Socialising with IBD was always something that I felt a little stressed by. When I was in the hospital I was told I probably wouldn’t be able to drink much anymore and I would likely need to change what I was eating. Combine that with wanting to socialise with people and I felt that there were going to be some scary times ahead.
My first test of this was someone from Rugby’s birthday gathering where we were meant to be ordering a chinese takeaway to celebrate. I was bricking it. That day I had a mini flare-up (was it the anxiety? We will never know) but I decided on the evening to take with me a meal deal (safe food) so that I didn’t need to worry if i didn’t feel that I could eat the food. I also drove to my friends house so that I couldn’t really drink, which took the pressure off me drinking alcohol.
I won’t lie, I was quite anxious about the whole event but I’m so lucky to have such a supportive group of friends that when I turned up with fancy (soft) drinks and a meal deal, no-one batted an eyelid. There was no pressure to order Chinese or to drink alcohol which was lovely.
Overall, my first experience of socialising with IBD was wonderful but I have to say that it wasn’t without its anxieties. I was fully supported by wonderful friends with no pressure and I feel reassured that I will be able to socialise like I did before I was diagnosed.
If you are feeling worried about it then just do as much as you are able to do to make yourself comfortable. I took the meal deal and some soft drinks so that I could feel like I was having a good time. Get supportive friends and all will be ok!