Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis Support Group
Crohn's disease is a systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of unknown cause, that results in chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. It can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, and can also cause complications outside of the gastrointestinal tract. There is no known medical or surgical cure for Crohn's disease, but there are many medical...
It seems that although only 1 in every 200 of us U.S. citizens has Crohn's or colitis, every single 1 of the other 199 people has an opinion about our condition. EVERYONE has a cure for us. Seriously, any person that you talk to, aside from the few who have never heard of CD or UC, knows exactly what we need to do to be 'all better'. I think I've narrowed it down pretty well to 3 categories; skeptics, mystics, and fanatics.
Skeptics believe that with a little change of attitude, anything is possible. They seem to think the only illness we have is in our heads and that if we would just think happy thoughts and click our heels together 3 times while repeating to ourselves 'i'm not really sick', then, bam, before you know it, we'd be all better. These are the kinda people who make me wanna punch infants. -.-
Mystics [because I can't think of a better name for them], are the people with the miracle cures. Some are jerks just looking to rip off desperate sick people, and some are genuinely trying to help, but sadly dillusional. Their story is always the same. "Take this one supplement 3 times a day for a month and be cured!" "Eat only monkey brains for 6 weeks and thou shalt be healed!" These people aren't so bad... They only make me wanna punch kittens. lol.
Finally, there are the fanatics. Fanatics acknowledge we have a serious medical problem, in fact most of them are sufferers themselves. They don't offer us quick fixes, because they know as well as we do that there is no quick fix. What they offer is a lifestyle change, generally in the form of a diet. These people actually see results. So what's the problem here? Their diets are strict.. So strict in fact that there is no way the average person could follow them. Yes, you're allowed fish.... but only if it's a specific, rare kind found in a specific, secluded place, fixed a specific, impossibly time consuming way. And yes, you can eat "bread", but only if it's made from really random things no one ever puts in actual bread and baked by the gluten-free, dairy free, nut free, taste free fairies.
So what I want to know is, with all these answers, why is it we still don't have any solutions?? I'm not really looking for an answer, it's a rhetorical question. I would like for a sane person to come up with a practical solution though. Or a cure might be nice to. =)
Skeptics believe that with a little change of attitude, anything is possible. They seem to think the only illness we have is in our heads and that if we would just think happy thoughts and click our heels together 3 times while repeating to ourselves 'i'm not really sick', then, bam, before you know it, we'd be all better. These are the kinda people who make me wanna punch infants. -.-
Mystics [because I can't think of a better name for them], are the people with the miracle cures. Some are jerks just looking to rip off desperate sick people, and some are genuinely trying to help, but sadly dillusional. Their story is always the same. "Take this one supplement 3 times a day for a month and be cured!" "Eat only monkey brains for 6 weeks and thou shalt be healed!" These people aren't so bad... They only make me wanna punch kittens. lol.
Finally, there are the fanatics. Fanatics acknowledge we have a serious medical problem, in fact most of them are sufferers themselves. They don't offer us quick fixes, because they know as well as we do that there is no quick fix. What they offer is a lifestyle change, generally in the form of a diet. These people actually see results. So what's the problem here? Their diets are strict.. So strict in fact that there is no way the average person could follow them. Yes, you're allowed fish.... but only if it's a specific, rare kind found in a specific, secluded place, fixed a specific, impossibly time consuming way. And yes, you can eat "bread", but only if it's made from really random things no one ever puts in actual bread and baked by the gluten-free, dairy free, nut free, taste free fairies.
So what I want to know is, with all these answers, why is it we still don't have any solutions?? I'm not really looking for an answer, it's a rhetorical question. I would like for a sane person to come up with a practical solution though. Or a cure might be nice to. =)
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Look at what my best friend did with my picture!
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We all have 24 hours in a day. How we spend these hours is important. Watching a little bit of a video about how sitting affects us made me aware of how much sitting and laying down I do. Gonna have to work on that.Your turn. Tell me another truth.
I don't have an issue with the well meaning, but ignorant. I do have an issue with people claim cures to sell a product. That really chaps my butt. There's no one answer, one right or wrong way, to approach to ANY of this. Do what you can to make yourself feel better. But don't be suckered in people who claim a cure. Grrr...
tiredofit1- I think people are D-All of the above. I hope you have a wonderful day as well. =)
RMB- I love your post, I think I'm gonna have to go around saying "that really chaps my butt!" now. Lol.
joereader- I have noticed most things that are supposed to help us are ummm, disgusting. What's up with that? Why can't ice cream be the cure? Haha.
jn4025- It IS a balancing act, but I believe the right combo is out there somewhere. If you figure it out before me, be sure and pass it along. =)
Divine Silence- I am sorry to hear about your son, I really hope that the Remicade works for him! I'll be praying that all the info isn't TOO overwhelming for you and you quickly find something that works for him!
That's why I quit telling people. I try not to even talk about it with my family. "You don't look sick." "Diarrhea is not really being sick- you just need more vitamins." Whatever!
I have come to realize that I can take bits and pieces of what these so called professionals give for advice and put together my own puzzle. A person could go completely bonkers listening to all these goofballs. Next thing you know someone will tell us that eating mothballs and drinking used motor oil is a cure and some would try it out of desperation. Who knows mothballs dipped in chocolate might be a tasty snack LOL.
On that dirt thing... that's funny. I used to say to this kid who was on the raw diet kick, I'm not eating grass and dirt sandwiches for the rest of my life. I was being facetious, but now I know that dirt is actually recommended. Ugh.