“It’s essentially a bag full of (excretion).”

Crohn’s disease sufferer from Halifax brought to tears by Calgary airport security

While passing through a security checkpoint shortly after 9 a.m. Monday, Maher set a metal detector off because she had accidentally left her watch on.

But she said the airport screening staff immediately pointed to a bag on her hip, claiming it was full of money.

Not to make light of the situation, because

A) what a bunch of assholes, and
B) Even worse to learn that apparently airport security is shitty all over, and
C) I can identify with the helplessness this gal obviously felt, and it sucks.

But if I ever have a colostomy (and yeah, it's probably somewhere in my future) I sure hope I get one of those money-excreting ones.

Back to the basics: another IBD webinar from CCFA

cc by flickr user jurvetson

Yeah, that's right. I'm mooning you.

I guess it's time I got back to posting about Ulcerative Colitis and its buddies. Today I listened to a podcast/webinar from CCFA that's about a month old, but still worth a listen:

Managing IBD: Taking charge of your disease

The above link takes you straight to the podcast link, but CCFA also kindly included a link to the presentation/webinar slides, which can be viewed here:


SLIDES - Managing IBD

It's a very good presentation, but I have to admit, I feel I'm getting a little long in the tooth for IBD management information after having lived with UC for almost ten years now. And it really was an IBD-for-beginners type of webinar, which isn't me. I have my meds pretty well straightened out, I see my doctor regularly, I try to eat healthily.* I've become acquainted with the needs and crankiness of my body on a far more intimate level than I ever planned on doing, and after almost ten years, I'm okay with that.

So with that in mind, almost all of the information was familiar or even old-hat to me; although it was gratifying to hear Dr. Regueiro mention that the IBD and gastro community are currently investigating parasites (aka hookworms, I take it?) and their viability as an IBD treatment. Which to some folks might be considered old news. He also very briefly touched on the smoking thing early on in the webinar, albeit briefly.

In a way, I'm kind of glad I'm a senior UC member, or whatever having it for ten years makes me. (Toilet Queen? La Conquistadora del colon? Super Pooper? Feel free to chime in.) I like having enough knowledge about something to be considered a mini-expert in...well, in my own mind. But I think I'll keep listening to these podcasts.You never know what might pop up, or what might replace my oh-so-abundant knowledge. This is what happened when I listened to the IBD & She podcast last April. It was an eye-opener, and one that made me feel more like a normal lady: not something that usually happens when I'm getting my UC knowledge on. I recommend both podcasts.







*Shut UP. I DO.

YAY more Mike McCready

Mike McCready talking about Crohn's Disease and running.



I love his nutshell description of Crohn's. It also reminds me of this time I was talking to my friend D. who has chronic regional pain syndrome; we chat about pain lot in a strictly noncompetitive sense. (Really! Okay, 90 percent of the time.) Anyhoo, she said, "Hey, I had super bad gas the other night, and as I was writhing in pain on the floor, I thought, I wonder if this is what ulcerative colitis feels like? I'll ask Peppery." Man, I just love my friends.

In which I use my "Crohn's" label for perhaps the second time

Look, CCFA is doing another webinar!

Pediatric Crohn's: Finding ythe Right Path to Care

I know this is an Ulcerative Colitis blog, but I really want to boost the signal for these webinars - they're informative, they're current, they give you a chance to listen to and question the experts, and they generate so many more questions that can help you pinpoint/individualize your care and your understanding. I think that last bit is really important, since inflammatory bowel diseases can manifest in such personal ways specific to you and me and everyone we know.

Completely unrelated: I caught this fascinating interview/conversation between Stephen Fry and Craig Ferguson (from February 2010) just yesterday, because I am perpetually late to all parties. To make up for it, I show my appreciation with links and embeds. It was so nice to hear these guys just chat without the constant pressure and interruption of a studio audience.

Romancing the toilet

From Smart Bitches, Trashy Books:

Whisper Falls, by Toni Blake

The heroine has Crohn's. It's a romance novel, and the heroine has Crohn's. I think my brain just imploded with happiness. Way to go, Blake. I don't read many romance books, but I'll be checking this one out, because, dude! A heroine with Crohn's! She will probably get, then lose, then get the guy! And all without a hilarious diarrhea scene, I bet - read and learn, CNN. Especially in light of that stupid segment, the fact that this book exists surprises the hell out of me, and makes me want to find others. List time:

1. Whisper Falls
2. Um. Yeah. Any suggestions?

And I'm not talking about the My illness and my long, inspiring climb to recovery, let me show you it type of memoir-book. I'm not knocking those, but that's not what I'm looking for here. I'm looking for fiction books that have main characters with IBD. That's it; I'm not pulling out my snobby distinctions, such as

(a) is the disease purely a plot device, in the mode of Lurlene McDaniels and the Please Don't Die of Cancer/Of Lupus/Of Wasting Disease, Mommy/Daddy/Sister/Girlfriend books?

(b) is the disease mentioned once in passing and then never again despite how much it affects every day life? Or, my favorite,

(c) is the disease mentioned only in the form of a token/stereotype character (e.g. Gay Best Friend, Sassy Black Friend) who serves as an awakening or an inspiration to the main character? See also (a).

Provisionally:
(d) does the character with the disease miraculously recover thanks to whatever fad diet/treatment the author read about before writing the book?

Jesus, I'm just pulling that last one out of my ass,* I seriously doubt anyone could pull it off or would attempt to, these days. It's much more romantic to magically cure cancer, anyway.

But back to Whisper Hill.** With regards to that front cover blurb? "Intoxicating and addictive?" Bleeech, please. What about delicious? Is it scrumptious? Inebriating? Lickable? Christ. I wish someone would start blurbing "Unputdownable!" Now that, coupled with a good bout of dehabilitating diarrhea, I can get behind.




^{*Like everything.
** Not so much as a whisper as a flatulent BANG, supplies my sad, poop-obsessed mind.}

Not dead yet.

I've had a whole lot of Exciting Life Moments in the last year: I got married, I moved to Texas, I got laid off for the first time ever, I went to Prince Edward Island. Luckily my ulcerative colitis has been nice and quiet through most of it. (Well, my wedding day was another story, but definitely worthy of its own special blog post. I think I lost five pounds that day, and the scene wasn't even stressful. WHO KNOWS WHAT EVIL LURKS IN THE INTESTINES OF WOMEN.)

My only offering for the moment is an interview A. sent me about Mike McCready. Pretty nice stuff. The youtube comments, are, as always, enlightening. "Crohn's doesn't make your hair go white," etc.

Part one (more about his history rather than Crohn's):


Part two (more about Crohn's):


Today I spent about five minutes of work watching eagles sail around high buildings, grazing the edges of the top floors with their wing tips. I'm not sure if they were hunting amidst the clouds of smaller birds wheeling up there, too, but it was pretty awesome. Yep, there's my emotional UC moment of the day. I appreciate you, giant freaky-ass maneuvering birds of prey.

Anyway, rock on, Mister McCready! I miss your long hair!