J-pouch Life

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 [...]

In a timely fashion to Liz’s post on Lets Just Call it IBD, I just stumbled on this story this morning on the yahoo home page.  Apparently a teenage female had been sick with IBD-related symptoms for many years. The doctors called it IBD, probably colitis. She took tissue from her intestine to her high [...]

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 [...]

Well, hanging out in my gmail inbox today I noticed this link for a “blog” that promised to beat colitis by using the recommendations of a book. After looking into it further, I discovered many other “blogs” that have exactly the same content pointing to the same or similar books. What a shame. Colitis and [...]

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 [...]

Well, last night was one of the few times I’ve been in the ER for a NON IBD/pouch-related dilemma. I have had migraines since the 7th grade.  They have since increased in intensity and frequency.  IBD came in handy last night, as did having no colon, because as soon as I said, “Crohn’s” and “total [...]

At the risk of becoming an obsessive J-pouch.net poster, I have another blog-a-de-blog-blog.  I am often on the Jpouch.org board answering queries, and one that seems to come up a lot is, “How do I tell a new partner/person I’m dating/etc. about my ostomy/disease/J-pouch?” My answer is always the same, and always involves the most [...]

I guess it all started when I was about 15 years old. I had been to my grandmother’s house for a visit, then dance class, then the non-stop vomiting and uncontrollable bloody diarrhea started. I begged my mother to, “please, please not take me to the hospital,” but by the time she was dragging me [...]

David Garrard is a pro football player who has been vocal about his battle with Crohns disease.  It is great that these commercials are running on tv and are out for all people to view.  Three big cheers to David Garrard for being brave enough to promote disease awareness. Now, we need to find our UC to Jpouch spokesperson. [...]