Finding The Right Doctor For You

In my last post, I wrote that you should feel comfortable talking to your doctor about drinking alcohol, even if you’re underage. Writing that made me think about the importance of having a gastroenterologist who you trust completely.

In the 11 years I’ve had Crohn’s, I’ve had four different GI docs, and I’ve been lucky enough to have a strong relationship with just about each of them. There was one, however, who I just didn’t feel right about. This doctor was not as warm and friendly as the others, and she often didn’t take the time to explain things to me, such as why I was starting a new medication or what a procedure would do for me. Although I was young at the time- probably in my early teens- I wanted to be spoken to like an adult because, after all, Crohn’s did make me a more mature person, and I wanted to be treated as such.

Great docs! Also, please excuse the hair that hadn’t been washed in a week.

Because I always left those appointments feeling irritated and bad about myself, I eventually decided to make a change. I didn’t trust that doctor enough to be completely honest with her, which is essential when you’re literally trusting another person with your life. After talking it over with my mom (who, as it turns out, had the same reservations I did), I switched doctors and found someone who I felt much more comfortable with.

I think it’s important for Crohn’s patients to remember that you have complete control over your own care. If you don’t like something, or someone, you can make a change. This is something that often goes over younger patients’ heads because it often feels like our choices are being made FOR us instead of BY us. When I was 11-years-old and newly diagnosed, I actually preferred it that way because I was new to the world of gastroenterologists and colonoscopies and steroids. But as I became more accustomed to all those things, I started to take more control over my care, including making the decision about who I wanted to take care of me.

Ohhh yeah, you better believe I would trust them. Credit: SheKnows.com

Bottom line is, your doctor should be like a guardian for you who will make the best possible decisions on your behalf, and that person is not always easy to find. That’s why it’s so important to evaluate the care you’re being given and make sure you trust your doctor enough to feel comfortable asking them anything. Remember you’re in control!

And just as an end note, a number of years after I stopped seeing the aforementioned unfriendly doctor, I crossed paths with her after my colectomy. She was one of the doctors assigned to my case and, though I was initially less than thrilled to see her again, we ended up seeing eye-to-eye on everything and I began to like her a lot more. All’s well that ends well. 🙂

How To Safely Drink Alcohol With Crohn’s Disease

First, let me start this post off by saying I’m not endorsing underage drinking. I am, however, realistically acknowledging that alcohol is to college as marijuana is to Willie Nelson concerts: it’s always around and, at many schools, is also a big part of the culture.

For example, I go to a large public university where football Saturdays are typically spent waking up at 7 a.m. to start drinking, going to the game or watching it at a bar, then drinking late into the night. Is it fun? Yeah, usually. But is it safe? Probably not.

It’s nice actually remembering the game, so pregame easily.

I happen to enjoy alcohol, but I’ve learned how to drink responsibly, which is something you’ll have to do too if you want to keep your disease under control at college. It’s a balancing act and it’s one that takes time to master when you’re constantly surrounded by the binge drinking, bar specials and 21st birthday parties that pop up around campus every weekend.

That’s why I’m sharing some tips and tricks for how you can drink safely with Crohn’s:

• First and foremost, make sure it’s safe to drink alcohol with the medications you’re taking. If you’re taking Flagyl , for example, alcohol will make you extremely ill because the two don’t mix well. Even if you’re underage, you should feel comfortable talking to your doctor about drinking, and he or she can tell you if it’s safe for you or not.
• Experiment, within reason. Unfortunately, there’s no definitive list of what drinks you can and can’t have with Crohn’s. Beer has never really agreed with me, but wine and vodka are fine. Some people are the exact opposite, while others can’t even tolerate alcohol at all. Everyone is different, so trial and error is really the only way to find out what works for you. Just do it in a smart way by not trying too many things at once.
  

  Hmmm…does this drink agree with me?

• Which brings us to this next point: try to stick with one kind of drink the whole night. Don’t go for a smorgasbord of alcohol (i.e., first a beer, then a shot of tequila, then a glass of wine, then a long island iced tea…) because the chances of you getting sick will be much higher.
• You don’t have to keep up with everyone else. Alcohol should be enjoyed in moderation, not abused in excess, so be careful around beer pong and other drinking games. If you’re at a bar and want to create the illusion you’re “keeping up,” try this: order a non-alcoholic drink that looks like a mixed drink (for example, a coke and lime to look like rum & coke, or anything with sprite or club soda.) It’s a nifty party trick for when you don’t want to drink but don’t want anyone to bug you about it.
  

  Cocktail or mocktail? You’ll never know…

• If you’re flaring, fuhgeddaboudit. Alcohol does irritate the GI tract, so drinking while flaring is way too risky.
• Let’s say you choose to ignore all these tips, get really drunk, and wake up with a monster hangover tomorrow morning. It’s OK, you’re only human, so here’s one last tip for the dreaded morning after: rehydrate and renourish! Pedialyte is surprisingly good for this. Also try Vitamin Water, Gatorade, or anything with electrolytes.

