@%$#!

Sometimes I wish that Crohns had a schedule.  Because just when things are good or things are coming up.....oh, like Christmas for example, Chrons rears it's $#@! head!!  The bad intra muscular abcess I had last year, roughly at this time, appears to be reforming...$#@!!!!!!   %$##@! @$#!  Can you tell I'm a little pissed.

Been awhile.....

....but it's been busy around the house with Christmas coming.  Kids are excited, they've seen Santa and the Santa Claus parade, helped with baking the goodies, and can't wait til the big day.  Me?  Same ole, same ole.  Worrying about my health this time of year because I usually get sicker now, but nothing yet....knock on wood.  So, I managed to find time to get a painting in......Liquid Sunshine.

happy new year?

More surgery in the new year.....goodie!

Rememberance

To those who serve and have served............

Thank you

Ultrasound

Had an ultrasound done at the hospital and it turns out I have acummulated fluid in a place that there shouldn't be.  I need to see my doctor on wednesday, probably to be refered to another doctor, but hopefully I can get it drained......let's hope.

Oh crap

Ended up in Emerg this morning.  The only good thing is that I was home the same day.  Let's just say, I have fluid where there shouldn't be any and it's a little painful.  But mostly?  It's annoying!  I have to get an ultrasound and go from there....so, I painted.



Been a little while

Haven't been well, and haven't felt like painting, but



eBay

Took all my paintings off eBay.  But I will be putting them back.  I need to master a new program to help me resize their digital pictures so I can stretch them onto canvas.  But my abcess is back....woohoo!

And the rest....

...what the hell...I put up all my work (all 10 pieces)

Took the plunge today......

.....and listed one of my art pieces on eBay.  Just want to see if there are any bites and maybe sell some art.  It's been helping me, I think, in dealing with my illness.  And well, if others like it and enjoy it, then all the better.

And now for something completely different

Don't know where this came from, but my "inspiration" came for the 'Painters Eleven'.

I call it, "Hidden Treasures"



And to go with 'Adagio'......

....I have , of course, 'Andante'



Adagio

In keeping with a music 'theme', I came up with

I've been feeling so so lately.  Trying new foods, new multi vites, and a knew Iron supplement that seems to be working better than the others.  But, I won't really know until I do some blood work...fingers crossed



Golf

ball between my legs.  That's what having this f'in abcess feels like.  There are good days and there are bad days, but then there are really really irritating days!  And that would be today.  I have to constantly take breaks and either sit or lay down.  Laying down is way better, but how is one suppose to do that while at work!  Crohn's begone!!  Nope.....that didn't work

For my love of Mozart

I came up with,  "Eine kleine Nachtmusik"

Just a paintin' fool

My wife liked the last one, so I painted another one for her

And then

I was feeling really good and no stress, other than the fact it was 1230am when I started and 2am when I finished, I was feeling good.  As one person has put it after seeing this piece, 'calming'.

Feeling kinda crazy

so I painted some more.  Feeling pretty good lately, except for feeling tired all the time (maybe it's time for my B12 shot).  A lot of gas....but other than killing my wife with the smell ( I mean , really, it's GOTTA come out) I'm feeling okay.  The pain fromt he gas at the moment is the only thing major going on.  So....I painted.

Not too too sure where I was going with this one, but here it is.

Night out

Had a great night out with my wife tonight.  We went to see Michael Buble as part of our anniversary present to each other (for Sept).  Let me tell you, Buble puts on a great show and he's actaully a very very funny guy!!  We had a lot of fun.  His warm up act, Naturally7 is fantastic!  They are a group that sings a plays music, but with no instruments what so ever.  Ya, I know!!  I sounds like they are playing drums, guitars, brass, etc. but its all done with out instruments.  You should check them out.
All in all, a great night out.

And finally....

This one I did the other day, just because.  I had something in my head and wanted to see if I could put it down.  It didn't end up the way I had started to paint, but it turned out in the end.  And no, I did not paint all these in one day, these are over a 2 week period and I would like to thank everyone for their encouragement and support....Thanks.  More to come I think...........

