"What's It Like?" .........Living With Crohn's

This, believe it or not, is a question I get now and then.  I feel like saying....


"I don't know....what's it like NOT living with Crohn's Disease?" 


....and then look at their face with that puzzled look, like I've just asked them what the meaning of life is.  But it's the same thing.  I can't answer that question.  I don't think there IS an answer.


So, I was trying to think of a way to describe it and this is the best I can do...


Living with Crohn's Disease is like waiting for an earthquake.
You have no idea where you'll be or when a flare will happen, but the best you can do is to be as prepared as possible.




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You Might Be A Crohnie...

If according to the 2014 Guinness Book of World Records, under "Toilet Sitting", you see your picture...
you might be a Crohnie




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The Love of a Son

My two boys know that I have Crohn's.  To be exact, they know that I have an "illness" that makes me NOT be able to eat what they eat or do things that they do and they know that there are times that daddy just needs to rest for awhile.  They also know that sometimes I have to go to hospital, but they don't understand "why"........which, when I think about it, neither do I.
Having said all that, one son actually "hurt" me by giving me a hug.  Yes a hug.  They are normally very careful around me, but he just squeezed too hard.  I doubled over in pain as it was quick and the sudden pain made me bend right over.
What hurt the most?  The look on my 7 year olds face.  I think he thought he killed me and looked scared. 
I felt awful.
Things like this can happen, and its not his fault, he just wanted to give  me a hug.


The point is, something as simple as a hug can put a Crohnie down for the count.


What a sucky disease!!


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Remicade: Day 709

Closing in fast on my 2 year "anniversary" for my infusions and after this last one, I once again am humbled by others that suffer with this disease.  There are so many of "us" now.
Talking with others at the infusion site, we all learn we suffer from the same thing, but each of us have "side effects" that differ, whether that be with meds, food, emotions, etc.
And after the discussions, I sit there staring at my IV tube flowing with my "go-go mouse juice", watching it go through the needle that luckily only took one poke to get in and wonder...... with all these different symptoms, how can researchers possibly ever find "the cure".  I mean, one that helps us all.
I can only say, I hope its soon




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You Might Be A Crohnie...

If you can physically SEE your abdomen "deflate" as you pass gas...
you might be a Crohnie




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Crohnie Quote Of The Day

"The toughest challenges.... are given to the strongest people" 




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Time For Some Crohns Reflection

As I close in on my 2 years of Remicade, I'm sitting in my living room looking at my wife and two boys cuddling together on the couch and think what a lucky guy I am....and if it weren't for my Crohn's, it probably wouldn't have happened.
I turned 46 a couple of weeks ago.  Which means, I have had Crohn's more than half my life.  I have been living with this &^%$ disease for 26 years now. To this day, I still go to hospital, I just don't go as often as I used to and for less "serious" stuff.  Some would say, anytime you go to hospital it's serious, but for me staying in hospital overnight or a day or two is a far cry from the weeks or months I use to do in the beginning.
I guess I'm lucky, in one sense, that I have a mild case of the disease.  If you consider having most of your small intestine and some of your large removed, fistula's, fissure's, abscesses, infection's, severe dehydration and anemia, mild.....then yes.  From MY point of view, it's far from mild, but over the years after meeting and talking with others with Crohn's, yes, I am lucky.  It doesn't make it any easier though.
I am thankful for one thing with my Crohn's, I met my wife and have two wonderful boys.  I never thought I would ever meet anyone.  How do you explain the disease, in the beginning, to another person whom you want to date.  I told her on the first date.  You know what she said?  She said, "Okay".  That was it.  That's when I knew.
So, yes, I guess you can say I'm "happy" for the disease.....  in a way.




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Crohnie Quote Of The Day

Happiness is.....


..... a full roll of toilet paper




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Summing Up.......

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Crohnie Quote of the Day

The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.

-William Osler