Question:

thanks very much for the recommendations– much appreciated! Jennie

Response:

Lomotil or Colestid worked great for me .. Peace and Love Maryjo

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I agree wholeheartedly with the Colestid.  I take two and day and it works wonderfully! Hugs,  Linda

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Lomotil or Colestid worked great for me .. Peace and Love Maryjo

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Lomotil works pretty good for me.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am on 30 mg prednisone, inflamed colon, nothing much digesting, and am waiting to get approval on Remicade. My question is: what seems to really work to cut down on the diarrhea? I am going every hour or so. Jennie   CD since 1984

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I am on 30 mg prednisone, inflamed colon, nothing much digesting, and am waiting to get approval on Remicade. My question is: what seems to really work to cut down on the diarrhea? I am going every hour or so. Jennie   CD since 1984

hi jennie simple immodium works well for me..its otc now and has virtually no side effects except dry mouth..and u need to drink anyway with D…also eat bananas and hardboiled eggs if u can stomach them…both those are old old remedies for diarrhea… good luck to you…mash the bananas …put a drop of sugar on them…helps them go down if u arent a banana lover(which i happen to be) good luck annie

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try the non-ad type.  you go girl, stay positive! jeff

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I tried Immodium AD today and it gave me a feeling of a lump of crap in my stomach that would not digest. Oh well… I guess less diarrhea is a good thing, but the undigested lump feeling is kind of sucky too. Greatest diet in the world, lost about 20 lbs so far. I am not really that happy about that, but am trying to focus on something positive out of all of this. Jennie  CD class of 84

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I tried Immodium AD today and it gave me a feeling of a lump of crap in my stomach that would not digest. Oh well… I guess less diarrhea is a good thing, but the undigested lump feeling is kind of sucky too. Greatest diet in the world, lost about 20 lbs so far. I am not really that happy about that, but am trying to focus on something positive out of all of this. Jennie  CD class of 84

Response:

i have used immodium.  u can get otc, but i go rx from the doc. jeff

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am on 30 mg prednisone, inflamed colon, nothing much digesting, and am waiting to get approval on Remicade. My question is: what seems to really work to cut down on the diarrhea? I am going every hour or so. Jennie   CD since 1984

Response:

My question is: what seems to really work to cut down on the diarrhea? I am going every hour or so. Jennie   CD since 1984

Dear Jennie;   My goodness!!!!  There must be nothing left to you!  When you go to the potty next, you should mark your weight on the wall, so if you should pass out, people will know how much is you and how much is just, you know what!!!    In all seriousness, though, I swear by and would be more afraid of begn without is Lomotil!!!  Believe it or not they are little tiny pills but they work like little charms. I think they are wonderful.  Whaever you decide on, promise me that  you will ask the doctor about all the possible side efects. Have a great day, and God bless you. Get and stay well. Always,   Margie CD Class of 67 UC Class of 96

Response:

I am on 30 mg prednisone, inflamed colon, nothing much digesting, and am waiting to get approval on Remicade. My question is: what seems to really work to cut down on the diarrhea? I am going every hour or so. Jennie   CD since 1984

I have only recently been diagnosed wtih Collagenous Colitis so am not really knowledgeable about your disease. But, since you asked, I use 2400mg of Asacol per day and if I have to, 2 Lomitil. this regime helps me. In the past, six Immodium per day, let me live a  relatively normal life. However, I don’t know much about Chrohns so please listen to others who know more.

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The magic bullet for me is Tincture of Opium.  It is a RX.  I have never tried any or the others.  UM MOM Susan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I am on 30 mg prednisone, inflamed colon, nothing much digesting, and am waiting to get approval on Remicade. My question is: what seems to really work to cut down on the diarrhea? I am going every hour or so. Jennie   CD since 1984

Response:

I am on 30 mg prednisone, inflamed colon, nothing much digesting, and am waiting to get approval on Remicade. My question is: what seems to really work to cut down on the diarrhea? I am going every hour or so.

Cholestyramine, brand name Questran. It’s a powder you mix with water or juice, available by prescription. Dick Evans

Response:

I am on 30 mg prednisone, inflamed colon, nothing much digesting, and am waiting to get approval on Remicade. My question is: what seems to really work to cut down on the diarrhea? I am going every hour or so. Jennie   CD since 1984

Response:

Question:

I need help…I am ready to scream……is it possible that people with Crohn’s disease still have pain with prednisone, there are days i am fine and there are days when I feel like I am getting an attack, i am in pain and my  bones hurt. I am so confused. and ready to scream.Thank you.

