And So It Begins....

First infusion of Remicade starts this Wednesday.  Looking forward to it, yet, not looking forward to it at the same time.
Two hours and an hour to sit afterwards to see if there is any reaction, etc.
Then, if all is well, I go back on the 8th August, for the next round.

All aboard the Remicade train!!  Let's see where this takes us, shall we............

Remicade Pre-Opening Ceremonies

One step closer to starting Remicade.

I had to get a TB skin test, for which I went last Tuesday and today went back for them to tell me that I didn't have TB.......or so I thought.  No, I don't have TB, BUT, now I might have to have a chest x-ray.  I had no reaction to the skin test, but because I'm on Immuran (immune suppressant), it could give the test a false reading....what!?!  So then, why not have me just go get a chest x-ray??!!  and skip the skin test?!!  Some times I wonder about our medical system.  Not all of it, just some of it.

Hopefully, because I had an x-ray back on June 1st in hospital, I might not have to get another one....BUT, with my luck.....

Diary of an Old Man

10 July 2012

'Woke up at 6am after a bad nights sleep, yet again, but have to get up, I have things to do.  I have to roll out of bed slowly as my back and hips are really bothering me.  Quick shower and start to get dressed.  Getting dressed is hard as its difficult to bend down or bend over to pick up clothes or even put my socks on.  Downstairs to get breakfast but I decide to skip the coffee, cuz my hands are sore so I give up trying to open the coffee jar.  Likewise with the tub of butter, but I manage to open the lid so I can have buttered toast.  Sit down on the coach to eat and watch the morning news, knowing it's going to be a struggle to get up off the coach when I'm done.  When I finally got up, naturally I have to get to the bathroom.  Back, legs and stomach are sore so I don't move very fast, but made it in time.  By the time I'm ready to go and face the world, I'm sore, tired and now, out of breath....ohhh the life of an old man, not too bad for 75 years old....

..........but I'm only 44.'


So here is a quick sense of how things are going for me. 
Went for a TB skin test today in preparation for Remicade, need to go back in 48 hours to see if theres a reaction...so far so good.
With the way I'm feeling, I can't WAIT for Remicade.....bring in on baby!!!

What Those with Chronic Pain or Illness DON’T Want to Hear You Say

"Even the well-intentioned often don’t know how to talk to the chronically ill."

Was made aware of an article in the June 27 2012 issue of Psychology Today (thanks Kendra)
As I read it, all I can think was....
What if someone said any one of these when you're having a BAD day?!  =)

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/turning-straw-gold/201206/what-those-chronic-pain-or-illness-don-t-want-hear-you-say

Crohnie Quote of the Day

"Enjoy the little things in life....
for one day you'll look back and realize
they were the big things."

The Party Room

This evening, my wife was calling looking for me, so I answer....

"I'm in here" I called out

"Where's here?" she asked

"In the bathroom!" I called back

....and muttered to myself, "Where ELSE would I be"

Happy Canada Day!!

Crohnie Quote of the Day

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”

Sweet and Sticky Health Benefits

I've posted in the past about sugar and it's harmful effects on the bowel and absorption, so I thought I would post about the benefits of honey instead of sugar.  I've recently started taking Cranberry Honey in my tea (tastes fantastic) and I also started trying Cinnamon Honey on my toast in the morning....again, fantastic.
So I researched some information about the benefits of honey and cinnamon.....

Did you know that honey is the only food that won't go bad....??


The combination of honey and cinnamon has been used for centuries in the oriental and Ayurvedic medicine.
The two ingredients with their unique healing abilities have a long history as a home remedy.
Here are some suggestions on how you could use this wonderful Cinnamon Honey:

1)  Heart Disease: replace butter, margarine or jam for cinnamon honey on your toast for breakfast.

2)  Arthritis: apply the cinnamon honey on the affected area

3)  Cholesterol: add cinnamon honey in green tea and drink.

4)  Colds and Flu: add cinnamon honey to lukewarm milk to help boost your immune system.  It may also help to clear your sinuses.

5)  Indigestion: take a tbsp. of cinnamon honey before every meal.

6)  Pimples: apply cinnamon honey on the affected area over night and wash it in the morning.

7)  Weight Loss: add a tsp. of cinnamon honey to a cup of boiled water and drink it on an empty stomach, 30 min. before breakfast.

8)  Bad Breath: mix cinnamon honey with hot water and gargle.

9)  Fatigue: drink in the morning and in the afternoon, 1/2 tbsp. of cinnamon honey mixed in a cup of warm water.

Enjoy!!!!!

Crohnie Quote of the Day

"There are no great men (or women), just great challenges which ordinary men (or women), out of necessity, are forced by circumstances to meet"