I just want to finish this post by saying I understand that, especially if you’re diagnosed with Crohn’s at a younger age, it can make you feel like an outcast among your friends because sometimes you can’t do all the same things they do. But having Crohn’s doesn’t mean you will be robbed of having fun. And you don’t need to drink like a fish to have a good time, so not being able to play beer pong doesn’t mean college is going to suck for you. There are much more important things than that, like staying out of the hospital and being healthy. Cheers to that!

Here’s to drinking safely!

Start Of The Semester Tips

As the spring semester begins, everyone on campus seems to be running around with their heads cut off–“I can’t find the math building!” “I need to meet with my advisor so I can drop this class!” “I have to work out so I can keep my new year’s resolution!” “I should join another club and get more involved!”–I’ve been overhearing these kinds of comments all week (classes started on Monday at my school) and I can’t help but think all this stress is taking a major toll on people.

For those of us with Crohn’s and IBD, we get the added stress of worrying about how our disease will affect our performance at school. That’s why there are some key things to keep in mind as we begin new classes. Here are some of my tips for starting the semester on a smart and healthy foot:

Avoid the hunger games.

• Look at your class schedule and identify times when you can take a break and eat a snack. I know it sounds strange, but this is something I’ve learned over the years: sometimes when you’re planning your schedule, you don’t realize that your classes are back-to-back-to-back from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., leaving you no time to refuel yourself in the middle of a hectic day. If this is the case for you, think about when you’re able to eat between your classes, so you can avoid those hunger pangs, and then stock up on foods that are easily portable, like granola bars or fruit.
  

  Survival section of the backpack

Pack like a Scout.

• If you take medications during the daytime, remember to pack those with you as well. It’s always good to have a few spare pills in your backpack anyway. If you have an ostomy, make sure you have extra bags/bases/scissors, etc.

Know the restroom routes.

• The first time you go to your classroom building, identify where the restrooms are, and which are closest to your room. Ideally, you should do this before the first day of classes so you’re prepared in advance.

Credit: blog.lib.umn.edu

Talk to your teachers.

• A couple weeks ago, I wrote about how to talk to your roommate. Talking to your teacher is similar: tell them you have Crohn’s and explain what it is in a nutshell if they don’t already know. Then tell them how it might affect you in class. For example, I always tell my teachers that I might need to leave in the middle of class to use the restroom. Most teachers really don’t care, but it’s better to let them know in advance so they know you have a legitimate reason for constantly leaving the room.

Make it official.

• Register with your school’s Office of Disabilities. At my school, I have an assigned counselor who is able to help me if I need an excused absence because of a medical emergency or flare-up. Having someone who can act as a liaison between you and your teachers will take a lot of stress off your shoulders. Honestly, I rarely need my counselor’s services, but it eases my mind knowing she’s there if I need her. (BONUS: at my school, registering with the disabilities office gets you priority scheduling).
  

  You’ll even get a nifty handbook!

Now let me ask you: what do you do to make the start of the semester as smooth and stress-free as possible? Do you have any of your own tips you would add to this list? Let me know!

And to all my fellow College Crohnies: I hope you have a great, homework-free first week of classes!

Resolving To Keep Up With Medications

After I was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2002, I went through a period of denial. I was 11 years old and I felt isolated from my carefree friends and angry that I was getting cheated out of a normal childhood. During that time, one of the things I struggled with the most was keeping up with my medications. I found myself suddenly having to take a dozen pills a day, most of which tasted funny and gave me weird side effects (moon face from steroids+awkward preteen years=disastrous school pictures). So after a while, I stopped taking them. I would throw pills in the garbage or hide them underneath a chair cushion in my room, lying to my mom whenever she asked me if I’d taken them. This went on for a long time and although I felt so guilty, I justified it by being able to feel normal.

My mom getting revenge on me years later.

When I think back on that time, it almost makes me sick to my stomach how irresponsible and selfish I was being. I was wasting money, putting my health at risk and damaging my relationship with my mom. After I finally matured and realized what I was doing, I resolved to be more diligent about my medications and start taking care of myself. I’m proud to say this is one resolution I’ve been able to keep over the years.

Here are some of my favorite tips for keeping on track with medications:

• Keep organized. This is key to keeping up your routine, especially if you’re taking a lot of pills. Buy a pill box that has a compartment for each day of the week. These are made in all shapes and sizes and can be found at any drugstore.
• Set reminders. If there’s a certain time of day you have to take a medication, set an alarm clock on your phone with a customized tune. Also set reminders for when you need to refill your prescriptions by marking the date on a calendar.
• Carry extra pills with you. I always have extra pills in my purse, just in case I spontaneously decide to spend the night at a friend’s house or I’m away from my house all day.
• Be honest with your doctor. Your doctor is your friend and your ally. You should be able to trust him/her, and they should be able to trust you in return. If you’re not keeping up with your medications, they need to know.
  

  Ready to start Humira WOOO

I’m starting back on Humira soon, and although I don’t like injecting myself, all I have to do is remind myself that the pain is worth it. I think back to when I refused to take my pills, and I feel even more determined to leave those days in the dust and start anew. Any day of the year can be used to improve your life, but the start of the new year is always the best. If there’s something you’ve been wanting to change about yourself, start now, especially if it means bettering your health.

Happy New Year to all!