Response:

It sounds like you need a pain control program I have one that was designed at the University pain control clinic it inclused sustain rlease narcotics to keep things under control. a regular narcotic pill for breakthrough pain and an amphetamine to get rid of the sedating effects of the narcotics.  it works very well.  My GI says that just controlling a persons pain can give them back most of their life even if a cure isn’t in the cards.  I love that lady, she has been known to use a therapeutical hug upon occasion. The pain control team consisted of two anesthetists and a psychiatrist. Please ask your G for a refferal to a pain clinic. Good luck – Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I need help…I am ready to scream……is it possible that people with Crohn’s disease still have pain with prednisone, there are days i am fine and there are days when I feel like I am getting an attack, i am in pain and my  bones hurt. I am so confused. and ready to scream.Thank you.

Response:

I need help…I am ready to scream……is it possible that people with Crohn’s disease still have pain with prednisone, there are days i am fine and there are days when I feel like I am getting an attack, i am in pain and my  bones hurt. I am so confused. and ready to scream.Thank you.

Yes, i have had crohns for 4 years now and have been on prenisilone for all of that time, different doses as the disease flares, I like you have the pain in my bones as well – I have been told that I have chrohns arthritis as quite a high percentage of people with the disease also have this as well.  They put me on an anti arthritic drug and that helped me loads but was a risk as we cant take drugs like that as it can make the condition worse.  I am on a high dose of prednisilone at the moment as I have just come out of hospital after a flare up (they were injecting the stuff into me !!)  The prednisilone is melting my head so many annoying side effects – I know exactly how you feel.  Has it ever been suggested to you that it may be scar tissue left over from an original attack – thats what they reckon is part of my problem and hopefully they will cut it out. Anyway hope something I have said is of help to you. Graeme

Response:

I sympathise with your situation as I was the same last year. The good news is when I came of the pred my joints returned to normal and the associated pain went away.  My GP let me self manage joint pain (and obstruction pain) to a certain level with pethidine. You don’t have to suffer – see your GP or specialist and get some good pain relief drugs. It is only short term whilst your CD is being managed to a better level. Good luck Lesley   I need help…I am ready to scream……is it possible that people with   Crohn’s disease still have pain with prednisone, there are days i am fine   and there are days when I feel like I am getting an attack, i am in pain   and my  bones hurt. I am so confused. and ready to scream.Thank you.

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thanks you guys, you have lifted a  weight off my shoulders.I thought I was alone, and was starting to think my life was over…..I am so used to being in control, and now, its like I am almost helpless to doing anything at all. God Bless you guys.

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Question:

<<<nodding Hubby often has to remind me to stop picking at _____. I also tend to grind my teeth (bruxism) which has led to bouts of TMJ, and use a night guard/splint to sleep (looks like an athletic mouth guard on steroids!). Right now I have been using flonase (for sinuses), singulair and serevent (currently daily for asthma) and albuterol (rescue inhaler)…I also keep imitrex on hand for the occasional migraine (weather-induced…swings in air pressure).  I take concerta for the ADHHHD. *grin*  I’m glad I’m not the only one with the weird picking habit .   I too have had TMJ problems–although that was ’cause my mouth was too small (hah–imagine that) and I had no chin before orthodontics!  The TMJ was mild, but had bad earaches cause my eustachian tubes are very small–I was born 8-10 weeks early in 1974 with only a few lasting problems–small eustachian tubes is one…. Right now I use Flovent as a nasal inhaler (the other ones gave me GUSHING bloody noses–a good way to make your sparring partner in Martial Arts feel bad–but a bit messy )  I take Claratin daily (when I remember) and use MaxAir inhaler before sports… <nods back  yep–weather changes suck!  I get a sinus headache that lasts for a week–arggghhh–I have been asked if I think it is a migraine–i don’t think so as it doesn’t really stop me from doing anything–makes me crabby, but then I go workout and it is better for a few hours… Thanks for making me not feel so weird about "non-allergies" and being a pick-monster Later!

