Breaking the streak… Not too long ago, I had an almost two-year streak of zero hospital stays going. Sadly, that streak was broken in February. And again a few days ago. Life is unpredictable like that. Like most people, hospital stays always leave me feeling shaken, humbled…, and rattled. The hospital can be a hard place to deal with. Incredibly hard sometimes. After several glorious years of staying away from the hospital, I had forgotten…
Living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis is challenging (ahem…understatement). And navigating the world of IBD medications can be scary and confusing. However, knowing about your treatment options can make things a little easier. One of the big improvements in recent years is the use of biologic medications. In this post, I will explore what these medications are, how they can help, and what you need to know to make the best choices for your…
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying ‘I will try again tomorrow’.” ― Mary Anne Radmacher Impact of IBD Honesty alert: IBD ravaged my life. That is not saying, of course, that I didn’t help it along the way. I have heard many stories similar to mine – about the physical and mental toll that IBD can exert on one’s life. The journeys are all…
Dealing with doctors If you are living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, there is a good chance you are going to have a fair amount of interaction with the health system. Especially early on during diagnosis or during a flare. This usually involves a lot of doctors appointments. Unfortunately, this is just a fact of life for many of those with IBD. Picture this: you are sitting in a small exam room waiting to…
Making the decision In 2016, when I was first diagnosed with IBD, the idea of having ileostomy surgery sometime in the future didn’t even register on my radar. I barely even knew what an ostomy was. Flash forward four years to 2020 – I had been ridiculously sick for several years. Failed three biologics. Diets, supplements, medications, mountains of prednisone…none of that was working. I was still having massive inflammation. I had zero quality of…
Surviving and (thriving?) with prednisone In the last post, I described the love-hate relationship most people have with prednisone. As I mentioned before, prednisone is one of the best medications available for calming IBD symptoms and bringing you out of a flare. Unfortunately, few things in life are free… The problem, of course, is that prednisone itself can cause a smorgasbord of weird and nasty side-effects that may, at times, have you thinking, “Is being…
As I said in a previous post: “Oh, prednisone, what a magical, terrible drug you are”. And I mean it. For people with IBD who are in the midst of a bad flare – prednisone can literally be a lifesaver, as it can knock down inflammation FAST. Of course, I am not a doctor, and everything I say in this post should be taken with a grain of salt. However…for better or worse, I do…
One of my goals for the new year is to do more “mindfulness stuff” – meditation, breathing exercises, gratitude and the like… Meditation has always been one I’ve needed help with though. For the longest time, I thought that the goal of meditation was to achieve total clarity of the mind. You know…where nothing is going on inside your head and thoughts except stillness. Because I could never really achieve anything remotely resembling that (my…
Crohns, colitis, and…poetry? Wow, two posts in one week. Go me! I will admit that I’m not always the most humorous when it comes to talking about IBD… So, purely for kicks, I composed a poem that many of us might relate to. Enjoy. A is for abscess, a serious worry. B is for bathrooms, and running to them in a hurry. C is for cramping, it can feel like passing broken glass. D is…
Hi All. After another lengthy hiatus…I’m back at the keyboard. Here’s hoping 2024 brings us all good things. I’d like to start the new year by saying a huge thank you to those who have posted comments and positive feedback on my blog. Your words are incredibly touching, and it warms my heart to know that even just a few people are benefiting from this project. This latest post is focused on a topic that…
