Larry S.

Changing careers at age 35 is a brave decision. But Larry's background as a clinical psychologist gave him good insight into the collaborative role he now fills as an investment consultant with a national financial firm. His experience with ulcerative colitis (UC) helped him become a good listener.

"I'm 41, and I was diagnosed at age 12," Larry said in an interview. "At first, the symptoms were general cramping around my gut, diarrhea, fever, and later vomiting. This was in the summer while I had my first job as a camp counselor."

With typical youthful enthusiasm, Larry tried to persevere through it all: "I worked with these symptoms for about a week, but I gradually became too tired to continue. At some point I was hospitalized; I was placed in isolation because the doctors couldn't come up with a diagnosis. I had my first sigmoidoscopy and barium enema at that time. After 2-3 weeks in the hospital, I went home to rest up for the new school year."

A Memorable Conversation

Even after that painful ordeal, Larry had no idea he was dealing with a lifelong condition. "I don't think I understood how sick I was or what I was in store for. I do remember my gastroenterologist at the time telling me that within 10 years my colon would be removed, probably because of cancer. I definitely remember that conversation!"

Refusing to surrender to UC, Larry played sports in junior high and high school, concentrating on lacrosse. "Kids are much tougher than we think. I don't know if I would have handled this as well if I had become symptomatic as an adult."

In college, he also refused to let UC prevent him from traveling. "I did a Euro rail trip by myself for a month; then I went to London for a semester. When the semester ended, I took time off to study and work on a Kibbutz in Israel. That's where I met my wife, Beverley. She came back to the States with me when I left Israel." Then the couple headed to California for Larry's graduate school courses, where he received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.

Even after graduate school, his family followed Larry's career path wherever it led. After moving to Connecticut for more training, they went to St. Louis so he could do a post-doctoral fellowship in behavior therapy.

"After training, I specialized in the behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders in adults and children." When Larry spoke with IBD patients, he encouraged them to take their medication and get regular GI exams. He also counseled them to "think about the frequency, time, place, and circumstances of your symptoms and see if there may be a behavioral or social context you can challenge or modify." Reminding patients to maintain good habits helped Larry become, in his words, "religious about taking his own medication."

A New Challenge

Then came Larry's next challenge: A new career at age 35. Now Larry focuses on investment and wealth management. "I've found now that I'm bothered more by associated symptoms of UC – like arthritis and skin rashes – than GI symptoms. I have no dietary restrictions at all."

Larry hasn't traveled lately but his fateful trek to Israel continues to pay dividends: "Beverley and I have two daughters now, ages 12 and 9. They don't have any symptoms, but when either of them complains of a stomach ache, I get nervous!"

Slipping back into his psychologist shoes for a moment, Larry leaves us with a few "words of wisdom" from his experience with IBD patients: "Talk openly about your UC with those who are close to you. It's the only way to get past feeling embarrassed."