Crohnie Advent Calendar : Day 9

Opening door #9 today to find....

A "Get out of work (but still get paid) card" !!  
(wish I had one for each day of the year)

Check back each day until Dec 24 !

Crohnie Advent Calendar : Day 8

Opening door #8 today to find....

Piece and quiet !!  
(so we can nap!!)

Check back each day until Dec 24 !

Crohnie Advent Calendar : Day 7

Opening door #7 today to find....

Protein Bars !!  
(for that nice light snack)

Check back each day until Dec 24 !

Crohnie Advent Calendar : Day 6

Opening door #6 today to find....

B 12 !!  
(we all need that "boost")

Check back each day until Dec 24 !

Crohnie Advent Calendar : Day 5

Opening door #5 today to find....

Pillows !!  
(you know, cuz you need one for your head, between your knees, under your knees, small  of your back and generally just be surrounded by pillows)

Check back each day until Dec 24 !

Crohnie Advent Calendar : Day 4

Opening door #4 today to find....

Prednisone !!  
(even though you don't want it....you need it)

Check back each day until Dec 24 !

Crohnie Advent Calendar : Day 3

Opening door #3 today to find....

Broth !!  
(for those flare days)

Check back each day until Dec 24 !

Crohnie Advent Calendar : Day 2

Opening door #2 today to find....

Baby wipes !!  
(only IBD'ers will understand)

Check back each day until Dec 24 !

Crohnie Advent Calendar : Day 1

December 1st marks the first day of the Crohnie calendar, so let's see what's behind the first door this year....

Costco size bag of toilet paper !!


Check back each day until Dec 24 !

"But, You Don't Look Sick"

Having a chronic illness is hard.

Not only because of the health issues that are associated with your illness, but trying to "prove" to others that you are actually sick. Crohn's disease is an invisible illness, meaning you cannot visibly see that there is anything wrong. I relate it to a duck on a pond. On the surface you see a duck, calm as can be, but beneath the water his webbed feet are moving around at a frantic pace.
In my case, I look "normal" on the outside, but some days I am in pain, or fatigued, or dehydrated, etc. all the while putting on a brave face so others don't constantly ask, "are you okay?".
I think those that suffer from IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) are the BEST actors in the world, we spend all day long pretending we look WELL.
When we're home, out of the site of friends, co workers and even family, that's when we LOOK our disease, the acting is over.

So, this is me feeling pretty good...

And this is me in the middle of having a flare...

There can be any number of things going on when you have an invisible illness, you never know just by looking at someone. The old saying, don't judge a book by it's cover, absolutely applies to IBD people or anyone suffering with an invisible illness. Only they know how they're doing, so think twice before saying...

"...but...you don't LOOK sick"