Response:

: *grin*  I’m glad I’m not the only one with the weird picking habit : . : no, i pick the skin on the side of my thumbs, sometimes till they are : very sore. it is annoying. glad i’m not the only picker : sammi Stimulants can lead to, or exacerbate skin "picking", or as the PDR says "severe dermatoses". In my city, there is a large prison population — and they stick around after release. You can tell the speed users by their scabby, picked skin. I think it is the sign of way too high a dose of stimulant medication. Emma

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<nods back  yep–weather changes suck!  I get a sinus headache that lasts for a week–arggghhh–I have been asked if I think it is a migraine–i don’t think so as it doesn’t really stop me from doing anything–makes me crabby, but then I go workout and it is better for a few hours…

For years I thought the same…I would get by on motrin and antihistimines…then after 10 years of "pressure-induced sinusitis" I started getting visual auras about 1/2 hour before the headache (the *same* headache!) and was diagnosed as a migraineur…I used OTC meds for migraines until I got to the point of merely "functioning"…the doc gave me imitrex to take upon aura, and using that (and some motrin) short-circuits the headache completely! "Sinus headaches that last a week"?  I would not discount migraines completely… Buny

Response:

<<Stimulants can lead to, or exacerbate skin "picking", or as the PDR says "severe dermatoses".  I think it is the sign of way too high a dose of stimulant medication. Unfortunately, it couldn’t be that simple…  I actually haven’t ever been on stimulants due to the fact that they may exacerbate the anxiety/picking… Although I do notice problems when I am "overstimulated" by outside factors (i.e. stress) Unfortunately I am just a "picker" *grin*  (pickin’ and grinin’)

Response:

<<For years I thought the same…I would get by on motrin and antihistimines…then after 10 years of "pressure-induced sinusitis" I started getting visual auras about 1/2 hour before the headache (the *same* headache!) and was diagnosed as a migraineur…I used OTC meds for migraines until I got to the point of merely "functioning"…the doc gave me imitrex to take upon aura, and using that (and some motrin) short-circuits the headache completely! "Sinus headaches that last a week"?  I would not discount migraines completely… Hmmm… I will have to ask the allergist about this at my next appointment… it *is* different than other sinus headaches as I do have "short" ones…. Thanks….

Response:

: : no, i pick the skin on the side of my thumbs, sometimes till they : : are very sore. it is annoying. glad i’m not the only picker : : : sammi : : Stimulants can lead to, or exacerbate skin "picking", or as the PDR : says "severe dermatoses". : yes. : : In my city, there is a large prison population — and they stick : around after release. You can tell the speed users by their scabby, : picked skin. : rubbish. Keep in mind that they are using methamphetamine (the more powerful variant of amphetamine), not dexedrine. Your remarks are dismissive, and not informative. If you have research or experience to share, share away. Emma

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : : no, i pick the skin on the side of my thumbs, sometimes till they : : are very sore. it is annoying. glad i’m not the only picker : : : sammi : : Stimulants can lead to, or exacerbate skin "picking", or as the PDR : says "severe dermatoses". : yes. : : In my city, there is a large prison population — and they stick : around after release. You can tell the speed users by their scabby, : picked skin. : rubbish. Keep in mind that they are using methamphetamine (the more powerful variant of amphetamine), not dexedrine.

However methamphetamine is one of the ingredients of Adderall and "Dexies" are also used to get high. Nonetheless I suspect that the behavior in question is dosage dependent. As for skin picking, I suspect that’s an ADD thing–I was doing it long before I took my first dose of stimulants–also used to gnaw my nails but for some reason I stopped doing that. Your remarks are dismissive, and not informative. If you have research or experience to share, share away. Emma

– –John Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net (was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Response:

"Sinus headaches that last a week"?  I would not discount migraines completely… Hmmm… I will have to ask the allergist about this at my next appointment… it *is* different than other sinus headaches as I do have "short" ones….

