOGLING!!! and START LIVING!! 

Really, this is your senior year.  Enjoy every minute of it.....this part of your life is incredibly short.....you shouldn't waste it on worry. Continue to do your best in everything you do....in school, with your health and in your personal life. 

Best wishes to you.

Lizzies Mom 

 Reply posted for acm1218.

Googling

My guess is your looking for an answer that isn't there. Your hoping to come across that cure... that obscure remedy. It's not there.

Googles a wonderful tool but remember you don't need any qualification to be  on google. Try to just visit ligitament sites. learn all you can about your desease. Then take this knowledge and manage your own desease. No one is going to do it for you.

 Reply posted for Titan1.

 I too find myself googling, it doesn't help seeing all the horror stories but at times there are some very hopeful stories. I was also thinking that worrying or stressing doesn't help our situation. I am diagnosed with UC, I was diagnosed two years ago, I'm 25 almost 26..I find that I have the most flares when I am stressed about work and school... I'm a workaholic and UC reminds me that I need to take time to relax and no over do it... I mean my stomach will choose act up at the most inconvenient times...

 Reply posted for acm1218.

I am the same way! I'm a college junior, 21, and I was just diagnosed with Crohn's about a month ago. I CANNOT STOP GOOGLING! I feel like there is no answer, so I just keep looking. Then I'll find something scary, and google even more. The worst part was, before I even had my colonoscopy I was googling symptoms and one of the, of course worst case senario, answers was megacolon, and I freaked out. I called my mom and was like "I think my colon is going to explode!" I feel so stupid, because at 21 we shouldn't have to think about our colons...

Don't worry, your not the only person with IBD addicted to googling.

 Reply posted for Titan1.

Yes, I do the exact same thing. It's so egocentric but I imagine myself as every one of those people. And then I go around googling things to "confirm" everything I've found. In general I've always been a hypochondriac. I've convinced myself that I have everything under the book at some point or another. I'm so much better off when I'm busy and don't have time to do all of that, but it's so easy to get sucked in.

 Reply posted for acm1218.

Getting counseling is a good step, the Googling thing isn't. There is a lot of information out there and that's good. The problem is it's not necessarily in any context. It's number and side effects, symptoms and disasters. I think what happens (at least to me) is that I imagine myself as everyone of "those" people- at the same time. I get every symptom, complication, medication reaction, surgery etc.---vicariously.