Now this one is one of my favorites

My dad asked me the other day about this painting.  He asked me, "What were you feeling at the time to make you decide to use this colour?"  "Honestly?"  I said  "I hadn't used this one yet"  He laughed.  Really, when I did this one, I was feeling okay.  Could it be?!  Have I discovered a cure for Crohns?!!  :-P

I started to feel better

I believe that this "art therapy" might have some validity to it.  Yes, I still felt like crap, but it didn't seem to matter.  And maybe, just maybe mind you, the crappy feeling was going away.  Maybe, painting was taking my mind off of how shitty I was feeling.  Hmmmm....so I came up with "Sunset"

This one...

is still a bit dark, attempt number 2, mainly cuz I painted it the same day as the last one, but I was mad and frustrated, so I came up with "Fireworks"

Don't know....

.....what I was trying to do here.  I was feeling like crap, thus the dark, but what I was seeing in my head, wasn't and didn't come out on canvas.  This was my first attempt.....

Paintings

So.....I started painting as part of "art therapy" for myself to try and deal with my illness.  Seems to be helping I think.   I get to put down on canvas how I'm feeling at the time, like this one, can u guess what was going on at the time..???

New Hobby

I took up painting.  I've always liked doing it, use to in highschool, but never persued it.  So, I thought, what the hell, I'll start it up again.  I thought I could use it as therapy and a stress reliever.  I've done 4 already in 2 days and I'm liking it.  My wife doesn't like the fact I took "her space" in the arts and crafts room, but she seems to like the idea (and some of the work).  Let's see where this takes me shall we.

Like the energizer bunny...........

.......it just keeps going and going.....and it's a pain in the ass!  The abcess I have been dealing with since last November, has come up yet again.  Which isn't too bad I guess seeing it does drain, BUT I want it to just go away.  And we all know THAT isn't going to happen.  I hate it, cuz it hurts, it's physically and mentally draining and it makes be really bitchy to people, especially my family and I hate myself when it happens.  I just hate it.

Cool!

I found out this week that I can access my bloodwork online just as fast as my doctor gets it.....so cool.  It already confirms what I already new, but it's still cool!
White count up, iron low, B12 low, etc etc.  Time for some shots!!!

I just gets better and better

Now I have a chest infection.  Have no idea how I got it, but there it is.  I was coughing for 2 weeks, so I thought maybe I should get that checked and sure enough.....What is worse is, the antibiotics they gave me are wreaking havoc on my Crohns.  Oh well, a little give and take I guess.

It's all about Me

Happy Birthday to me!  Living with this crap for 21 years now, when will it ever end, or will it?

coughing

I hate getting a cold, especially the coughing.  Wreaks havoc on my insides.  After hours of coughing it feels like I've been punched in the stomach over and over.  Need to relax.....hmmm, two kids and a house to paint, maybe not.

Family

Sometimes, and some days, I feel like just giving up.  Giving in.  It wins.  But then I think about the great wife and kids I have and I can't let them down.  I feel bad I can't do the things a regular dad/husband would and can do and I hope one day they would be able to understand.  So it's days like this I need a stiff drink I think

Diet

If I could bottle Crohns, as a diet cure all, I'd be rich.  Everyone would be sick, but I'd be rich

water, water, everywhere

Crohns and dehydration definately go together.  That is, of course, you don't drink enough water.  I thought I was, apparently I wasn't.  Today, now I know what a 170lb water bottle feels like.  Sloshing around the house and having to lay down every 5 minutes from exhaustion.  Walking up and down stairs?  Yeah, right.  By the time I get to the top, I might as well just lay on the floor to catch my breath.  It's now later in the day and I feel a little better, so I guess it's an early night to bed....oh wait!  But it's playoff hocky time, hmmmm, what to do.