Like you, I have headaches that last a couple of hours, and yield to a dose of ibuprofen, and then I have "sinus headaches" that nothing seems to touch, and last for days.  I talked to my allergist about these, and whether they might be due to allergies.  She said they might be migraines, and I walked away with a sample of Frova, which is a migraine abortive.  The next time I had one of those wall-banging headaches I took one of the pills, and 15 minutes later the headache was completely and utterly gone.  I was also pretty loopy for the rest of the day, but this was still a real improvement over wishing my head would just explode and get it over with! So I’d encourage you to talk to someone about your headaches, because they’re really migraines, there is effective treatment out there. Katherine

Response:

<<Like you, I have headaches that last a couple of hours, and yield to a dose of ibuprofen, and then I have "sinus headaches" that nothing seems to touch, and last for days.  I talked to my allergist about these, and whether they might be due to allergies.  She said they might be migraines, and I walked away with a sample of Frova, which is a migraine abortive.  The next time I had one of those wall-banging headaches I took one of the pills, and 15 minutes later the headache was completely and utterly gone.  I was also pretty loopy for the rest of the day, but this was still a real improvement over wishing my head would just explode and get it over with! So I’d encourage you to talk to someone about your headaches, because they’re really migraines, there is effective treatment out there. So,, I talked to the allergist–he didn’t really think too much of it because I was still having "retracted eardrums" from plugged up eustachian tubes.  So–now I am using sinus nasal flushes.  He did ask if I took lots of ibuprofen and maybe they could be "rebound" headaches.  But I don’t take ibuprofen at all if I can help it–even when I break bones I don’t take it if I can avoid it!! But I now know that these headaches could be migraines, so I will keep track of them and fill him in when I see him again in six months.  Right now they only happen about every couple of months… Thanks for the info!

Response:

As for skin picking, I suspect that’s an ADD thing–I was doing it long before I took my first dose of stimulants–also used to gnaw my nails but for some reason I stopped doing that.

I stopped biting my nails (at least most of the time) when I started Prozac.

Response:

: So I’d encourage you to talk to someone about your headaches, because : they’re really migraines, there is effective treatment out there. Although the price is atrocious, I have found Imitrex is AMAZING for stopping migraines. It’s also diagnostic. If it doesn’t stop them, then they aren’t migraines. I have found that taking stimulants increased my # of headaches — but my doc stopped that by adding Wellbutrin. It eliminate them entirely. Emma

Response:

: So I’d encourage you to talk to someone about your headaches, because : they’re really migraines, there is effective treatment out there. Although the price is atrocious, I have found Imitrex is AMAZING for stopping migraines. It’s also diagnostic. If it doesn’t stop them, then they aren’t migraines.

Actually, if it *does* stop them them they *are* migraines.  But some migraines are not stoped by Imatrex, unfortunately.

Response:

: your observations re the prison population are rubbish; you have no idea : who uses what drug, unless, of course, you have done a scientific : survey ? : sammi Funny you should say that. Heh. Emma

Response:

<< I have done the accutane thing and that helped–but soon after stopping the 3 month treatment I started having blemishes again.  I just turned 30–although I’ve been a late-bloomer about everything–why not acne too! <BR<BR

the psych meds may exacerbate, if you never had before.  try topical retinoids, they work!                   \  - –  //                      oooO   (    )                       (     )     )  /                          (     (_

Response:

So–besides the "usual" (hah!) ADHD symptoms I also have "hypersensitivities" that cause itching and then picking…. I have very sensitive skin–eczema, easily irritated by clothing textures, blotchy "hives" after exercise and hot showers.  I have had skin testing and am not allergic to ANYTHING.

Same here…in addition to "infantile eczema"(ya gotta *love* that one as an adult!) I have a bit of mild tactile-defensiveness–certain textures of clothing, and crowds drive me up the wall (http://www.add.org/content/treatment/sensitivity.htm) I also have nasal allergies, but diagnosed as "Vasomotor rhinitis" since I am not allergic to anything. (hypersensitive nasal mucosa)

Ditto… I also have exercise induced asthma–NOT allergen induced.

<nodding Though now my doc is calling it "Reactive Airway Disease" because it is not allergen-driven.  Exercise in cold air (even eating ice cream too fast will do) and when my sinuses go, it cascades into the lungs. And Acne…

Haven’t had too much problem with that one…except for some small patches of eczema on the face <G Just wondering if anyone else has had these connections… I am currently on Effexor XR (150mg), Buspar (20mg morning, 10mg evening) and recently Straterra (80mg).  I just added the Straterra and am slowly decreasing the Effexor XR (was on ~200mg).  Since adding the Straterra I have been quite pleased!  We are avoiding the true stimulants because of the anxiety. I still have picking issues–usually when I am hyperfocused on something else–like reading when I go to bed.

