J-pouch Life

Well, this is one of those days that I come here to post and I wish I had a positive, uplifting one for you…perhaps this will turn out to be just that. Today, I was fired from my job because of my inability to come to work regularly because of my disease. Now, [...]

I think we’ve all been at points of struggle with these diseases where we felt hopeless. For most of us, the J Pouch operation gives us our lives back. It gives us an opportunity to live it. It gives us an opportunity to hope.
I have done volunteer work for the Crohn’s and [...]

Not sure what’s going on here, but for the past two years, I’ve had a Crohn’s flare over the New Year’s holiday. Perhaps it’s related to stress from the holidays. Either way, it’s time to make a change. Bahamas next year!
Does anyone else notice this phenomenon? Things are going totally great, then all the [...]

There’s that great line in the bible (or the Byrds song, whichever you prefer), “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
Prior to my diagnosis of UC and, subsequently, Crohn’s, I was a devoted and passionate dancer.  It was my “thing.”  It was also one [...]

So, at every previous job since I’ve had IBD I’ve been very vocal about my disease.  It was practical because I was sick at the time, and when people asked me questions, the advocate in me burst forth!  Since I’ve been in remission and managed to get a job in Portland, OR in this crazy [...]

So, first off, I’m am really too white and too dorky to be throwing around phrases like, “Keepin’ it real.”  Just wanted to acknowledge that!  I am thrilled to have recently earned a position at a prestigious law firm in downtown Portland.  I am currently working as a paralegal and am super-swamped with work already!  [...]

After receiving an interesting letter from my new GI yesterday, I’ve found myself in a rather contemplative mood.  I was diagnosed with unquestionable serious UC when I was 16.  The GI who diagnosed me recommended immediate surgery to remove the colon.  I declined, preferring instead to take meds for years and try my hand at [...]

Does this wiener look like she can run or what? On the heels of Eric’s post about his exciting bike tour in NYC, comes my less-exciting, yet equally amazing adventure.  As ya’ll (ah hem) might know, I am from Kentucky and I gotta celebrate the KY Derby this Saturday! I recently moved to the [...]

Okay, seeing as I am the resident Crohn’s+Jpouch expert, I feel required to “chime in” in response to the many-questioned thread in response to Brevin’s very informative (always hilarious) recent post.  Many responders seemed concerned about the pre-surgery tests that would rule-out or possibly diagnose Crohn’s disease.  The Prometheus Test, being one of interest.  The [...]