Crohn's Disease Relief

Fat with Crohn's - Ivan's Story of Self Acceptance

There was no music. Only drummers. About 15 of them. The dance studio was filled with about 40 dancers or all ages. I sat in my chair and I started drumming. And I started Dancing in my chair while I was drumming. And the tears of joy overcame me because I was dancing. I knew I would. There was never any doubt I would. It looked a little different from Salsa, but every molecule of my being rejoiced, celebrated, sang, and cried out in joy as I pounded my drum, and danced my dance in the chair.

via fatinnyc.blogspot.com

Please click the link above and read Ivan's story. He is a Crohn's sufferer who is struggling to get to a place where he can go back to something he loves very much - Salsa dancing. His story outlines his journey towards self-acceptance of his weight, his odyssey through multiple surgeries, lung problems, and more.

This is a very heart warming story and also really a bit sad. When you have a chronic illness to deal with its disheartening to also be worrying about extra pounds. The way I look at it is that is the LEAST of my problems. As long as my husband loves me the way I am, I am fine.

I am a firm believer in self acceptance, and the fat acceptance movement. Too many people are very prejudiced against the overweight and that's just not cool. Our society is so judgmental. Just look at all the beautiful people killing themselves with anorexia, bulimia, amphetamine abuse and more. And all the little girls (and boys) who look at pictures of movie stars that have had so much airbrushing done that you can't get a real picture of their actual size and flaws.

Humans are imperfect creatures. But we were made this way and we are this way - and no amount of plastic surgery, dieting, exercise, hair straighteners, or makeup, is going to make us perfect people. Look in the mirror and say "I love you." You are the only you you have. Might as well make the best of it.

Press Lambasts Politician with Crohn's

Only in the Midwest: His Heart Was In It, His Ass Was Not : FamousDC

I think the way Steve Rose's dropping out of the Kansas Congressional race has been covered has been rude and insensitive. If Mr. Rose was dropping out of the race due to heart problems, cancer, or some "classy enough" disease I don't think he would be treated in the same callous way in the press.

Because he suffers from Inflammatory Bowel Disease it's open season to pick on his press release. Believe me, if they wanted TMI I am sure any person with IBD could give them a lot more than Mr. Rose did.. Saying you lost weight and blood is pretty tame, you know. How squeamish are these reporters? Man (or woman) up - this is part of life.

Vitamin D, Sunshine, and Crohn's

Stronger bones, a better immune system, protection from some cancers, lower blood pressure, clearer skin, and a healthier brain. These are just a few of the apparent benefits of the strangest of vitamins—vitamin D. Unlike all other vitamins, vitamin D is made by our bodies, but it requires sunshine.

via www.parade.com

Parade magazine has an interesting article about how people are spending less time outside in the sun, and therefore we are seeing an increase in vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D is of particular interest to Crohn's sufferers because the digesting disease can effect the bodies ability to absorb nutrients from food and supplements as well.

Here is a quote from the article:

supplements don’t work the same for everyone. Some people—such as those with bowel disorders like celiac disease or Crohn’s disease—have trouble absorbing vitamin D supplements.

The trick of course is going to be to have a moderate amount of time in the sun, using proper sunscreen and protection when needed. You want to balance the healthy effects of sunshine with protecting from harmful cancer causing UV rays.

There is another aspect of getting sunshine that I think all people who suffer from chronic disease should remember - it is emotionally uplifting to be outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Many studies have shown that Crohn's disease patients have a higher incidence of depression. When you are depressed what are you doing? Staying inside and feeling blah. My prescription - go outside and take a walk in the sunshine. Make it leisurely or brisk, whatever you can manage or prefer. Walk in the sunshine, then call me in the morning.

Free Book Navigating Your Health Benefits

receive your free copy of the 2nd Edition of the Navigating Your Health Benefits For Dummies guide, offered by Aetna and the Financial Planning Association. By filling out the form below you will be sent the guide in the mail, or you can choose to download it. You are eligible for ONE free copy of the guide.

The personal information that you provide will be kept confidential, and it will not be sold or distributed to outside parties according to our Privacy Policy.

The first version of this guide is still available in Spanish! To get a free copy of Guía de Beneficios de Salud Para Dummies, please go to PlanifiqueParaSuSalud.com.

via www.planforyourhealth.com

Free book (print or by mail) from Aetna and the Financial Planning Association "Navigating Your Health Benefits for Dummies."

