Author Archive
The healing power of pets
I’ve known for a long time that pets (dogs in my case) can sense when something is wrong. When I’m upset, Bomber, my Shetland Sheepdog, will climb in my lap and act super cute to cheer me up. That’s the reason I love pets so much- they provide you with so much love and comfort in ways that human companionship doesn’t. I mean, it would be pretty weird if my husband crawled into my lap and acted cute when I was sad, right?
Bomber has done wonders for Dan. Growing up, Dan never had a pet but loved dogs. When we started dating six years ago, I had a Shetland Sheepdog who was the sweetest little fuzzball, and Dan adored her. We both knew we would get a dog, but we didn’t know when. And Dan surely didn’t know how profound his impact would be on his life.
My old dog Taffy
Crohn’s in the news
There have been a few really good articles recently about Crohn’s Disease and the struggle people go through on a daily basis with the disease.
It started last week with a great blog post by a college student in Utah about her struggle in the Huffington Post.
Today, another story has come out by a CNN employee about her 30+ year struggle with the ailment. In the story, Debbi Wynn writes,
There is relief as you realize you have a reprieve from the disease but a lingering sense of anxiety as you contemplate the “what if” that hangs just above your head, depriving you of real peace. It’s a daily struggle to keep the fear and uncertainty at bay and enjoy the moments that feel “normal.
#13 for the Restroom Access Act!
Today, Massachusetts became the 13th state to sign the Restroom Access Act into law. Big victory for IBD-ers.
“This bill will provide peace of mind to people suffering from IBD, who will be able to shop without fear of a publicly embarrassing situation,” said Rep. Louis Kafka (D-Stoughton).Kafka sponsored the bill in the House and led an eight-year effort to get it enacted. He introduced the legislation at the request of a constituent, Canton attorney Jonathan Rutley, who drafted the measure for his 17-year-old daughter and ulcerative colitis patient, Catherine (Catie).
For those who are not familiar with it, the Restroom Access Act (also known as Ally’s Law) requires retail establishments that do not have a public restroom to allow people with IBD, IBS, other chronic conditions, and pregnant women access to employee restrooms. As you all know, this is very important for IBD-ers. The last thing you need is to be out somewhere that has no public restroom and be denied access and have an accident.
Through a G.I. Girl’s Eyes: Mouth Problems & Prednisone
Famous Crohnies – Olympic Edition
I’ve been toying with the idea of making a list of famous people with Crohn’s and Colitis for awhile now. There’s no better time than now to do it with the Olympics starting this weekend.
First on my list is Olympic kayaker Carrie Johnson. Carrie was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease before the 2004 Olympics.
“It started with symptoms of fatigue and it kind of escalated to increasingly worse GI (gastrointestinal) symptoms,” Johnson said.
Carrie participates in the flatwater sprint- a two-minute race. Obviously while you are in the middle of water in a tiny kayak, having a Crohn’s episode is your worst nightmare.
Bathroom Talk
Sorry for the delay in posting! We were away this weekend seeing our niece and the blog kind of got away from me. However, while we were away I got thinking…
I don’t know if we are just strange or what but poop and Dan’s bathroom habits are a routine part of conversation, no matter the time of day or what we are doing.
At my in-laws this weekend, we were all eating and Dan disappeared. Different people asked me on different occasions where he was and each time, it got us on the topic of Dan pooping. Now, for most people this might be gross, but for people with Crohn’s and Colitis, this is totally normal. They spend more time than normal in the bathroom than other people, so it makes sense that those with it talk about it more than others.
We also talk a lot while he is in the bathroom. I ask him how he’s doing and show him funny things on the computer. Or if he has his phone, I text him while he’s in there to make sure everything is okay.
Does anyone else find that, ever since they received their Crohn’s or Colitis diagnosis, they talk a lot about their bathroom habits or poop without shame? Do you think it’s weird to do or part of life?
Turning lemons into lemonade
I grew up turning everything into a joke.
For example, when my mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and lost her hair, we bought her a Du-rag and tried to get her to wear a Bob Ross Afro wig.
It’s no surprise then that Dan and I try to take on Crohn’s with a light heart and lots of jokes. It’s definitely hard at times to find the humor in our situation when there is so much bad (hospitals, medication, medical bills, etc.) but we do our best.
The three times Dan has been hospitalized, I have taken photos to chronicle the experiences. While it might seem a bit strange, it helps us to keep our moods up. We also make a lot of puns related to poop and the other things that go hand in hand with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
For the last three years, we’ve participated in CCFA’s Take Steps Be Heard walk and because of our jokes, it’s only appropriate that our team name is Shits & Giggles. This past year Dan was the honored hero at our walk AND we were the first place fundraiser on the day of the walk!
If I could give one piece of advice to all those either suffering from or taking care of someone with Crohn’s and Colitis, keep your spirits up and try to laugh. It’ll help make the bad times be a little brighter.
What do you do to make Crohn’s not hurt so much?
Worrywart
I might be crazy but every time Dan says he has a stomach ache (which is pretty frequently), I am reminded of the dreadful night last year when he woke me at 2A.M. to go to the emergency room. That night we found out he had a blockage. Now, every time he has pain in the same area, I worry it’s another one.
I know the fear is irrational since he had surgery last year to remove the narrowing that caused the blockage (will go into that in a later post) and he has a wide open passage. But it still scares me.
Anyone else out there worry like that?
Caring for Crohn's & UC 