<nodding Hubby often has to remind me to stop picking at _____. I also tend to grind my teeth (bruxism) which has led to bouts of TMJ, and use a night guard/splint to sleep (looks like an athletic mouth guard on steroids!). Right now I have been using flonase (for sinuses), singulair and serevent (currently daily for asthma) and albuterol (rescue inhaler)…I also keep imitrex on hand for the occasional migraine (weather-induced…swings in air pressure).  I take concerta for the ADHHHD. Hope that helps, Buny

Response:

<< they think there may be neighboring influences with ADHD and atopic genes, so there appears to be much overlap in presentation. <BR<BR additionaly, there is some theoretical thinking (wth basis) that ADHD and depression (and other brain-based disorders) may have inflammatory (or autoimmune) underpinnings.                   \  - –  //                      oooO   (    )                       (     )     )  /                          (     (_

Response:

<< And Acne… <BR<BR in my teens and 20s, gone now. took acutante, survived both without damage. –I have done the accutane thing and that helped–but soon after stopping the 3 month treatment I started having blemishes again.  I just turned 30–although I’ve been a late-bloomer about everything–why not acne too! <<they think there may be neighboring influences with ADHD and atopic genes,so there appears to be much overlap in presentation. Interesting…   The other intriguing thing is I don’t remember having atopy issues as a kid, but honestly I was usually one big scab from running around and falling outside that I probably didn’t notice!  And even now when my dermotologist asks if something "itches" or another dr. asks me if something "hurts" I never really know how to answer… "I guess" is probably not an acceptable answer!  So I think pain tolerance overlaps into "itch tolerance" *grin* Thanks for your info–very intriguing.  I’m a veterinarian and Atopy is typical in many dogs and seemingly affects the more "high strung" breeds. (Terriers, Collies (Borders too!), Retrievers, etc.)  Interesting….

Response:

Long story short– I was diagnosed in 1st grade as ADHD (as well as gifted)–with my parents help and a very structured/rewarding environment, I managed without drugs and got through school without a "label"–although very tough on my parents as I was quite the "free-spirited, active, sensitive child". I had horrible seperation anxiety all the way until college–I LOVED the adventure of summer camps, but HATED leaving home.  Unless you have experienced "homesickness" it is hard to explain.  I also managed to make several babysitters quit since I would throw a fit when my parents left. (Child’s version of a panic attack?).  As I have gotten older I get a similar feeling when I become "overstimulated" and need time alone…or when put in a "public test" sort of situation (I’m a Radiology Resident so Rounds are a bit anxiety provoking) A few years ago I saw a dermatologist for skin lesions on my hands–looked a bit like chicken pox–that wouldn’t heal. I had history of other skin lesions as a kid that were similar and finally just went away–but I am a "picker" (I don’t pick normal skin–only little lesions)–so–again–long story short I was referred to derm psychiatrist–after interviewing me for about 20 minutes in her office she asked if I had ever been diagnosed as ADHD (This was the 3rd time–grade school (Which I didn’t find out about until many years later), high school when I brought up the subject and my parents told me, and then this time).  I also had history of delayed union fractures because I would continue to participate in sports activities with various casts, bandages, etc.–because I was a much happier person when I could "use up" my excess energy.  My skin lesions would also get worse when I was not active (B/C I would pick any little lesion…) So–besides the "usual" (hah!) ADHD symptoms I also have "hypersensitivities" that cause itching and then picking…. I have very sensitive skin–eczema, easily irritated by clothing textures, blotchy "hives" after exercise and hot showers.  I have had skin testing and am not allergic to ANYTHING. I also have nasal allergies, but diagnosed as "Vasomotor rhinitis" since I am not allergic to anything. (hypersensitive nasal mucosa) I also have exercise induced asthma–NOT allergen induced. And Acne… Just wondering if anyone else has had these connections… I am currently on Effexor XR (150mg), Buspar (20mg morning, 10mg evening) and recently Straterra (80mg).  I just added the Straterra and am slowly decreasing the Effexor XR (was on ~200mg).  Since adding the Straterra I have been quite pleased!  We are avoiding the true stimulants because of the anxiety. I still have picking issues–usually when I am hyperfocused on something else–like reading when I go to bed. ok–so it was a long story long!  But curious to know if others have any hypersensitivities and/or picking issues.   Later!

