* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Monday, August 25, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    ‘When Calls the Heart’ Fans All Want the Same Thing After Seeing the Show’s Latest Update – yahoo.com

    When Calls the Heart’ Fans Rally Together in Excitement Over Exciting New Update!

    Quotes of the Week: Peacemaker, Project Runway, Countdown and More – yahoo.com

    This Week’s Most Memorable Quotes from Peacemaker, Project Runway, Countdown, and More!

    Drake Appears in Teaser for Bobbi Althoff’s New Podcast ‘Not This Again’ – yahoo.com

    Drake Drops a Surprise Cameo in Bobbi Althoff’s Thrilling New Podcast Teaser ‘Not This Again

    From polka to Poison, Corn Palace adjusts entertainment offerings with the times – Mitchell Republic

    From polka to Poison, Corn Palace adjusts entertainment offerings with the times – Mitchell Republic

    How to watch ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video – About Amazon

    Experience the Thrill: How to Stream ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. Files Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering – Business Wire

    Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. Unveils Exciting Plans for Its Upcoming Initial Public Offering

    UNLV Responds to Workforce Need with Microcredential in Nuclear Technology – University of Nevada, Las Vegas | UNLV

    UNLV Unveils Cutting-Edge Microcredential Program to Fuel Growth in Nuclear Technology

    Why Technology Will Never Take Over Completely – Patheos

    Why Technology Will Never Completely Control Our Lives

    Alcorn State awarded grant to boost STEM with VR technology – WJTV

    Alcorn State Secures Grant to Transform STEM Education Through Cutting-Edge VR Technology

    Hyundai: The Only Way To Beat China Is To Embrace Technology – InsideEVs

    Hyundai’s Bold Strategy to Outpace China with Cutting-Edge Technology

    Teaching older adults how to use technology – WWNY

    Empowering Older Adults to Master Technology with Confidence

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    ‘When Calls the Heart’ Fans All Want the Same Thing After Seeing the Show’s Latest Update – yahoo.com

    When Calls the Heart’ Fans Rally Together in Excitement Over Exciting New Update!

    Quotes of the Week: Peacemaker, Project Runway, Countdown and More – yahoo.com

    This Week’s Most Memorable Quotes from Peacemaker, Project Runway, Countdown, and More!

    Drake Appears in Teaser for Bobbi Althoff’s New Podcast ‘Not This Again’ – yahoo.com

    Drake Drops a Surprise Cameo in Bobbi Althoff’s Thrilling New Podcast Teaser ‘Not This Again

    From polka to Poison, Corn Palace adjusts entertainment offerings with the times – Mitchell Republic

    From polka to Poison, Corn Palace adjusts entertainment offerings with the times – Mitchell Republic

    How to watch ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video – About Amazon

    Experience the Thrill: How to Stream ‘F1: The Movie’ on Prime Video

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

    FOX One is now available on Prime Video: Here’s everything to know – About Amazon

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. Files Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering – Business Wire

    Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. Unveils Exciting Plans for Its Upcoming Initial Public Offering

    UNLV Responds to Workforce Need with Microcredential in Nuclear Technology – University of Nevada, Las Vegas | UNLV

    UNLV Unveils Cutting-Edge Microcredential Program to Fuel Growth in Nuclear Technology

    Why Technology Will Never Take Over Completely – Patheos

    Why Technology Will Never Completely Control Our Lives

    Alcorn State awarded grant to boost STEM with VR technology – WJTV

    Alcorn State Secures Grant to Transform STEM Education Through Cutting-Edge VR Technology

    Hyundai: The Only Way To Beat China Is To Embrace Technology – InsideEVs

    Hyundai’s Bold Strategy to Outpace China with Cutting-Edge Technology

    Teaching older adults how to use technology – WWNY

    Empowering Older Adults to Master Technology with Confidence

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

How Crohn’s Affects My Relationships

November 3, 2023
in Health
How Crohn’s Affects My Relationships
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Sarah Keitt, as told to Hallie Levine

I’ve lived with inflammatory bowel disease since 1990, when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Thankfully, my symptoms resolved with surgery, but about 6 years ago I began to experience a recurrence of frequent abdominal pain and diarrhea. I suffered for years, until this past December, when I was finally diagnosed with Crohn’s.

While I’ve started to get my life back, it hasn’t been easy, especially when it comes to my relationships.

Coping With Isolation

My Crohn’s symptoms started right around the time my kids were about to enter middle school. I had spent years being involved in everything from their classrooms to their sports games. But all that ended when I got sick.

I couldn’t go to my kids’ soccer matches, or meet other moms for coffee, because I couldn’t be away from a bathroom for that long. I developed severe anemia due to bleeding in my GI tract. I became so weak I could barely walk. All of a sudden, I found myself homebound, barely able to walk up and down stairs.

Still, I didn’t feel comfortable confiding in anyone except Geordie, my husband. Bloody diarrhea isn’t exactly cocktail-hour conversation. My family and close friends knew I was anemic, but I always tried to put my best face forward when I talked to them.

I have other chronic health conditions, including ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis, but I’d never thought of myself as disabled before. Now I did, and it was so depressing. It took so much energy and strength just to get through the day, while other mothers around me lived normal lives. I felt so lonely.

I wasn’t the only one who put on a brave face. It was agonizingly hard on my two kids, Lucy, now 17, and Theo, now 15.

My children had a lot of worries that they didn’t always vocalize. Over the next several years, I was in and out of the hospital for blood transfusions and surgeries, and it was very scary for them. They never asked a lot of questions. It was always just, “Mom’s not feeling well,” or “Mom’s tired.” They knew to run upstairs when I needed something, because it was hard for me to navigate stairs.

