It was asked on Twitter the other day.....
"How do you feel about your IBD? is it a gift or a nightmare to you? please share your thoughts."
So, from that, I have today's quote of the day from my personal experience...
"If it weren't for my Crohn's, I wouldn't have my lovely wife and our two kids"
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Saturday, April 27, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Urinating Out My Ass
We Crohnies are a talented bunch. We can eat and eat and eat, and not gain weight, we can lay in the fetal position all day long, we know where every bathroom is in the world, we can inflate our abdomens like a balloon simply by doing nothing and we can urinate out our asses! (or so it feels like anyway)
The latter I experienced this weekend during my 6 year olds birthday party. About half way through, I started having to go to the bathroom and by the time the party was done, I had been 3 times and went 3 times more before bed. Six times in the night and twice more in the morning before starting to slow down to a Crohnie 'normal', or at least 'normal' for me. It's now lunch time and I'm starting to NOT having to go to the bathroom. And yes, before figuring out what had happened, I was literally 'urinating out my ass'. It was just like water.
Unfortunately, doing this causes dehydration, which I am experiencing today. Weakness, dry mouth, exhaustion and thirsty. I have been sucking on Jolly Ranchers to help.
The culprit...?? I thought at first it was the icing from his birthday cake ( my wife made a great snake cake with green icing and Oreo cookie crumbs as 'dirt'), as I hadn't eaten anything else prior, but I've had icing before and not had a problem. The key here is the fact it was 'green' icing. Yep.....food coloring (or the combination of icing and food coloring) I had forgotten about that. It's happened to me in the past, but as I'm doing better on the Remicade, I didn't think anything of it to eat the cake.
Well, after almost 24 hours, 14 bathroom visits, a couple of Tylenol 3's and enough water to fill a small lake, I'm starting to feel better.
The moral of the story? Don't eat icing with food coloring unless you want to urinate out your ass!!
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The latter I experienced this weekend during my 6 year olds birthday party. About half way through, I started having to go to the bathroom and by the time the party was done, I had been 3 times and went 3 times more before bed. Six times in the night and twice more in the morning before starting to slow down to a Crohnie 'normal', or at least 'normal' for me. It's now lunch time and I'm starting to NOT having to go to the bathroom. And yes, before figuring out what had happened, I was literally 'urinating out my ass'. It was just like water.
Unfortunately, doing this causes dehydration, which I am experiencing today. Weakness, dry mouth, exhaustion and thirsty. I have been sucking on Jolly Ranchers to help.
The culprit...?? I thought at first it was the icing from his birthday cake ( my wife made a great snake cake with green icing and Oreo cookie crumbs as 'dirt'), as I hadn't eaten anything else prior, but I've had icing before and not had a problem. The key here is the fact it was 'green' icing. Yep.....food coloring (or the combination of icing and food coloring) I had forgotten about that. It's happened to me in the past, but as I'm doing better on the Remicade, I didn't think anything of it to eat the cake.
Well, after almost 24 hours, 14 bathroom visits, a couple of Tylenol 3's and enough water to fill a small lake, I'm starting to feel better.
The moral of the story? Don't eat icing with food coloring unless you want to urinate out your ass!!
.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Crohn's and Dehydration
I've posted about dehydration here before, but I think I might go in to more detail after being asked a few times via email....thank you for all the questions!
Let's start by saying, I have been to hospital a few times for dehydration and have been admitted for days at a time. It's not like I stopped drinking, just not enough. Turns out, I had moderate to severe dehydration. I my case, I was very tired, exhausted, thirsty, very dry mouth, low blood pressure, rapid pulse and zero energy. Now, having Crohn's, I thought it was my Crohn's.......yeah, no.
I was in hospital the last time for dehydration for a week getting IV fluids. An easy sign to see if you are getting enough water is your urine. The more yellow it is, the more water you need. If it's running clear, you doing good! Oh yeah....if you're NOT peeing at all, NOT a good sign.
I've also learned that drinking 8 glasses of water a day, isn't necessarily true. It's when you drink.
