Posts filed under ‘General Disease’
IBD & Social Security Disability
We all know IBD can be disabling- the chronic pain, fatigue, surgery and complications.
But did you know that IBD could qualify you for Social Security Disability benefits?
My Best Friend, A New Crohnie, Tells Her Story on Caring for Crohn’s
A few months ago, my best friend Julia was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. The diagnosis, like it is for so many people, has been difficult for her to wrap her mind around. I remember how hard it was for Dan when he was first diagnosed- understanding the disease, getting used to living with it, finding trigger foods, getting on the right medications, having tons of procedures, etc. But Julia has handled it with grace, no matter how down she feels.
Julia (on the right) and I in August 2012, two months before she was diagnosed
Julia spent some time last week writing down her thoughts about being diagnosed and what its been like for her. So today’s post is written by her, a new Crohnie, on learning to live with Crohn’s disease (note: Julia is a nurse so there will probably be a lot of medical terminology in this):
I feel like this all came out of nowhere.
Crohn’s disease?
I was half-awake, half-sedated, with the 100mcg of Fentanyl and 17mg of Versed I was given for my esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy. My gastroenterologist, who I had met that day after seeing a GI Nurse Practitioner in the office a few months prior, stands over me as I come to. He told me, in medical terms (I’m an ICU nurse) that they found ulcerations and inflammation in my terminal ileum and that he highly suspects that I have Crohn’s disease. He told my friend who was picking me up (an ER nurse herself) that I would have to have a few scripts filled and that I should start taking these medication that day. I said, “Crohn’s disease?”
He said, “Crohn’s disease.”
IBS v. IBD: the great intestinal debate
There is no worse feeling than someone telling you that they know what you are going through because they have IBS. Sadly, not many people realize that there is a significant difference between IBS and IBD. I know this firsthand because I have IBS while Dan has IBD. Below I explain the two illnesses and the differences between the two.
Debunking 10 IBD Myths
There are a lot of myths floating around about inflammatory bowel disease and I figured what better time than during Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week to clear some up!
Again, please note that I am not a doctor. All of the answers below are based on my knowledge of the disease and some external research. If any of this is incorrect, please let me know!
Work & Chronic Illness
Yesterday, an interesting question was posed on a Facebook group that I am part of- when to disclose to an employer that you have a chronic illness. Majority of those who responded said that they disclosed their illness right off the bat- one even as early as in the interview.
I understand the benefits of disclosing that information right off the bat- it gets it out there so that if something happens and you need to take time off, they already know why and are more accommodating.
Caring for Crohn's & UC 