NY Times: Five Things I Wish I’d Known Before My Chronic Illness [principally about IBD]

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/18/...-knew-chronic-illness-crohns-disease-ibd.html

 

I normally ignore articles with arbitrary numbers in the title (x things abou ... ). However this is not as bad as most.

 

Good article, I thought.

 

Great article. Completely familiar issues. Non-fluffy advice which is a real relief to see. A good reminder that many others share similar issues, up to a point.

 

Friend of mine (ex-friend really) has ulcerative colitis (belongs to the chronic inflammatory, crohn's family). Her risk of bowel cancer is 37x normal. She has immune attacks on leg vessels, random, who-knows-where next attacks.

So, not well controlled. Also has scar tissue in rectal area which interferes with sexual pleasure. Has a rectal pouch for feces that she has to flush out (like wiping one's butt).

No picnic. Not under control except for the moment, at times. Does vary per patient how extensive the disease is.

 

A rectocele? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectocele

 

No, not a rectocele. A surgically made pouch because of getting rid of much of the rectum due to the severe inflammatory process there (and elsewhere in the colon).

 

Poor woman!

 

I hear you. Point taken!