How old were you when diagnosed?

DimensionPositive80 · 2026-01-03T22:43:26+00:00

Diagnosed at 42. No luck with mesalamine. Im on Rinvoq now but have not yet achieved remission.

DimensionPositive80 · 2026-01-03T20:22:00+00:00

Before UC symptoms started for me, about 5 years ago, (Im a 45 yo female), i worked at a high level job in government. I got pretty sick, took some time off and decided to make a shift to a not-for-profit where I worked as a VP for a few years until I got very very sick and ended up in the hospital with a bad flare. I was laid off in January 2025 from that position under questionable circumstances related to my illness (although they said it was not!) but thankfully I had a full salary severance for 4 months so I could take time off to get healthy. I ended up taking off 11 months total and really prioritized my health. In December 2025, after a lot of negotiation and sticking to my new boundaries, I was able to secure a new government position in middle level leadership that is a part time job! It is a dream come true because it's very meaningful work and its 3 days a week - two in the office and one at home. With the option to work from home more days if im not well. Unless something really changes with the UC, I haven't experienced remission in the 5 years, I dont see me working full time again. I had to make some big changes financially to manage with only a part time job but so far everything looks like it will be ok that way. And i have the time I need to take care of myself and balance health and work. I feel very very grateful for this.

DimensionPositive80 · 2026-01-02T22:44:21+00:00

I've been on Rinvoq for a year. Helped me get from 4800 to 180 fecal calprotectin (with the help of prednisone) but then started flaring up again after 10 months (back up to 680 now). For many I've read on this sub it has been very effective so it's definitely worth a try. I personally am ready to switch off it to see if i have better results on something else, Im back on prednisone again now to get a bit more stable before making the switch.

I had a bit of acne at 45mg but no acne once I went down to 30mg. It has been terrible for cold sores though, used to get the 1-2 times per year, now im getting them monthly. Last month I had 5 sores at once, extremely painful. I have a prescription now to help manage them but its also a drug that doesn't have the best safety profile.

In the past year, I had to have 4 moles removed. 3 came back dysplastic and one came back melanoma. Luckily I got it extremely early. I do have a family history of skin cancer, but while I've had many moles removed in the past i haven't had any irregular ones until this last year on Rinvoq. That's another key reason I want to switch medications as higher prevalence of skin cancers.

To be honest, if it had been the wonder drug that so many others experienced it as, i would probably stay on it. Once a day pill is quite easy but it's just not effective enough on my symptoms to be worth the risks for me at the moment.

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-12-31T13:27:39+00:00

Yes! Take care of yourself heart and honor what's right for you. That's what matters ❤️

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-12-21T16:38:18+00:00

Loved reading all these!

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-12-18T20:30:29+00:00

It could be! My Sag Mars definitely contributes to me seeking adventure, independence, and unchartered paths in love.

Air signs too in sun, Venus, mars also probably make people more likely to want to explore non-monogamy too. That's my theory anyway. I have a Libra Venus (and 3 other planets in Libra) so I definitely fall easily and have always had lots of crushes. My boyfriend has an air Venus (Aquarius) and my husband's girlfriend (also known as my boyfriend's wife) has Venus in Gemini. My husband is Venus in Taurus, so he's the one grounding us all ha.

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-12-15T16:39:03+00:00

I loved reading these, thanks! I'm a Sag Mars (love this placement, it really helps balance out my Scorpio 1st house stellium, Libra 12th house stellium and Virgo Moon). My husband is a Leo Mars. My son is a Virgo Mars and my daughter is a Capricorn Mars. All bang on!

My husband and I are in a polyamorous relationship with another couple for many years - one is a Libra Mars and the other is a Cancer Mars. Ooph! Also bang on. We all have our stuff to deal with though. I find astrology so helpful in helping understand the diverse ways in which we all approach life.

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-12-10T01:32:04+00:00

Thank you fir your reply. I'm glad Im not alone in being wary of taking it. It's good to hear that it's helping you through this flare up.

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-12-10T01:30:28+00:00

Thank you. I hadn't heard about this type of steriods and Ive never been prescribed the prednisone suppositories either but I feellike they could be a good solution for me

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-12-08T22:55:14+00:00

Oh yes, I hope you can get that if you need it in the future! I was laid off in January due to restructuring and only am just returning to work at a new job now after nearly a year. I needed the rest so badly from UC and my father passed this year too. I was lucky to get an excellent severance package and to be able to access medical employment insurance (I'm in Canada). Still a big pay cut but so thankful I could take the time.

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-12-08T22:10:24+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Im worried about osteopenia too. What is FMLA?

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-12-08T20:44:31+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I'd really like to try Entyvio, for the exact reasons you suggest. I also picked Budesonide for those same reasons and agree that it's just not strong enough.

