Message I got from one of my Crohn's Blog readers on Myspace.

Now this blog reader shall remain nameless, but it can show you the down side of Crohn's. We all try to remain positive, but sometimes we need to vent and rant. This is classic, and painfully accurate message from one of my myspace friends (that i met through this blog). I am sure many of you can relate, so I had to post this. Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics

I'M SO TIRED OF MESSING WITH CROHN'S!!!!!!! NOTHING WORKS, NOT THE HUMIRA, NOR THE STEROIDS, THE OTHER PILLS, NOTHING.

CROHN'S SUCKS AND I'M TIRED OF WORRYING THAT I MAY NOT MAKE IT TO THE BATHROOM, I AM TIRED OF WONDERING "IF I EAT THIS, WILL IT MAKE ME SICK?"I'M TIRED OF MY SEVEN YEAR OLD SON WORRYING THAT I AM SICK AND EMBARRASED FOR HIM THAT HE HAS TO RUN TO THE BATHROOM WITH MY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GROCERY STORE.

I'M SICK OF THE SHITTY INSURANCE COMPANY SUCKING EVERYTHING FROM ME BUT THE ACTUAL CROHN'S. I'M SICK OF SURPRISE BILLS FOR MEDICATION THAT DOESN'T WORK.I'M JEALOUS OF MY HUSBAND FOR BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY FART AND NOT WORRY THAT HE MAY SHIT HIMSELF.

I AM SICK OF WORRYING THAT I MAY BE SICK DURING INTIMATE MOMENTS WITH MY HUSBAND. I'M JUST TIRED OF IT. IT ALL SUCKS BIG HAIRY BALLS. THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT. SORRY FOR THE LANGUAGE, BUT I THINK YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD THE BAD WORDS BEFORE.

I KNOW YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME, BUT IT'S COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMEONE I CAN VENT TO THAT COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDS WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.

Stem Cell Transplant for Crohn's Back on the Table for me

Well, I guess me taking place in a stem cell transplant trial is back on the table. I went back to my doctor and am now getting reasy to schedule a sit-down meeting to see if I qualify. Last time I had to get the Humira out of my system which is done. Another update, I have been on 20mg Lexapro for the past month. I don't notice a difference but my wife says I am less of an asshole. Anyone else here on Lexapro?

Previous Post:
So I saw the Dr. Shafran and Patty today. I gotta say these guys (Winter Park, Fl) are the best gasto doctors I have come across in the 13 years I have had Crohn's Disease. Anyways we discussed a wide variety of topics. I need to be Humira free for 3 months before I can start the clinical trial that is Stem Cell Transplant for Crohn's. The trial is actually a 4 stage blood transfusion that I am going to read up on more (and report my findings tonight). It seems pretty low risk, but there is a 1/3 chance I will get a placebo, (what, red kool-aid??) 1/3 chance I get a half transplant (hopefully my right side!), and 1/3 chance I will get a full transplant. I am going for a 3-d Cat Scan next week which will allow them to better see the extend of my disease. As a bridge I am going back on Pentasa/Azulfidine (9 pills a day). I also am going to try Lexapro (10 mg). I have not been myself this past year. I am myself (HAPPY) about 2 hours a week. The rest of the time I am in pain, bummed, tired, stressed and cranky. I also have alot of anxiety issues and fear of death and dying, thought not necessarily dying from Crohn's Disease. Anyways more to come later.

Scott Roy is Going to See Dr. Shafran

Going to the good doctor Shafran in Winter Park on Wednesday afternoon. Maybe he can give me a miracle cure so I can chow down on Thanksgiving. This is the time of year that I had a big Crohn's Flare up that landed me in the hospital in 2006. Hopefully the Humira keeps me away from there but stress at the new job is begging to differ. I am doing OK...standard Crohn's cramps. I haven't been to Dr. Shafran and am curious to see what is new with my treatment as well as catch up with his wonderful staff!

Tips for Crohn's Disease Flare Ups

Living with any chronic disease can be a challenge, and Crohn’s is no exception. The extremely painful flare-ups make day-to-day living seem impossible and when the disease is in remission, the stress of worrying about the next one can be almost as bad. So, how do deal with these flare-ups when they happen?A Crohn’s flare-up is usually associated with the onset of symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, weight loss, abdominal pain and rectal bleeding, a loss of appetite and diarrhea.The first step is being able to recognize the risk factors involved in dealing with flare-ups. Maybe the easiest risk factor to avoid is exposure to tobacco products, weather you’re smoking them yourself or if your family members or friends are. Another major risk factor for Crohn’s flare-ups is stress. While it’s impractical to think that you can remove stress from your life completely, making a concerted effort to try to limit the amount of stress can seriously reduce the amount of and severity of Crohn’s flare-ups. Things like yoga or medication or even just making time in your schedule to read a good book can be great ways to relax and stave off the stress monster.Another possible trigger for Crohn’s disease is a woman’s menstrual cycle. Many women who suffer from Crohn’s experience an increase in flare-ups during their period. It’s recommended that women who experience this keep a diary over a period of months to look for trends and help develop a treatment regiment with your doctor to put an end to the cycle.The use of some over the counter drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) have also been linked to Crohn’s flare-ups. If you need a non-prescription pain killer, consult your doctor to see what kind is right for you.Treatment for these flare-ups fall into three basic categories: drug treatment, nutritional adjustments and surgery.The most common drug to treat Crohn’s are anti-inflammatories, such as Sulfasalazine. This drug has shown to work for a majority of Crohn’s sufferers, but it’s not a cure-all. And like with all drugs, there are side effects such as nausea, vomiting and headache.If you have moderate to severe Crohn’s, the FDA has approved a drug called Remicade (but again, I like Humira). The drug actually blocks the bodies inflammatory response. This drug is only used for patients who don’t respond to more traditional treatments.Nutritional supplements are another common way to deal with Crohn’s flare-ups. This course of action is geared to those that don’t want to put medications in their bodies and are looking for a more natural alternative. Foods to avoid, such as spicy foods, whole grains and dairy products are a good first step. Drinking high protein shakes to make up for the fact that a patients intestines are so ravaged so that they don’t absorb nutrients anymore is another common way to help treat the disease. These are especially common in kids who need nutrients to grow.A large number of Crohn’s patients will need surgery at some point to deal with the long-term effects of the disease. Sufferers are warned, however, that removing a section of intestine doesn’t cure the disease, but may be necessary if that area becomes to deteriorated by ulcers. It should be used as a last resort.