Hello.  I am new to the group and very excited to know that there are
folks sharing their tips and hints and to support each other through
good and bad times.  I am 45 yo male with UC..diagnosed years ago
(about 8) and have had two colonsocopies, the most recent one year
ago.  Currently I am in the midst of a terrible flare up even though
I
have been sick (bleeding and all) for two years and cannot seem to go
into remission.  I retired due to this and osteoporosis (and a bum
leg
from a fall a year ago) in May, even though retirement was last on my
list...except for colostomy.  But I finally realized if I want to get
better I had to make some changes and my high stress job had to
go...so fortunately we had disability retirement...I am being denied
by social security however and am appealing.

Anyway, there is my story in a nutshell.  Glad to be here.