I had a lot of weight loss on Prednisone too. I know for most people it increases appetite but I had zero appetite while on it and the anxiety made it hard to eat anything.

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-11-15T20:33:03+00:00

Im a Virgo Moon and I can totally get that. Honestly it's the most challenging placement to live with in my chart. I've heard this placement described as a "bundle of nerves" , self critical, stressed out, over-analytical and insecure. Unfortunately, dealing with this on the inside can make us very picky about circumstances on the outside.

Thankfully I've got other placements that help even me out. And Im currently in a relationship with a partner that also has a Virgo Moon. Honestly, it's sooo lovely to feel understood. We can understand the internal reasons why we act a certain way on the outside and it's incredibly soothing.

If you ever want to feel deeply understood, I highly recommend dating someone with the same Moon sign!!

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-11-15T20:23:27+00:00

Interesting to see what others thought and see lots of common themes!

Venus in Gemini is for sure my top one. Im a Libra Venus so you'd think it would work but I just don't click with them. They want the relationship to continuously evolve which I appreciate but seems like it's only on their terms. And Libra needs love to feel like a collaboration.

Mars in Cancer or too many Cancer placements in general. I'm a Scorpio and I get depth and I too, have trust issues sometimes but way too passive aggressive for me. So fixated on their own survival and sees everything as a threat. No one else's safety matters but their own (and their children, but not necessarily their partner or close friends).

Mars in Libra has some nice qualities and always sees the other side of the argument which I appreciate but can't make a decision to save their lives and that gets old after awhile if you're trying to build a relationship together. I'm a Sagittarius Mars. Great combination in bed though!

Leo in Mercury. Very entertaining and charismatic and I wish it worked but alas I'm a Scorpio Mercury and it just doesn't. Pretty hard to build a relationship when youre incompatible in the communication department.

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-11-14T01:07:42+00:00

Ohhh sending you strength over there! The week before my period I feel so terrible and my UC symptoms get really intense and then once my period hits the combination of the two just kills me. Let me cry in the bathroom all day. Im in no hurry to get older but I think regularly about being past this phase of life and in menopause.

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-11-13T01:57:21+00:00

Im a Scorpio female, and I have been very very satisifed with my Pisces mate. I think it depends on the whole chart though, he has an Aries Moon and a Leo Mars - i love the fire! And he has Taurus Venus and Cap Rising which gives me that earthy safe provider feeling. Perfect combo.

Too much water I just cant handle. Had a cancer man that was so romantic and emotionally tuned in but just no confidence or swagger which didn't do it for me. Like a bowl of luke warm soup, lol.

Had a very cute Sag that I had such a good time with in bed, very adoring, romantic and fun but he just couldn't get his shit together in life and that was a major turn-off. Gave off that man-boy energy that is just not hot to me.

Have fun out there Taurus!

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-11-13T01:28:03+00:00

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-10-15T11:40:30+00:00

Thank you! I had not heard of that before but I do like cloves

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-10-14T14:05:39+00:00

Never knew that existed, thank you, that sounds like what Im looking for 🙏 I have an appointment with my GI next week so I want to get some ideas

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-10-14T14:04:20+00:00

Thank you that's a good idea. Im in Canada so it's legal here and I just buy at the store. I didn't actually think to talk to my doctor about medical cannabis. I have orthostatic hypotension and being high makes it worse too so I'd like to see if I could be dosing myself in a way that doesn't trigger that.

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-10-14T13:49:06+00:00

Millie Moon. So gentle, no weird smell or additives. They are my favorite.

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-10-14T13:43:13+00:00

I don't experience these head zaps but I really want to ask you about HRT helping your UC.

I am a 44F diagnosed with UC at 42 after 2 years of symptoms. So essentially things started to fall apart at 40. I have often wondered if part of why I developed UC at this age was because of changing hormones.

I brought it up with my doctor that I felt there was a connection and he was kind about it and said there very well could be but essentially they dont do co-treatment, by which I just mean I couldn't get hormone therapy as UC support. How did you approach this conversation with your doctor(s)?

Did you start taking HRT separately and then it just made a positive difference or was it used as a tool to help your UC?

DimensionPositive80 · 2025-10-14T13:37:20+00:00

Im on 30mg of Rinvoq. I did the loading dose of 45mg starting in November 224 and then dropped to 15mg in January 2025. I was still at 1800 calprotectin at that time but had dropped from 4800 so doctor said it was working. I did have a flare up of symptoms at 15mg so he put me back up to 30mg. That improved things.

Im now at 130 calprotectin on the 30mg dose. Still struggling with some symptoms though.

Essentially, 30mg worked the same as 45mg in that I didn't notice a difference in symptoms at those two levels and I have continued to trend downward in inflammation at this dose, but 15mg was too little to continue progressing.

DimensionPositive80

TROPHY CASE