Response:

<< I had horrible seperation anxiety all the way until college–I LOVED the adventure of summer camps, but HATED leaving home.  <BR<BR me too. << So–besides the "usual" (hah!) ADHD symptoms I also have "hypersensitivities"  <BR<BR me too. << I have very sensitive skin–eczema, easily irritated by clothing textures, blotchy "hives" after exercise and hot showers.  I have had skin testing and am not allergic to ANYTHING. <BR<BR me too. << I also have nasal allergies, but diagnosed as "Vasomotor rhinitis" <BR<BR

me too. << I also have exercise induced asthma–NOT allergen induced. <BR<BR me too. << And Acne… <BR<BR in my teens and 20s, gone now. took acutante, survived both without damage. fish oil, primrose, and lactic acid moisturizers (and the best Derms in the country, not kidding!) helped me.  though i must avoid most prescribed medications, from anithistamines to antibiotics (unless serious), due to reactions. stims and noradrenergic meds (Welbutrin) are theorized to have some TNF-inhibitor properties, which can reduce skin inflammatory response.  i’ve case reports of Wellbutrin being effective for patients with psoriasis, for example, as well as for Chrohns disease. they think there may be neighboring influences with ADHD and atopic genes, so there appears to be much overlap in presentation.                   \  - –  //                      oooO   (    )                       (     )     )  /                          (     (_

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Question:

Hi Nicky, Thanks for your reply. I have never tried Calmoseptine, I will mention that to my gastro the next time I  see him. I agree they are painful, mine will swell up and I sometimes walk with a limp. I don’t understand why they won’t do surgery it’s just a small thing to remove. How can a skin tag result in having a bag on your side, maybe it’s hard to heal?????Oh, well I guess we will have to live with our little freinds. Thanks, Nyse

Response:

I was woundering if anyone with Crohn’s has any skin tags? I have peri-anal disease, fissures, fistula tracks, and skin tags etc…. One of the skin tags is very painful and causes alot of discomfort. My Gastro. said that I have cannot have surgery. I was woundering if anyone has had surgery for this, if so could you please share your experience with that???? Is there anything else besides surgery that helps to relieve the discomfort??? All advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for help, Nyse

I have peri-anal as well, skin tags, fistulas, etc. According to my rectal surgeon they don’t like to remove them if you have Chrohns, it just makes them worse, they grow back, get infected, etc. There is something they can do for fistulas, its called a ceton stitch ( spelling may not be correct) its a small rubber binder they put through the fistula, it is slowly tightened until the fistula is gone. Depending on exactly where on your anus the fistula is, will determine how painful the "stitch" is. I have done a lot of research on skin tags/anal fistulas, I have debated having the stitch surgery because it may hurt like hell and not make it any better. I have found that 1% hydrocortisone works for average days, when I don’t have a major flare up. When I do, (oozing fistula, itching like mad, and swollen skin tag the size of a thumb nail) Vagisil has a 20% benzocaine formula you can get OTC. it really numbs things fast, but doesn’t last long. There are probably many that you can get from your doctor with a prescription.

Response:

Thanks Anne, The skin tag that I have is about the size of the top of my thumb, and mine is very swollen. The next time I see my gastro. I will mention the pain. I can relate with you about the fistula mine oozes and gets itchy also. Thanks again Anne for you advice, Nyse

Response:

The surgeery worked well but I have had it done too many times and can’t have anymore lest I develop a case of chronic drippy poo something that I don’t even want to contemplate. Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, I am new and matter of fact just posted my my first message thinking I have a flare up…As for you, I too, have skin tags right in that wonderful place!! I have had them since I was first diagnosed. My next step was a colon-rectal surgeon and I heard the same bad news. Noone wants to touch us, matter of fact his exact words were "you’ll end up with a bag". I cried and left and never went back. Noone seems to understand how painful these things can get esp. when you are having a "bad" day.I wonder how they woul like to feel them every time they go to the bathroom. You were lucky enough to find one surgeon….What was your experience with that surgery? i would like to know If I should pursue another surgeon in hopes of a different answer. On top of that psoariasis has been lucky enough to find me there as well. Have you ever tried an ointment called Calmoseptine? It acts as a barrier, protecting the skin tag, too. Good luck Nicky

