Latest Health Blurb

I know that this picture will make some of you squirm (and no, this is not of me!) but it shows what Crohn's Disease looks like. It can cause ulcers anywhere in the digestive tract from the mouth to the rectum. It is an autoimmune disease that really wreaks havoc on your whole body. As so many of my dear friends know I have really been struggling with my health for almost 8 months now. I have not had any problems for years but have really had a rough road lately. I haven't been much fun to be around and I have missed out on many activities. This episode has caused arthritis symptoms, swelling in my hands and feet, fatigue and some other nasty things as well. I'm taking an anti-inflammatory which seems to be helping. Fortunately I have taken time off from work and will not return until 1/5. I have had an open sore in my mouth for almost 5 weeks now so I'm off to the doctor to have it checked. I know that many people mean well but if one more person tells me I look tired, my face looks gaunt or my color is poor I will be forced to run away (but not too far because Santa should be loading his sleigh by now)! There is not much that I can do; just avoid foods that irritate me and take care of myself. That's my plan for the next 12 days!

Just before Thanksgiving last year I came frighteningly close to loosing my father to a perforated bowel. The doctors were forced to do a colostomy which ended up saving his life. He was very blessed to be able to have the colostomy reversed a few months later. He had been feeling better as far as I knew. He had a colonoscopy today and was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. I never could have predicted that I would have such a strong reaction to that diagnosis! I just feel so sad to know that someone I love so dearly is suffering such severe discomfort! It is one thing to feel so yucky but to know he is suffering along side me really stinks! Some researchers have shown that Crohn's runs in families. My father's sister has it also so we definitely fit that pattern.

My Dad is pretty easy going when it comes to his health- perhaps to a fault. He seems to be taking the news much better than I am. Guess it's just not a club that I'm recruiting members to.