Post 9 | IBD.

That’s all the title this post needs. IBD. Period.

For most people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), this disease consumes your life. I know for me, it definitely has. I have Crohn’s Disease (CD) which can be called: gastroenteritis, ileitis, ileocolitis, regional ileitis, and on and on. This is because it can affect a person’s digestive system from lips to anus. But don’t misunderstand. Just because this is a disease of the GI system does not mean it does not affect other parts of the body. It has many extraintestinal or systemic manifestations, many of which affect the skin and joints.

The other main recognized type of IBD is Ulcerative Colitis (UC), which can affect any part of the colon, or large intestine. Like CD, UC can cause many issues outside of the digestive system. The main worry with UC is hemorrhage or bleeding. Blood can slowly leech out of the intestine and into the stool or it can gush. In the case of a gush, or hemorrhage, this can be life-threatening.

Now you may be asking yourself what makes this different from IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome…?

And you would be well within your right to ask such a question. In my opinion, it is almost impossible for someone without IBD (and bless you for that!) to understand to what extent this illness can impact your mind, body, health, and life. IBS may manifest as constipation, diarrhea, or both. It may also cause bloating, gas, and fatigue, some of which may be severe. In MOST cases, IBS does not SIGNIFICANTLY impact your ADLs (medical speak for Activities of Daily Living). Basically, with IBS you should be able to feed yourself, bathe yourself, walk around, and move without too much difficulty.

IBD is a whole different beast. It is not uncommon for someone with CD or UC or indeterminate colitis to have real difficulty with all of the activities mentioned above. It can be so severe that someone may be completely unable to take care of themselves in times of flare, and can therefore be required to go on disability. The main reason for this is the complete inflammation of the entire thickness of the intestine and the body-wide effect that inflammation and possible infection has on the rest of the body.

Possible outcomes for someone with IBD include: tube feeding, IV nutrition, ileostomy, colostomy, proctectomy, colectomy, partial bowel resection, colorectal cancer, hemorrhoids, fistulas, abscesses, pyoderma gangrenosum, opioid use, short bowel syndrome, and many other complications that arise from medication use, surgery, malnutrition, and undernutrition. The list goes on for direct extraintestinal manifestations: arthritis, skin tags, steatosis, steatorrhea, skin infections, pneumonia, hair loss. Not to mention the many comorbid conditions (those likely to arise in someone with IBD): hidradenitis suppurativa, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, anxiety, bipolar depression, sclerosing cholangitis, ankylosing spondylosis, lupus, IBS, and many more.

Yes you can have BOTH conditions: IBS and IBD. What kind of punishment is this….? Just our lot and  we will deal with it.

Now why would I, someone with Crohn’s, Hashimoto’s, hidradentitis, chronic gastritis, and endometriosis, choose to start my own business?

Because I care. And I want everyone to be free, or as free as they can be, of these awful symptoms, and maybe put off some of those outcomes I mentioned earlier.