CROHN'S AND THE OLYMPICS?

I have Crohn's disease.  There I said it.  No one wants to hear it.  Either people don't know what it is or they know what it is and they don't want to talk about it.  Who wants to talk about gas, diarrhea, and bowel issues?  No one, I assure you. 

Then this week there was this timely article about the Olympics and Crohns Disease.  I know I thought the same thing: what could they have in common?  There is a kayaker named Carrie Johnson who was diagnosed with Crohn's while training for the Athens Olympic Games.  She had horrible fatigue, severe weight loss and anemia.  Not the things a person training for the Olympics needs.  She was put on the right medical plan and finished 10th in her race.


Of course when Carrie first heard Crohn's she went to the internet (what do doctor's tell you not to do?) and read everything she could find.  All the worse case scenarios!  Surgery, short life span.  Crohn's can be caught early and with the new drugs those worse case scenarios do not have to happen.

I remember when I thought I had Crohn's and I was so scared.  I had never heard of it. Then the doctor told me I had it.  I didn't want it.  Could I give it back?  I am sitting here right now with a stomach ache not being able to eat anything but some white rice and sprite.  I don't know how she gets in a kayak and competes.  

Carrie is competing at the London Olympics in the kayaking single flatwater K-1 500m and K-1 200m. She has been eliminated from the K-1 500m in the semi-finals but still has a chance in the K1-200m.  I wish her the best Friday when she races!

It takes so much courage to speak out about Crohn's disease.  I appreciate Carrie Johnson for being a champion for Crohn's disease.

Have you been watching the Olympics?  What is your favorite sport?  Who is your favorite athlete?

Until tomorrow...

The Funny Side Of Crohn's (#NHBPM Day 2)

Today I saw my gastroenterologist.  There is a sentence I really didn't think I would ever say or at least wouldn't say until I was in my 80s.  I am really lucky that I get visit my gastroenterologist about every three months.  Talking about bowel movements and gas, what fun!  Today we discussed what my stool looked like.  She asked the question like she was asking me how my vacation was.  It took me a bit off guard.  I actually stuttered when I answered.  What do you say?  Solid, watery, regular....  

For a person with Crohn's what is regular?  I am lucky if I only have to poop (I prefer the term poop.  I use it for my dogs and for myself.) three times a day.  One lovely side effect of Crohn's is having to poop many times a day.  Some days it is more and some days less.  

Sometimes my poop is really messy and sometimes it is not.  I always keep those wet wipes handy.  Last time I was at the doctor's office I asked about having a sore tush (another one of my fav terms) and she prescribed Desitin.  You know for babies who have a rash on their tushies.  Now I am in my mid-life and I am using Desitin on my tush.  I guess it is true, we grow old and at a certain point, we start to go backward and become a baby again.  I guess I am on my way.

Oh, I haven't talked about food and Crohn's.  Here is a fun topic.  If I cook my own food I am usually fine but if we eat out at a restaurant, oh no.  Sometimes the rich food at restaurants goes right through me.  It is helpful if I make it home first!  One time we ate out and then decided to go to a bar.  I was at the bar for less than one hour when I had an OH NO moment.  I certainly was not going into a bar bathroom to have a Crohn's attack.  Crohn's attacks are really the type of thing you want to have in your home bathroom.  So I caught a taxi home and just made it to a bathroom just in time.  Phew!

My doctor said I don't have to be scoped (colonoscopy and/or endoscopy) and I don't have to go back for six months!  Yeah!  As much as I enjoy being cleaned out with a bottle washer, I think there should be a limit on how often one person can get scoped, like every 10 years.  Ha ha.  Okay every 5 years.