I wonder if they go into detail about the percentage of claims that insurance companies deny and assume that people will not fight for. Then you have to sit on the phone holding for hours just in order to get the insurance coverage you are entitled to. Or do they go into the wonderful world of "miscoded medical billing" and the havoc it can play on your credit score while you are fighting to have bills paid?

Free Sample Sting-Free Medical Adhesive Remover

via www.niltac.com

Niltac Sting-Free Medical Adhesive Remover is offering a free sample. This can apparently be used for ostomy care for those Crohnies who use adhesive-attached ostomy products.

I myself am very sensitive to adhesive on my skin. Even those super duper "bandaids" they put on after they do a blood test make my skin all red and sometimes bruise when I remove the bandage. I have learned to take a shower and let the hot water soften the adhesive up instead of just pulling them off. But this stuff seems like it would be handy so I am going to sign up for the sample.

Go Clean Your Shower

An analysis of 50 showerheads from nine U.S. cities found that about 30 percent harbored high levels of Mycobacterium avium -- a group of bacteria that can cause lung infections when inhaled or swallowed.

via www.reuters.com

I am sure I am not the only one who reads this study and then wants to go directly and clean their shower head. By the way - what you should do is periodically remove the shower head and soak it in a cleaning solution for getting hard water stains off.

How to clean a shower head? I use something CLR diluted with water. If you have to remove the shower head wrap it in a towel before using pliers or wrench to protect the chrome finish. Some people just use vinegar. I am sure that bleach would kill the mycobacterium, but one of the other benefits of cleaning your shower head is getting the mineral deposit buildup out of the holes so none of them are blocked up.

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Bran May Actually Make Irritable Bowels Worse - Health News - redOrbit

A new study released on Friday suggests that wheat bran and other fibrous foods that do not dissolve easily in water not only fail to soothe irritable bowels but may even make things worse, AFP reported.

The study found that most soluble types of bran, such as psyllium, appear to ease inflamed bowels, but the insoluble varieties people have traditionally eaten for regularity don't work as advertised.

via www.redorbit.com

I bet anyone with Crohn's already could have told you this! Bran and overly fibrous foods are on the bad list for Crohn's sufferers who are flaring.

My gastroenterologist told me she likes Benefiber, which is made from water soluble wheat dextrin. But she said for me to avoid fiber when I am flaring and slowing introduce it (in foods) when I am in remission. I don't take any extra fiber but I have been known to give it to my son who sometimes needs a little help in that direction.

Sometimes You Need a Little Help

Check out this adorable video.  Sometimes we all need a helping hand.

Tell Members of Congress to Support the Health Care Plan

I just told my members of Congress that I want them to support the President's plan for healthcare. 

Tell Members of Congress to Support the Health Care Plan

Here is the personal message I added:

I suffer from Crohn's disease and was recently laid off.  My insurance company dropped my coverage even though I paid my COBRA payment as soon as I received the paperwork.  So scary!  I know I can be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition if I ever let my insurance lapse.  Let alone that I need to take care of my two young children.

My mother in law cannot afford any health coverage at all and is chancing it until she is the age where Medicare will become available to her.  The last time she had a health scare and was in the hospital it took her over a year to pay off the bill, a little bit at a time.  This is a crying shame.  This is a woman who worked all her life as a housekeeper and her last job was cleaning medical office buildings! 

Please get it together to come up with a way for American Citizens to have health insurance.  I don't care how you negotiate the deal - just think about your constituents who need affordable health insurance.

Thank you,

Marianne C
http://www.crohnsdiseaserelief.com

By the way, I was reinstated back into the insurance plan.  All it took was 8 phone calls and about 3 weeks with no coverage.  And that was AFTER I paid the bill.

New Beautiful CCFA Holiday Cards Drawn By Kids

Here's a great way we all can help the CCFA raise money - super cute holiday cards drawn by kids with IBD.  The "Kids for a Cause" card line were drawn by the kids at the CCFA's Camp Oasis this summer.  They have cards for all sorts of holidays from Christmas, Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, Thanksgiving, New Years...

I LOVE this card with a Dove on it.  It's listed under Rosh Hashanah (which is next Friday!) but I will use it for Hanukkah cards personally. Like Dove for Peace on Earth, right.