Live. Laugh. Colon.

I'm a mid-twenty woman living with Crohn's disease & Arthritis. Trying to make the best out of every shitty situation. Remember: Laughter is the best medicine! Wanna learn more about IBD? Visit @laughingwithmycolon.blogspot.com

[laughingwithmycolon]

Medication for IBD

Medication and IBD Budesonide: Budesonide (Entocort) is a medication used for mild to moderate Crohn’s disease of the termi

I updated the medication info :)

[laughingwithmycolon]

http://laughingwithmycolon.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-ibd-story-my-ibd-story-started-nine.html?m=1 (Read my IBD Story clicking this link)

Laughingwithmycolon

My IBD story My IBD story started nine years ago with having back, hip and knee pains. I expected it to be simply caused by carrying

[laughingwithmycolon]

Talents include:

* joint pain * wrong food choices * unintended weight loss * but never giving up!

[laughingwithmycolon]

*Showing ultrasound pics in my twenties means I’m pregnant? Nope.* Here’s the real story: I had a tough stomach pain out of the sudden a few weeks back which left me unable to stand straight. “Maybe I’m getting heavy period pains the first time in my life.” I thought. But they didn’t disappear like I wished they would. On top of this I started to vomit and my bathroom frequency went up significantly. I went to my GI “Better safe than sorry!” I told myself expecting the whole thing to be nothing. Maybe a stomach bug. Maybe even less. I was chatting with my GI when he noticed that I seemed to have an obstruction. After more than one year of remission in a state of “perfect health” it hit me again. I knew that this could happen every moment out of the sudden. In fact I had experienced most of my flare ups unexpectedly. But it still felt unreal. He put me on entocort first, but since it didn’t work like we wished it would and the obstruction seemed to be somewhere in the middle of my small intestine he switched it to that good old prednisone a few days later. Now I’m able to eat again. And that feels quite good. I started Imuran again, too. I’ll do everything in my own power to make this flare up as short as possible.

[laughingwithmycolon]

Diarrhea

Unknown doctor: "You have Crohn's disease?! So I guess you suffer from diarrhea a lot?"

Me: "I've never been a person with lots of diarrhea problems. I mainly have other symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, blood in my stool, fissures, malnutrition, arthritis, pain, gas, mouth ulcers..."

Unknown doctor: "So when did you last have diarrhea?"

Me (thinking): "Are you f***ing kidding me?? Have you actually listened to the things I just told you??

Me: "A few months back..."

[laughingwithmycolon]

Nutrition again.

I’m in remission - like most of you know - and I’d call myself healthy (okay don’t mind the 6 pills at breakfast). I eat well and exercise a lot. I get my period and my weight is stable.

It’s like my body forgot about the long time being malnourished. NOPE. It didn’t.

I participated in a nutrition/exercise research work at my university (which included labs, body composition, weight...) and I was quite disappointed when I got the results. Last time someone checked my body composition (another IBD trial) the muscle mass was dangerously low, my bone mass sucked and my overall body composition showed signs of being long-term-malnourished even though I was just borderline underweight.

But now that I’m at a healthy weight, in remission for about 18 months and running/eating a lot (& gym) I did not expect that my body still had such low muscle and bone masses and still showed signs of malnutrition.

The disappointment changed into hope and motivation after I thought about it for some time. Small progress is still progress. And all good things take their time. So I’ll keep on working hard and I will keep in mind that bodies don’t forget what they’ve been through.

I just wanted to share this lesson with you guys because it was important to me and maybe it’s important for you, too. Especially in a time where everyone seems to be aiming for fast changes.

Besides this I’m just grateful that I can do lots of things that seemed so far away or even unarchievable just two years ago. Sometimes things even change for good when you almost lost hope.

[laughingwithmycolon]

Wish you all a happy new year 🎊🎆🎈!

May 2018 hold lots of pain-free days for you all.