It really impacted our ability to do things as a family. We took them to an amusement park once and I couldn’t walk because I was so weak. We got a wheelchair, and I could tell from their faces how hard it was for them to see me in it. They were older by then, too — in middle school and high school. I don’t know what I would have done if they were younger.

Finding Support Is Key

In my case, it’s my husband, Geordie. When we met, he knew I had both multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis, even though I appeared perfectly healthy on the outside. But he realized there was always a chance both of these diseases could flare up, and he was prepared for that.

Neither of us expected the Crohn’s disease. But he has been a rock. He spends every day trying to make sure I have everything I need and that I get the right care. I know it’s been a drain on him, but he’s never once complained.

This past December, I had a surgery known as an ileostomy, where they removed my colon and replaced it with an ostomy bag, a pouch worn on the outside of my body to collect waste. It’s hard not to be self-conscious, but Geordie has been incredibly supportive. He always reassures me that he still finds me attractive and that he’s so grateful for it, because it’s allowed me to get my life back. I wouldn’t trade my husband for the world.

I also have a small but strong network of support beyond Geordie. I found a couple of online support groups specific to ileostomy and Crohn’s disease, and I have a good group of local friends whom I can turn to for help.

It was hard to cope with people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The medications I take to treat all my conditions suppress my immune system, which means I didn’t mount a response to the COVID-19 vaccine. I’ve been made fun of for wearing a mask, and had to deal with people who just don’t seem to understand that COVID could kill me if I got sick. It’s terrifying and sad when you are told to your face that you don’t matter.

Why It’s Important to Be Open

My ileostomy has allowed me to begin to return to normality. I feel a lot stronger, and have a lot more energy. I ran for local office, something I could not have done 6 years ago. I look forward to going to my kids’ soccer games and rock climbing meets, something I couldn’t do just a couple years ago.

But I’ll be honest. Walking around with an ostomy bag does a number on your self-confidence. I cover it under clothing, but it still is a small bulge under a sweater or dress. When I talk to people sometimes, I wonder if they look at it and are confused about what it is.

The hardest part of an ostomy bag is when I have to change it in public. When you open it, it smells, and there’s no way to spray that odor away. Occasionally, it’s leaked onto my clothing when I’m out, and I’ve had to stop whatever I’m doing to make an emergency trip to Walmart for a new shirt.

But whenever I feel embarrassed, I remind myself that the bag gives me back my freedom. I can eat what I want now, and be present for my husband and kids, because of it. Sure, no one wants to talk about bathroom habits, but if I let people know that I have to wear an ostomy bag because I have Crohn’s disease, I help give the condition more visibility. That doesn’t just help me — it helps everyone who lives with this condition.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : WebMD – https://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/crohns-disease/features/crohns-my-relationships?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Tags: affectsCrohn'shealth
Previous Post

Study reveals untapped potential to increase eye donations needed for sight-restoring surgeries

Next Post

How Crohn’s Disease Changed My Routines

Dengue – World Health Organization (WHO)

Dengue – World Health Organization (WHO)

August 25, 2025
5 Years On, China’s Property Crisis Has No End in Sight – The New York Times

Five Years Later, China’s Property Crisis Shows No Signs of Easing

August 25, 2025
‘When Calls the Heart’ Fans All Want the Same Thing After Seeing the Show’s Latest Update – yahoo.com

When Calls the Heart’ Fans Rally Together in Excitement Over Exciting New Update!

August 25, 2025
State regulators approve sharp health insurance rate increases – Insurance Business America

State Regulators Greenlight Steep Health Insurance Rate Hikes

August 25, 2025
Pols & Politics: Audit finds Mass. government fraudulent spending nearly doubled in Q4 – Boston Herald

Pols & Politics: Audit finds Mass. government fraudulent spending nearly doubled in Q4 – Boston Herald

August 25, 2025
Eightmile Dam rebuild & restoration – Washington State Department of Ecology (.gov)

Breathing New Life into Eightmile Dam: An Ambitious Rebuild and Restoration Effort

August 24, 2025
Scientists Sequenced the DNA of the ‘Last Neanderthal’—and It Alters Human History – yahoo.com

Scientists Unlock the DNA of the ‘Last Neanderthal,’ Revolutionizing Our View of Human History

August 24, 2025
RIKEN, Japan’s Leading Science Institute, Taps Fujitsu and NVIDIA for Next Flagship Supercomputer – NVIDIA Blog

Japan’s Leading Science Institute Teams Up with Fujitsu and NVIDIA to Create Next-Generation Supercomputer

August 24, 2025
Is a relief rally coming for Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc. holders – July 2025 Retail & Weekly High Return Opportunities – Newser

Is a relief rally coming for Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc. holders – July 2025 Retail & Weekly High Return Opportunities – Newser

August 24, 2025
Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. Files Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering – Business Wire

Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. Unveils Exciting Plans for Its Upcoming Initial Public Offering

August 24, 2025

Categories

Archives

August 2025
MTWTFSS
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Jul    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (788)
  • Economy (809)
  • Entertainment (21,688)
  • General (16,657)
  • Health (9,849)
  • Lifestyle (821)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (810)
  • Politics (818)
  • Science (16,020)
  • Sports (21,307)
  • Technology (15,789)
  • World (790)

Recent News

Dengue – World Health Organization (WHO)

Dengue – World Health Organization (WHO)

August 25, 2025
5 Years On, China’s Property Crisis Has No End in Sight – The New York Times

Five Years Later, China’s Property Crisis Shows No Signs of Easing

August 25, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version