Think of your body as an engine. When you get up in the morning, drink a glass of water, NOT coffee, etc. You have to get your body 'started' for the day and a glass of water is the best thing to do, as well as the last thing before you go to bed.
So, here is a list of symptoms...thanks to the Mayo Clinic
Mild to moderate dehydration is likely to cause:
Let's start by saying, I have been to hospital a few times for dehydration and have been admitted for days at a time. It's not like I stopped drinking, just not enough. Turns out, I had moderate to severe dehydration. I my case, I was very tired, exhausted, thirsty, very dry mouth, low blood pressure, rapid pulse and zero energy. Now, having Crohn's, I thought it was my Crohn's.......yeah, no.
I was in hospital the last time for dehydration for a week getting IV fluids. An easy sign to see if you are getting enough water is your urine. The more yellow it is, the more water you need. If it's running clear, you doing good! Oh yeah....if you're NOT peeing at all, NOT a good sign.
I've also learned that drinking 8 glasses of water a day, isn't necessarily true. It's when you drink.
Think of your body as an engine. When you get up in the morning, drink a glass of water, NOT coffee, etc. You have to get your body 'started' for the day and a glass of water is the best thing to do, as well as the last thing before you go to bed.
So, here is a list of symptoms...thanks to the Mayo Clinic
Mild to moderate dehydration is likely to cause:
- Dry, sticky mouth
- Sleepiness or tiredness — children are likely to be less active than usual
- Thirst
- Decreased urine output — no wet diapers for three hours for infants and eight hours or more without urination for older children and teens
- Few or no tears when crying
- Dry skin
- Headache
- Constipation
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Extreme thirst
- Extreme fussiness or sleepiness in infants and children; irritability and confusion in adults
- Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes
- Lack of sweating
- Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber
- Sunken eyes
- Shriveled and dry skin that lacks elasticity and doesn't "bounce back" when pinched into a fold
- In infants, sunken fontanels — the soft spots on the top of a baby's head
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rapid breathing
- No tears when crying
- Fever
- In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Crohnie Quote Of The Day
"Learn to appreciate the things you have before time forces you to appreciate the things you once had"
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Saturday, April 13, 2013
Bloating
The other day, I was making a pasta dinner for my family and thought to myself, "Self....why not make some extra pasta and make a cold pasta salad?" What a great idea..... or so I thought.
Turns out, even after more than 20 years of having Crohn's, a cold pasta salad is a big no no. Why? After confirming with a nutritionist, apparently after pasta has been cooked, it starts to ferment. I did not know this.
Now, for a "regular" person, bloating is painful and uncomfortable, but for a Crohnie, it's just painful. No more cold pasta or leftover pasta for me, that's for sure.
So I did some research and here are the top 10 foods and food groups to avoid as they can cause bloating.
Top 10 Bloating Foods
1) Greasy, fried foods
Greasy fast foods like burgers, chips, fried chicken and deep-fried eats like samoosas, koeksisters and doughnuts can cause bloating because it takes the stomach much longer to break down the fats and properly digest them. This extra time allows gas to build up, causing bloating.
2) Salty foods
Salt is a big culprit when it comes to bloating. High-sodium foods cause the body to retain water, which leads to a bloated feeling. Sodium can show up in some unlikely sources, especially in processed foods, so read your food labels and rather flavour your foods with herbs.
3) Spicy foods
Spicy foods have been shown to stimulate the release of stomach acid, which can cause irritation. Limit the use of black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, chilli powder, curry, onions, garlic, mustard, BBQ sauce, horseradish, tomato sauce and vinegar.
4) Gassy vegetables
Some vegetables produce more gas than others do, and everyone varies in their ability to absorb and tolerate that gas. If you're sensitive, you may want to limit the amount of gas-producing vegetables such as the following: baked beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, lentils, Lima beans, onions and peppers.
5) Carbonated and high-acid drinks
All carbonated drinks - from sodas to fizzy mineral water - can cause bloating because the carbon dioxide trapped in the bubbles creates gas in the stomach. Some beverages such as alcohol, caffeinated drinks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and some fruit juices (like orange juice, pineapple juice and tomato juice) are high in acid which can irritate your GI tract, resulting in swelling and bloating.
