Sunday, December 30, 2012

Crohnie Quote of the Day

God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
and Wisdom to know the difference.



.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Crohnie Drawing

Saw this on the 'net and just had to post it.  I wish I knew who drew it, but it sums up a Crohn's sufferer to a 'T'

No argument here........

Thursday, December 27, 2012

How The Crohnie Grinch Stole Christmas.....Again

I mean, what IS it with Crohn's and the holidays!!?
Every year, and I DO mean, EVERY year, my Crohn's acts up. 

This year, I thought it was going to be different.  I was on Remicade and off of the Prednisone.  I wasn't taking any other meds, I was gaining weight, I was eating properly and I had lost the "sudden urge" to run to the bathroom right after eating.  I was thinking that this Christmas I could actually sit down and enjoy a nice Christmas dinner with ALL the trimmings this year.  I was thinking that this Christmas I could actually have a "drink".  I nice rum n coke or a glass of wine.  Oh, and the desserts....the desserts.  Butter tarts, mine pies, nanaimo bars etc. were going to enjoy their travels down in to my stomach and I wouldn't have to worry about it.

Boy was I wrong......again.  I swear Crohn's is like the Grinch.  Cuz he stole my Christmas....again.
One week before Christmas, I started to develop an abscess.  Not just any abscess, but a peri anal one or course.  I tried to think it away, yea THAT worked.  Then I thought that because my next infusion was a couple of days away, it'll go away after that.....yea THAT worked.  The day I decided, sorry, I mean my wife decided that I was to go to hospital, the abscess let loose and the pressure was gone.....sort of.  Now I have the pain of not only a small remaining abscess, but now an open "wound".
BUT, I didn't have to go in to hospital.   I got to "enjoy" Christmas dinner (but was very difficult to sit), but no alcohol (anti biotics said so) and only a select few treats.

Maybe NEXT Christmas will be different.   Will be nice to have a "normal" Christmas for once in over 24 years....

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 25

Merry Christmas!

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.....

..... hope

Hope....they will find the cause
Hope....they will find the cure
Hope....that we all spend as little time in hospital as possible
Hope....that all Crohnie's around the world, have the most healthy of years for 2013

And that closes the Advent calendar for another year.  Looking forward to next year
Thanks for stopping by

Have a Merry Christmas and all the best for a happy and healthy 2013!!!!

~Vern

Monday, December 24, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 24

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.......

a six pack!!  (of Boost)
(cuz you never can get enough nutrition)

Well, as you can see, I didn't make it in to hospital.  But I was 5 minutes from leaving and as I was getting ready to go.......the abscess let loose!  Awesome, but damn sore now.  I still might end up there, but for now, I'm at home and it's still draining.

This incident, above all, goes to show the unpredictability of Crohn's

Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 23

opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.......

a do it yourself home operating kit!
(that would come in sooo handy right now)

Unfortunately, this will be the last entry for the Crohn's Advent Calendar this year.  The ole' Crohn's Fairies have decided that I should probably head in to hospital as they gave me a rather nice abccess to worry about.
I'll finish off the Calendar, maybe, when I return....god know when that is

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 22

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find......

a large bottle of wine!
(cuz sometimes you just gotta say, "F-it" and have a drink)

Friday, December 21, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 21

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find......

a can of "No Crohn's" spray!
(to spray on all those Crohn's "bits" you just want to go away)
(wish I had that now)

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 20

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.........

a lifetime subscription to hospital TV!
(you just never know when you'll need it)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Remicade - Day 148

Today was infusion day ( a week early) and I literally had to travel in a snow storm to get it done.  But done I did.  I needed this one as I started to develop an abscess a couple of days ago....not good.
So, hopefully, this dose will take care of it.  I might have to get either a higher dose of get it more frequent.
We'll see......

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 19

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.....

a 5000 page book of crossword puzzles!
(for all those nice hospital visits)

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 18

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find......

a nice supply of Imuran!
(oh goodie, more drugs)

Monday, December 17, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 17

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.......

a T-shirt that says "I know I don't LOOK sick....."
(it's easier this way)

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day16

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find......

a very large tube of Germoline (antiseptic cream)!
(for the nice red and sore ass after going to the bathroom 500 times a day)
(and the anesthetic in it helps!) aaaaahhhh

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 15

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.....

a swimming pool full of Multi- Vitamins!!
(eventhough you can't absorb them very well, always good to have)

Friday, December 14, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 14

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find....

an App showing every possible public washroom available for use!!
(self expanatory)

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 13

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find......

a lifetime supply of new underwear!!
(you know what I'm talking about..)  =)

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 12

Sorry, liitle late.......

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.........

a years supply of Remicade!
(cuz at $4000 per infusion...that's gonna come in handy)

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 11

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.....

pads and panty liners!!
(cuz those damn fissures, fistulas and abscesses are a pain in the ass (literally))!

Monday, December 10, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 10

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find....

a new tattoo!! 
(to cover up the battle scars)

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 9

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find......

a box of Raspberry Tea!
(your kidney's are going to love you for it)

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 8

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find..............

a book called "The Million and 1 (and then some) Excuses Why I Can't Go Anywhere (but I really want to) Because of My Crohn's"
(because there just aren't enough)

Friday, December 7, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 7

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.......

designer ostomy bags!!!
(I don't need them, but they look cool)

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 6

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find......

a large bottle of Oxy Clean spray!!
(an essential tool in the fight against laundry stains)

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 5

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find..........

money to buy new clothes!!
(cuz of the weight loss, then gain, then loss, then gain......)

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 4

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.....

a huge friggin' B12 needle!!
(liquid sunshine)

Monday, December 3, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 3

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find.....

a bag of supplies for my next hospital visit!!
(awesome...always need that)

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - Day 2

Came downstairs this morning, grab a cup of coffee, had my meds and sat down with my calendar.

Opening the ostomy bag this morning to find......

a Costco sized bottle of Prednisone!!
(that'll last a week)  =)

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Crohn's Advent Calendar - December 1st

YES, boys and girls!  It's December 1st...so, it's that time of year again when we pull out the ole' Crohn's advent calendar.
I love this time of year.  I couldn't sleep last night with the anticipation of what's behind those little doors.  This year, instead of toilet seats like last year, we have ostomy bags!!!  Yay!!!!!
I can't wait.........let's get the Christmas advent going shall we..

I'm soooo excited.....

opening the first ostomy bag this morning to find...............

a 50 pack of 2 ply double roll toilet paper!!!!!

woohoo!!!

don't forget to come back tomorrow, when I open up ostomy bag #2...