However, recently I keep attracting more comments on my blog and social media-and these ARE really grating on me! Just because there’s one thing an elderly grandmother not really knowing what IBD is and another a stranger going to the effort to read your blog and let send you a message full of nonsense. So yep, here’s ten things that I’ve had it up to here of…well hearing!
1.”You can reverse it you know!”
This is such an odd expression that’s come to the forefront of talking about health recently. Not
2.”Medication only treats the symptoms…(cue rant on ‘its a conspiracy!”)
This is really odd-I can’t take any more medical conspiracies. For one, the NHS is free to patients in the UK so it’s not a great theory that they’re sitting on a file marked ‘CURE’ and shoving medication at me each time I go. But also I think ‘treat the symptoms’ is actually quite insulting to all the developments in medicine and the people working hard to develop them
The medicine those of us with IBD takes doesn’t just bind us up or stop us going to the loo; it works by targeting specific cells and our immune system (with lots of clever words I don’t understand) and therefore can cause remission long after it is taken. You don’t have to agree with taking it but at least research how medicine works; it does NOT just treat the symptom.
3.”You just need to get to the root cause!”
Ah if only it was that simply. I’d love to know the root cause of my IBD. I’d love to know the root cause of whether we’re ever going to sort Brexit out. I’d love to know the root cause of why time goes so slowly when you’re working but I can pass hours on the sofa on Instagram. But the problem: nobody knows what the bloody root cause is!!!
4.”I’m bloated-do you think I could have it?
I am so passionate about helping people get diagnosed properly. See my post on ‘think you’ve got IBD? Here’s what you need to do?
However, once you admit you have a digestive problem- everyone seems to turn to you actually diagnose them with it too. People panic and think they could have it too-and despite me insisting they go to the doctor they’ll ask,
5.”But you’re so young!”
It must be really hard getting old as no one seems to give a shit if you’re ill apparently. Because when I tell people I have IBD (essentially a younger person’s disease) they’ll always profess how sad it is because I’m so young. Which strikes me as old as an inflammed colon is never fun: whether you’re 19 or 90!
6.”It’s such a shame.”
I understand this one-it is a bloody shame! But then it’s weird, I end up reassuring people to make them feel better and downplaying it. ‘
7.”Have you read the Medical medium?”
Sorry each to their own but this man believes he can communicate with spirits and sees inside people’s bodies (I discovered after one chapter) so I am not convinced he is the man for me.
8.’Oh yes, my friend/neighbour/person called Sue you’ve never met used to have that.’
I’m always fascinated about the sheer number of people who know someone who has had Crohn’s-it’s like you’re only ever three degrees of separation away from meeting a fellow IBD patient. I know it’s normal to say this to try to find a connection but then it really grates on me when people say it in the past tense! Because they STILL have it!
9. “You must watch what you eat”
Well yes I do. But I also to have to watch a thousand other things. Like my sleep. My stress levels. My bowel movements. My side effect of medications. My ‘Is a flare coming on for no reason whatsoever barometer’!
‘Oh you can work/travel/eat x/exercise/ any random thing you share, you must have a far milder version than me.’
And finally, one from fellow IBD patients themselves! I’ve blogged before about we need to stop bloody competing when it comes to chronic illness Seriously, it’s the worst. People have all sorts of different quality of life when it comes to IBD- and we shouldn’t be forced to play down our illness just because we can do something others can’t. Are we all competing to find the most serious case of IBD? Do you want to see my colonoscopy pictures? What does the winner get?
Like this? Why not read ’12 things Crohn’s sufferers wish you knew’