6) Artificial sweeteners
Certain artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharin, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, mannitol, cyclamates and sucralose can increase bloating. These are often found in diet drinks, sweets, cookies, energy bars and chewing gums. The artificial sweeteners linger in the stomach because they cannot be digested, and after enough build-up they act as a platform for the fermentation of bacteria, leading to production of gas.
7) Dairy products
If your body is unable to digest lactose, or milk sugar, the consumption of dairy products can make you feel bloated. This condition, called lactose-intolerance, is relatively common, especially among people of Asian, African and Southern European descent. The lactose that is not completely digested will pass to the colon where gas is produced by the bacteria trying to break it down. If you suspect that you are lactose intolerant, consult a dietician to ensure adequate consumption of other calcium-rich foods.
8) Too much fruit
Just as some people are lactose-intolerant, others are fructose-intolerant, and their bodies cannot digest the sugar properly. If you find you have excess gas and bloating after eating fruit, this may apply to you. Choose lower-fructose fruits, like sweet melon and apricots, instead of high-fructose fruits like apples and bananas. It is also best to eat fruit separately from a meal - either 30 minutes before or at least two hours after.
9) Starches
Most starches, including potatoes, maize, pasta, and wheat produce gas as they are broken down in the large intestine. If you find that you are particularly sensitive to a starch, substitute it with rice - the only starch that does not cause gas. Also, beware of refined grains like white flour that's often used in white bread, cake and biscuits. Not only do they offer little nutrition, they can also cause water retention, with bloating as a result.
10) Chewing gum
Chewing gum can make you swallow air, which then gets trapped in your belly, causing pressure, bloating, and gas. It also often contains artificial sweeteners which will just aggravate the bloating.
On a side note, as a Crohnie, I would advise to stay clear of all artificial sweeteners. They cause way too many problems on top of the bloating. It's been my experience, that Aspartame was causing me cartilage problems in my chest....I know, go figure.
Doesn't leave much left to eat....so enjoy what you can!!
Turns out, even after more than 20 years of having Crohn's, a cold pasta salad is a big no no. Why? After confirming with a nutritionist, apparently after pasta has been cooked, it starts to ferment. I did not know this.
Now, for a "regular" person, bloating is painful and uncomfortable, but for a Crohnie, it's just painful. No more cold pasta or leftover pasta for me, that's for sure.
So I did some research and here are the top 10 foods and food groups to avoid as they can cause bloating.
Top 10 Bloating Foods
1) Greasy, fried foods
Greasy fast foods like burgers, chips, fried chicken and deep-fried eats like samoosas, koeksisters and doughnuts can cause bloating because it takes the stomach much longer to break down the fats and properly digest them. This extra time allows gas to build up, causing bloating.
2) Salty foods
Salt is a big culprit when it comes to bloating. High-sodium foods cause the body to retain water, which leads to a bloated feeling. Sodium can show up in some unlikely sources, especially in processed foods, so read your food labels and rather flavour your foods with herbs.
3) Spicy foods
Spicy foods have been shown to stimulate the release of stomach acid, which can cause irritation. Limit the use of black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, chilli powder, curry, onions, garlic, mustard, BBQ sauce, horseradish, tomato sauce and vinegar.
4) Gassy vegetables
Some vegetables produce more gas than others do, and everyone varies in their ability to absorb and tolerate that gas. If you're sensitive, you may want to limit the amount of gas-producing vegetables such as the following: baked beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, lentils, Lima beans, onions and peppers.
5) Carbonated and high-acid drinks
All carbonated drinks - from sodas to fizzy mineral water - can cause bloating because the carbon dioxide trapped in the bubbles creates gas in the stomach. Some beverages such as alcohol, caffeinated drinks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and some fruit juices (like orange juice, pineapple juice and tomato juice) are high in acid which can irritate your GI tract, resulting in swelling and bloating.
