I am so fed up with the fact that every time I mention my condition, people immediately assume I’m talking about IBS. They start lecturing me about “lowering my stress levels” and “trying to stay calm,” or they say things like, “Oh, I get nervous stomach issues too!” or “That’s rough,” or they suggest some bizarre diet. I try to explain that my immune system is literally attacking my colon for no reason, but people just don’t seem to grasp the physical toll it takes. I’m not sure if anyone else experiences this, but it’s incredibly frustrating! I honestly think the fact that inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome have such similar acronyms is the main problem.
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This is exactly why I go out of my way to avoid saying IBD. Most people don’t recognize “UC,” but at least they don’t act like they already understand what it is.
I was literally just talking about this today with a friend who has Crohn’s. It is so incredibly annoying. I’ve had people ask if they’re basically the same thing but with a different letter at the end. NO, THEY ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND THE LETTERS DON’T EVEN STAND FOR THE SAME WORDS!
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This is why I just tell people I have an “autoimmune disorder” haha