OT: Screw you UC!

Congratulations on passing your exams. It's a difficult thing to deal with school/university/exams and any extreme illness.

I started sign language courses just as I was diagnosed, and continued them for 2.5 years as well as a few other courses. Afterward, I graduated from the 2 year sign language interpreter program and worked in education as an interpreter/teacher assistant for 5 years. I also took a few courses, continued with some hair clients and enjoyed the whole process even though my mental status sucked at times. Both my parents died, and I had a few surgeries during that period of time.

I've since quit interpreting and now have a small clientele in a mobile hairdressing business.

I've always had my UC pretty much maintained with meds, but did flare a lot during the worst times of distress and surgeries. I don't have the same attitude as you do about UC....but I'm not 20.
If I were your age, and it interfered with my life functioning and goals, I'd opt for surgery. I'm grateful that I've always had a good doctor and have done well on my continued meds.

q

being in school is so hard with UC, so great job!! i'd say my biggest accomplishment was graduating college during my worst flare. i didn't know if i'd be able to finish my internship and classes, but i told my dean, teachers, and boss and they were understanding about me having to take sick days and doing stuff on my own time.

quincy, what made you decide to start ASL? when i was younger, we learned it in elementary school and always wished i had stuck with it. i'm a huge fan of the show "switched at birth" which has deaf characters and shows all the struggles they have and how prejudice some people are. since watching it, i've wanted to start learning again. i can't physically go to classes but do you know if there are reputable online ones?