[laughingwithmycolon]

I found this and it cheered me up a lot!

[severinetherat]

I had my CT scan this morning. It took four tries to get a cannula in (my veins were not having any of it), and the dye they pumped into me was a little painful at first (because they had to use a tiny vein near my wrist/thumb), but it was over pretty quickly. I’m expecting result within the next few weeks.

For anyone going for their first CT scan, just be aware (because you nurse might not be as kind as mine was to warn you) once they start pumping the dye in, it can feel like you are wetting yourself. You’re not, it;s just the dye. It’s feels very weird. Also, my tongue went slightly numb for a bit. Has anyone ever experienced anything weird like that during a CT scan? Or any other type of scan?

[laughingwithmycolon]

They even told me to expect this. The nurse was like:

“When we inject the contrast you’ll fell 1) a hot burning sensation at the injection site/the arm

2) feel like peeing yourself but don’t worry you won’t!

3) a hot flush going though your whole body”

And I was like (freezing): “I seriously look forward to feel that hot flush!”

[laughingwithmycolon]

I'm having one this week too.. I'm really dreading it.. what do you do to take your mind of it? I'm stressing a lot xD

I don’t stress about it so I don’t need distractions - I just live my life like I always do.

It will be my fifth colonoscopy so I have plenty of experience with this topic. I know that colonoscopies are not that bad. In fact you won’t even feel anything of it when you choose to get sedation/anaesthesia done. The only thing you have to get through is the prep and getting an IV.

I can’t take your fear away but I can tell you that it’s just not worth stressing about it. Your doctor probably does 1000 colonoscopies a year: He knows how to do that and - like I said - when you choose the sedation you’ll wake up, feeling completely normal (maybe a little gassy and dizzy) and ask everyone around you: “Is it already over???…really?…no way!”

You can do this anon! Just keep calm and do the prep. Sending virtual hugs.

[laughingwithmycolon]

Flr you anon :) for more information including my last years „life prep“ search the #colonoscopy on my blog

[laughingwithmycolon]

My colonoscopy prep tips

1. Put on cosy clothes and have a breakfast full of energy. 2. Make yourself a bottle of your favourite tea. 3. Prepare yourself with films or books beneath your bed. 4. Start as soon as possible with the prep (it’s nicer if you don’t have to go to the bathroom the whole night). 5. Buy the best toilet paper and enough baby wipes or baby oil. 6. Drink enough other fluids with your prep, even when you get nauseous. Then you have to slow down. 7. Prepare your family: choose a bathroom and say “it’s mine today!”. 8. Let it flow. 9. And don’t forget to put a sanitary pad in your slip :)

[laughingwithmycolon]

For you anon :)

[justummsomeguy]

10. Have an extra pair of underwear and pants in the bathroom, just in case.

11. Make sure to clear the route to the bathroom. You don’t want to be tripping over things when you’ve got to go.

12. Make sure you have you have plenty of toilet paper.

13. If your bottom gets raw/sore, putting some Vaseline on it can help (I usually do this before bed, I don’t how it feels).

14. If you have underwear you don’t like as much, or like period underwear, wear that, that way it’s not as big of deal if they get soiled.

[mittenhealth]

If it’s liquid prep, make sure it’s chilled. It’s much more palatable that way.

Also if it makes you gag, like it does with me, try using a straw to bypass your tongue. It doesn’t stop the gagging completely but I can usually get more down faster.

I’ve also been known to get a hotel room the night before so I know the entire room, and bathroom, is all mine. Preferably one that is close to the hospital so you don’t spend a lot of time in the car.

And I’d would suggest investing in some nice candles. As awful as prep is, I try to pamper myself as much as possible during it.

[laughingwithmycolon]

Wow…It got sooooo long. :) thank everyone for adding new tips to this list. For all the young (and old) colonoscopy warriors out there. And for you anon.

[fly-casually]

Might I add my colonoscopy prep tips/experience to this? I have my own blog post about it here.