Response:

Hi, I am new and matter of fact just posted my my first message thinking I have a flare up…As for you, I too, have skin tags right in that wonderful place!! I have had them since I was first diagnosed. My next step was a colon-rectal surgeon and I heard the same bad news. Noone wants to touch us, matter of fact his exact words were "you’ll end up with a bag". I cried and left and never went back. Noone seems to understand how painful these things can get esp. when you are having a "bad" day.I wonder how they woul like to feel them every time they go to the bathroom. You were lucky enough to find one surgeon….What was your experience with that surgery? i would like to know If I should pursue another surgeon in hopes of a different answer. On top of that psoariasis has been lucky enough to find me there as well. Have you ever tried an ointment called Calmoseptine? It acts as a barrier, protecting the skin tag, too. Good luck Nicky

Response:

I was woundering if anyone with Crohn’s has any skin tags? I have peri-anal disease, fissures, fistula tracks, and skin tags etc…. One of the skin tags is very painful and causes alot of discomfort. My Gastro. said that I have cannot have surgery. I was woundering if anyone has had surgery for this, if so could you please share your experience with that???? Is there anything else besides surgery that helps to relieve the discomfort??? All advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for help, Nyse

Response:

I haave had surgeery fior anal fissures,  There is a limited number of times that this surgery can be performed.  The danger is that one will begin incontinent and begin dripping from the anus.  This does not make for a happy camper.  My doc presribed an ointment containing 0.1% nitroglycerin.  This works quite well at reducing the pain andshould be paart of your pain management program.  My pain control progrom includes the nitroglycerin ointment, oxycontin a delayed release narcotic and a regular oxycodone when the delayed release form didn’t hold it down.   The pain control folks at the University of Alberta Hospital  added a morning and a noon dose of dexidrene which overcomes the drowsy effects of the narcotics. Good luck – Talk to your doc about pain control – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was woundering if anyone with Crohn’s has any skin tags? I have peri-anal disease, fissures, fistula tracks, and skin tags etc…. One of the skin tags is very painful and causes alot of discomfort. My Gastro. said that I have cannot have surgery. I was woundering if anyone has had surgery for this, if so could you please share your experience with that???? Is there anything else besides surgery that helps to relieve the discomfort??? All advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for help, Nyse

Response:

Question:

Well it looks like I’ll be going in for my surgery on January 14.  All my tests have been normal.  Just have to have a chest x-ray done on Monday of next week and then I can look forward to a lovely hospital stay.  Sigh.  You know, it’s weird this whole thing.  This experience has been interesting. As many know I had my emergency colectomy last July for diverticulitis.  At the time I could have had my reanastomosis done the next day and I would have been happy.  Now I’m not entirely sure.  I actually kicked around the idea of keeping the ostomy.  I lived in pain, sometimes severe, for over 33 years.  I was always watching the clock after I ate knowing I had not be far from the can about 2 hours post-eating.  I could never eat breakfast and face a commute to work.  Sometimes I barely made it to the restroom in time. Such is life with IBS, an innocuous sounding ailment that can ruin your life as bad as UC or Chrohns.  I almost look at the diverticulitis as a gift which may end up freeing me from the years of pain I endured.  I’ve enjoyed being pain free and being able to do things like enjoy a meal with no worries.  This ostomy has been such a benign thing physically.  I sure hope I don’t end up regretting the reversal – that would be ironic. So a week from Wednesday the fun starts, six months to the day I started this whole journey.  I sure hope I’m making the right choice.  Life with an ostomy has not been hard at all.  It did ruin my party life with some Hollywood celebs but they’re a shallow bunch to start with.  I have a new look on life and coping with lifestyle changes and the emotions that go with them.  I hope one day I can possibly help others who may face an ostomy either permanent or temporary. I dread the hospital stay most I think.  That same hospital treated me like garbage in the ER back in July and I can not get that out of my mind.  My surgeon seems like a capable man with a lot of experience.  I’ll be glad when it’s over. Paul