Sick and Tired......again

....of being sick and tired.  My evil twin inside me is causing a ruckus today and boy is he having a great time in there!!  Kept me up all night "partying".  So, lucky me, gets to switch to a liquid diet and let my intestines rest awhile.........yay! (insert sarcasm here)

Probiotics

Has anyone tried this?  I thought I'd give it a try.  I got it in capsule form and tried just 1 a day and it actually seemed to help with the frequency of going to the bathroom.  Now, for me, I only have a few feet of intestines left, so I don't know how it'll be for anyone else, but maybe everyone should give it a try, at least once (or twice).  The bottle says up to 3 times a day, but I think for us Crohnies, maybe 1 might be just right.  It did cause a bit of gas and bloating, but nothing out of the ordinary.  Try it, it can't hurt.

gas pain

Good lord!  What the hell is with all this gas lately.  I never used to get it like this before.  Feels like from the movie "Aliens" and I'm waiting for it to come ripping out from my gut.  Not doing anything different as far as eating and drinking are concerned, so I'm at a loss.  The gas I can handle (except my wife can't) it's the pain that goes with it that is a little on the "Holy Shit!" side of things.  Oh well, maybe it's my evil twin finally deciding to make himself known.

New Vehicle for Crohn's Sufferer's

Gas powered

Flu bug

I hate getting sick.  It only lasted about 24-36 hours, but it zaps it right out of me.  Go figure.....could it be the Crohn's?!  Ummmm, yea!  Hell yea!!  Oh well, seems to be getting better now, though last year when I got sick from flu, I ended up in hospital from dehydration. Not fun.  This time, I had the same symptoms, but just not as severe thank goodness.

Got Guts........?

You're lucky.

What's that!?

In the peace and quiet of my bedroom, lying half asleep, I hear it.  Faint at first, but loud enough to make me wonder, what's that!?  I shrug my shoulders and close my eyes and try and go back to sleep.  Then I hear it again, a little louder this time.  My heart starts to beat a little faster wondering, what's that!?  I'm hesitant to get up and take a look around, cuz you never know, but, what's that!?  I roll over and take a look at my wife lying next to me and I wonder, should I wake her?  No, I'm the man, I can handle it.  So I slowly and quietly get out of bed and go take a look around.  From the top of the stairs I hear it again, what's that!?  Even louder now, so I go downstairs and have a look.  I turn on all the lights and listen.......I hear it again even louder than ever!!  What the f*&@ is that!!?? 
Then realize it's just my gut talking.  Oh, the life of a Crohn's sufferer.

Ah, the trials and tribulations of a Crohn's sufferer

Giving up on things you love.....as far as food and drink go anyway.  For me, things that I LOVE that aren't good to eat anymore are ice cream, chocolate, candy (like licorice etc), chocolate, pop, pastries with cream fillings of any kind, donuts, chocolate, coffee, etc.  I CAN eat them, but I will suffer a pain greater than death if I do.  And not only from the abdominal pain but the pain I'm going to feel from wiping my butt every time I go to the bathroom, which in these cases would be about every 5-10 minutes........literally.  I might as well strap my sons potty to my waste!! 

Stress

Whomever said that stress isn't a factor with Crohn's disease, can bend over and kiss my a--!!
So, having said that, I am here to tell everyone who wants to listen that YES stress DOES agrivate your Crohn's!!!!!

Funeral arrangements for a Crohn's sufferer

Bury me in a porta potty

Absess cometh and go-eth......

It took from the end of November until just last week for the abscess to completely go away......finally!!!  But, did I speak too soon?!!  Has the annoying, painful and frustrating swollen, pustule, carbuncle returned??!!   In a word......YEP!  Small, thank goodness, but there all the same.  Let's hope that with the previous surgery, there is a way for it to drain on it's own.  Let's hope.

I have such a hot ass

Well, now that you have your mind out of the gutter.....
With this abcess and going to the bathroom all the time (several times an hour.....yes, an hour), my ass is burning, literally!  Stings like a hot damn.  Tylenol 3's help, but doesn't help while you're out shopping with the family.  Because of me, we always have to leave early.  This would be considered another bad day.  Probably something I ate, like the wifes birthday cake, but now I have to grin and bare it I guess.
But, let me tell you.............wait for it...............wait for it.........