[laughingwithmycolon]

That’s fine :) yaaay for more prep tips!

[rosiemscott-blog]

This is amazing! We need to stop being embarrassed about our bowels and all things bowel related! Wish I had seen this before all of my procedures <3

[laughingwithmycolon]

Yeah, it’s absolutely great to see how many people are going through this. We don’t need to be ashamed about it! We all should be proud because we found a way to deal with it and make it more comfortable :) we can even help our parents and grandparents when they’re about to have their first colonoscopies :D

[laughingwithmycolon]

I've recently been scheduled for a colonoscopy and I've been hearing terrible things about the health risks and I'm very scared for my first time procedure, do you have any advice that might help? Sorry about bugging you!

You’re not bugging me at all :) I’ve lots of resources/posts about colonoscopies on my blog and I’m going to reblog them for you ASAP. Colonoscopies are a safe thing - especially when they’re done by s GI who does hundreds of them a year, so don’t worry. I had at least 5 so far (and 5 upper endoscopies) and never had any complications with them. Wish you the best! Xxx

[laughingwithmycolon]

Just wanted to sneak in and wish you a GUT day :D ! Still happy, still in remission, still living the dream.

[livinglifeimperfectly]

As I try and figure out how I am doing to get my labwork done, when every lab is only open 8-4 and I work full time I’m reminded:

The world isn’t built for chronically ill people.

[laughingwithmycolon]

I feel you! Biggest struggle. And then everyone tells you that health comes first...

[laughingwithmycolon]

Hi guys! Right now I'm in the privileged stage that thoughts about Crohn's disease aren't a daily thing in my life anymore. But sometimes when i feel light, happy and free thoughts pass my mind. Like "You're eating out and even had a portion of salad without thinking about it! Salat!" Normal people wouldn't think that this could be a huge deal but for me (and probably everyone with IBD has food types like this) it's incredible. Also things like long-distance flights, travelling without worries, being active...no big deal at all. Sometimes I think I should watch my food intake because most of my "sick" size 0 jeans don't fit anymore...but I know that this is a good sign. Finally gaining some weight to a healthy range is good! It's important to build muscle and bone strength I lost in the past years over and over again. So I eat a lot and enjoy all the foods I wasn't able to eat in years. I don't even can imagine that just 18 months ago I was admitted to the hospital because I needed parenteral nutrition. It completely blows my mind. Things can change for the good. They surely can.

[laughingwithmycolon]

Just a life sign

Hi guyyyys! I'm still in a deep deep remission and enjoying life like I never thought I'd be able to. I saw some messages in my inbox and started replying this morning. I just wanted to tell you that I'm always happy about questions and hearing your stories . And if you want me to discuss a certain IBD related topic I'd be happy to talk about it (if I'm familiar with it). Hope you're doing well. xx

[laughingwithmycolon]

World IBD day 2017 💩 To be honest: I almost forgot about today's WORLD IBD DAY. I mean it's good that my life isn't just about the daily struggles with Crohn's disease anymore. I work. I eat. I run. I travel. I basically live the life I always wished to have and that I though would be impossible. But still there are moments IBD affects my life even though I'm in remission: I have to be careful with food especially when eating out. I take my daily medicine and see my GI regularly (including poop samples 💩 that's one of the IBD specialties). I get sick more frequently than other people do. For example: Last week I woke up every other hour one night and ended up taking some pain killers...just because I had a Pizza margharita for dinner (normally a relatively safe food when I skip most of the cheese). Or I had to explain why I can't have ibuprofen or other NSAID when I visited the doctor for a bronchitis with fever. I try to educate people about IBD with telling my own story when I feel like it and they're often very interested in it. Remission is wonderful and I'm grateful for every single day because I haven't forgotten about all the pain, nausea and troubles I went though the past 9 years. I hope you're doing relatively good. Sorry for my absence lately. Hugs xxx