6) Artificial sweeteners
Certain artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharin, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, mannitol, cyclamates and sucralose can increase bloating. These are often found in diet drinks, sweets, cookies, energy bars and chewing gums. The artificial sweeteners linger in the stomach because they cannot be digested, and after enough build-up they act as a platform for the fermentation of bacteria, leading to production of gas.
7) Dairy products
If your body is unable to digest lactose, or milk sugar, the consumption of dairy products can make you feel bloated. This condition, called lactose-intolerance, is relatively common, especially among people of Asian, African and Southern European descent. The lactose that is not completely digested will pass to the colon where gas is produced by the bacteria trying to break it down. If you suspect that you are lactose intolerant, consult a dietician to ensure adequate consumption of other calcium-rich foods.
8) Too much fruit
Just as some people are lactose-intolerant, others are fructose-intolerant, and their bodies cannot digest the sugar properly. If you find you have excess gas and bloating after eating fruit, this may apply to you. Choose lower-fructose fruits, like sweet melon and apricots, instead of high-fructose fruits like apples and bananas. It is also best to eat fruit separately from a meal - either 30 minutes before or at least two hours after.
9) Starches
Most starches, including potatoes, maize, pasta, and wheat produce gas as they are broken down in the large intestine. If you find that you are particularly sensitive to a starch, substitute it with rice - the only starch that does not cause gas. Also, beware of refined grains like white flour that's often used in white bread, cake and biscuits. Not only do they offer little nutrition, they can also cause water retention, with bloating as a result.
10) Chewing gum
Chewing gum can make you swallow air, which then gets trapped in your belly, causing pressure, bloating, and gas. It also often contains artificial sweeteners which will just aggravate the bloating.
On a side note, as a Crohnie, I would advise to stay clear of all artificial sweeteners. They cause way too many problems on top of the bloating. It's been my experience, that Aspartame was causing me cartilage problems in my chest....I know, go figure.
Doesn't leave much left to eat....so enjoy what you can!!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Crohnie Quote Of The Day
I saw this and thought for a minute......yes, it's exactly true.
"Health is not valued until sickness comes." ~Thomas Fuller
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"Health is not valued until sickness comes." ~Thomas Fuller
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Thursday, April 4, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Crohnie Humor
"Having a perianal abscess is like having a nosey
neighbor…
...you know its there, but don’t want to look, and there's no real good way of getting rid of it."
.
...you know its there, but don’t want to look, and there's no real good way of getting rid of it."
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Monday, April 1, 2013
Remission For Crohn's Disease
Since starting Remicade (Inflixilab) almost a year ago, I've had many people ask me if I'm in remission. The answer I give? "Don't know"
The definition of 'remission' is :
A remission is a temporary end to the medical signs and symptoms of an incurable disease. A disease is said to be incurable if there is always a chance of the patient relapsing, no matter how long the patient has been in remission.
So, to me, the key here is the word 'temporary' and the definition of that. Some days, I would definitely say "yes, I would say I'm in remission" but other days....no.
If you define remission as, do I have anymore 'Crohn's pain' (abdominal, cramps, etc), then I would say 'yes, I'm in remission' as I haven't had any of that pain for awhile (knock on wood), but I still have joint and muscle pain (actually worse since infusion started) and I still get the pesky abscesses. My infusions, though, have been changed to every 6 weeks in hope that it will help.
So, as you can see, it's a hard question to answer, except to say... "don't know"
The definition of 'remission' is :
A remission is a temporary end to the medical signs and symptoms of an incurable disease. A disease is said to be incurable if there is always a chance of the patient relapsing, no matter how long the patient has been in remission.
So, to me, the key here is the word 'temporary' and the definition of that. Some days, I would definitely say "yes, I would say I'm in remission" but other days....no.
If you define remission as, do I have anymore 'Crohn's pain' (abdominal, cramps, etc), then I would say 'yes, I'm in remission' as I haven't had any of that pain for awhile (knock on wood), but I still have joint and muscle pain (actually worse since infusion started) and I still get the pesky abscesses. My infusions, though, have been changed to every 6 weeks in hope that it will help.
So, as you can see, it's a hard question to answer, except to say... "don't know"
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