........it's a pain in the ass!!

Pills

I'm on Salofalk, so here's some info:

Salofalk is an anti-inflammatory (5-aminosalicylic acid, 5-ASA) or mesalamine, and is used to treat mild to moderate ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease.  There are different brands of 5-ASA used to treat different places in the digestive tract, anywhere from the mouth to the anus.  For this reason, some brands are used to treat only ulcerative colitis and some for Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis.

To me....?  Take whatever works for you.  I've tried others over the years, and found that Salofalk was the only one that works for me.  I also take Prednisone (5mg) on a maintenance dose.

Website

Found this good site about Crohn's disease:

http://www.health.com/health/crohns-disease?pkw=PSHEGLTX011310CNND1967&partner=yes&xid=ha-az-drop-down&gclid=CNybwsacuJ8CFRKiagodlEs_zw

Ups and Downs

Comes with the territory I guess.  Having Crohn's I mean.  You have your good days and bad days, like anyone else, but us Crohnny's have it a little more harsh.  My abcess was doing well, still draining, but doing well.  But this morning it started to get bigger once again, so of course, I start to worry, like, "Oh shit, here we go again".  But as the day went on, it drained a little more and seems to be fine, so as the Crohn's disease motto goes, you have your good days and you have your bad days, but any day NOT in the hospital, is a good day!

Man, I feel like a woman

It's not everyday one can say that, especially being a man. But when dealing with Crohn's Disease on a day to day, week by week, year by year basis, you will eventually have to say it... Man! I feel like a woman!
Why? Well for me? It's because of the peri-anal abcesses and the constant drainage from them (which is a good thing). And why does this make me feel like a woman you ask. Because it's not everyday one can say, as a man, I know what it's like to wear pads. Whew! There I said it! Hello,my name is Vern and I where feminine hygiene products. BUT only when I have peri-anal abcesses. They are OBVIOUSLY designed for woman, because let me tell you, they are NOT comfortable to wear, as a man.
Having said all that though, I AM glad they are there and they work, because the last thing I need is buying up thousands of packets of surgical gauze to stick between my legs. So, thankyou women around the world!

New Trials

I'm intrigued and excited about a new study coming out of the University of Western Ontario

http://communications.uwo.ca/com/western_news/stories/clinical_trial_seeks_to_improve_crohn's_treatment_20100104445511

Thanks!
Vern

Water....

....is your friend. No matter what anyone tells you about what you can and can't drink or eat, water is the only thing you can take that won't affect your Crohn's. If I could drink water all day without eating I would. Coffee, tea, pop are all diahretics and WILL make you run to the bathroom. Don't believe me? Try it

To bag or not to bag........

....that is becoming the question. In particular, an ileostomy. The last time I was in hospital for an abcess, he recommended that I get the bag. There is so much to think about. The decision is more of an emotional one than a physical one. What to do, what to do.

Funny!

My wife said something to me the other day and I just had to laugh.
We were talking back and forth to each other, you know, in that husband and wife funny way, and she said to me, "You're so full of shit" where I replied "I have Crohn's, I haven't been full of shit for 20 years!" We both had a good laugh. Then I had a thought, I actually haven't been 'regular' since 1989! ha ha ha ha

Sick and Tired........

......of being sick and tired. Everyday it goes through my head. Depending on how I'm feeling depends on how much I feel this. I try not to take my frustrations out on anyone, but I do, and I'm sorry for it. When I first got CD, I had the "why me" syndrome, I had it a long time. I was depressed and at one point said "I'm done". I was in my early 20's, never been sick (and I mean never), I rarely went to the doctor, I was physically fit (soccer and figure skating)and then one day, it comes to a crashing halt. I lost weight at an alarming rate, I lost my girlfriend at the time and I learned very quickly that you cannot be self conscious when it comes to CD. I'm in my 40's now and I still ask myself "why", but this time I have a wife and family that loves me and I know that down that long road, there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I live my life day to day and deal with what comes along with CD.......you have to, or IT wins.