Meet Edmund: real stories of self management
Listen to your body and accept you may need to adapt your life. Symptoms are often unique to you, try not to compare yourself to others.
Edmund is 39 years old and works as an Accountant. He was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis three years ago.
When he was diagnosed Edmund didn’t take on board its significance. He took medication yet failed to track or note what he was taking and whether it had any positive effects on his condition. He continued to follow a demanding fitness regime which, although it offered him daily escape from the symptoms, his lifestyle was having a negative impact on his health and he was taking medication which was no longer suitable. Following a period of being quite ill, and a frank discussion with a gastroenterologist, Edmund got a ‘light bulb moment’ and realised the importance of being an active partner in his health care.
Living with a condition such as ulcerative colitis can be unpredictable as the condition is prone to fluctuate. Flare ups can be triggered by many things, so it is important for the individual to be vigilant and play an active role in managing their condition by taking ownership, for example recording their food intake to identify items and food groups responsible for flare ups and to discuss these with health professionals.
What self management means for Edmund
For Edmund it means being proactive in learning about your condition and keeping a diary. For example, he is now in the habit of recording what he eats and drinks, his medication intake and what physical activities have an impact on his health – both a positive and negative. As a result of this, Edmund has now identified levels of medication which he can’t drop below. He knows what he can and cannot eat and has become more educated about his diet and nutrition so knows where to get his essential nutrients from.
Edmund’s message
- Being diagnosed with a long term condition is something to take seriously – you will need to do your research. Listen to your body and accept that you may need to adapt your life. This may include finding an activity that can help you relax and unwind.
- Your symptoms can often be unique to you. Therefore, joining a support group and talking to people with lived experience can be very useful, it is important not to compare yourself to others.
End of page.
You may also like:
“It can be easy to focus on what you can get from a relationship but learning who’s out there and the needs they meet is valuable."
Continue reading“Ultimately, our aim is to empower every young person we work with to achieve their goals and play an active role in their communities."
Continue reading“There is no magic potion in what we do, but we are managing to do it well for the past 30 years.”
Continue reading“We could not do the work we do without the support of other organisations across Glasgow.”
Continue reading“Their mission is to fight food poverty, tackle isolation and discrimination and unite the community through grassroots action.”
Continue readingLouise tells us how Long Term Conditions Hebrides has enabled her to take the lead in managing her health.
Continue reading"When we listen to people, build relationships, and work together across sectors, we can create meaningful, lasting change."
Continue reading"The people who come to the classes have created a community environment....the social aspects are just as important as the exercise."
Continue reading“By collaborating, we can tackle shared challenges, create meaningful solutions, and ensure better outcomes for communities.”
Continue reading“One of the most important lessons we’ve learned is not to assume we know what the community needs”
Continue reading"It is about saying: this is the need, how can we work together to meet that need?”
Continue readingThe aim of Autistic Knowledge Development is to bring more autistic people to the forefront of anything that is related to them.
Continue readingVersus Arthritis are working with communities and other organisations to provide a stronger service and support more people with arthritis.
Continue readingSober Buzz are building connections and empowering communities to challenge stigma and shame around alcohol misuse.
Continue readingFeeling Strong are providing much needed mental health services for young people in Dundee.
Continue readingOur film takes a look at the creative ways which CHAS engages with their children and young people.
Continue readingThe health and wellbeing of children and young people lies at the heart of the work of Children's Health Scotland.
Continue reading"Everybody needs transport and there can be many barriers to achieving that, so we often fill that gap."
Continue readingHelping children develop their emotional language, understand themselves and their social relationships, take ownership of their wellbeing.
Continue readingOur SHANARRI School aims to create a holistic approach to wellbeing in Highland's schools,
Continue reading"From an integration perspective, people now have a greater understanding of what it's like to be a New Scot."
Continue reading"Integration is crucial in enabling leaders to share decision-making, empower individuals, and champion the voice of lived experience."
Continue reading"We don’t often get the chance to fully appreciate the potential that exists within football to help improve lives."
Continue reading"It’s very much about being playful and experimental, but it’s also allowing people to express themselves and feel heard."
Continue readingOur Children and Young People Programme recently visited Kelso High School’s S1 Social Skills Group which supports neurodiversity.
Continue reading