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Well, I only rode the colostomy ride from 16Oct to 9Dec, but just hitting 4 weeks from the reconnection surgery, I am experiencing some pain, and frequent trips to the bathroom, but, I really am happy to have functioning plumbing. Morphine helps a lot in the beginning, get out of the hospital as soon as you can, even if you have to lie to them. even before they let you have it try sneaking a couple of ice chips, it really helped me. Also no matter how bad you feel, smile and thank the nurses for everything for the first couple days. If you and the guy who gave them a hard time both code at the same time, who do you think will get saved? Actually the nurses are the key to the post-op experience, they will help you and keep you informed if you make friends with them, you will really have a tough time if they don’t like you. In the ER they treat everybody like a disease, my first hospitalization in September, started with nine hours on a stretcher in the hallway of the ER, I had to get up and go find the nurses drinking coffee to get my empty IV replaced. I think they figure if you haven’t got bullet holes they want to see if you can survive the neglect for a while before seeing if you can survive the food… Seriously, when you first hit the bed after surgery keep the PCA button in your hand. Push the button, then try to move slowly. Start moving around in bed as soon as you can, lift your arms, move your legs, turn your head, remember to keep dosing yourself with pain medication, you can’t get addicted to it while you are in pain, and it will help you move more, which will work the anesthetic out of your system faster. Make sure someone is there to provide guidance when you first make that long trip from the bed to the chair. You should be able to get back to bed on your own. By the second day, you have got to walk, don’t go far, as return trips are a drag when in pain and tired out. Walking will get the bowel moving and get you on fluids faster. Once you are taking fluids by mouth you can lose the ng and Foley, which makes for a happy camper. Whatever you are putting in your mouth, ice, fluids, Jell-O, actual food, go very slowly, even if you are hungry/thirsty go slow, and try to get as much in without getting sick as possible. I escaped from the hospital in six days using this tactic. Once at home drink as much fluid as you can without living in the bathroom. Don’t even think about lifting anything. I do well after surgery on scrambled eggs, toast, tea, yogurt, adding some new thing every two days or so, but staying away from greasy, spicy stuff even now after 4 weeks. About two weeks after surgery I started taking fiber one spoon in the morning and one at night. This really helps to start you on the road to regular bowel activity, and it still takes a while to get there. My Dr. gives me vicoprophen which is 7.5 mg of hydrocodone with ibuprofen, this works very well for me, I am still having some pain, but it is under control with 2 or three pills a day. I am up to 3 miles a day walking, and have made it five miles with a nap right afterwards. I see my surgeon in a few hours to get the stitches where the stoma was out, and should get an idea of how it is progressing. Feel free to email me if you have any questions, as I have very recently been reconnected. BTW, did your Dr. mention there was a chance you will come out with a temporary ileostomy? If they feel your colon needs more healing, or if the connections are sewn close, and they don’t want to risk a leak, they sometimes do that, it is important to know that as it could be an unpleasant surprise. You Dr. will know the particulars of your case, and can give you a good idea of where you stand. al eva…@verizon.net "Paul M. Cook

Question:

I’m one of the fortunate ones – I work from home.  Have been doing this for 12 yrs now.  To be perfectly honest, if I didn’t work from home, I would not have been able to hold down a job the last 2 1/2 yrs at all. The bad news is – the company I work for is going to close sometime this year and then I’ll be in a jam.  Will of course file for unemployment and look for something else; but not very likely in the area I live in.  If I’m lucky, I’ll prolly work 1 or 2 part time jobs. Christine CD

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I work like 3 jobs now.  I am down from 5 jobs. I probably should go on disability, however, I can’t stand being bored more than I cant stand UC/CD. One of the best things that I have found is that if you can, work for yourself.  Although it can be more stressful, if you make your own hours you can get more done when you want to and not when your boss wants you to. One of my jobs is also in corporate america for a large company.  I’ve explained to them that somedays are good and some days are bad.  On the good days I will work twice as hard to make up for the bad.  It took a little bit of a risk on their part, but I think they’ve come to realize that even though my UC/CD takes me down for the count, I will get my job done and then some.. Andy

Response:

HI Karen!  I agree with you, it’s best to let your boss know so they don’t think that you are faking and will be a little more understanding when you are ill… I’m lucky my boss is wonderful and his wife is a nurse (i.e. Walking medical Dictionary) so I know he has asked he a lot of questions and now has more of an understanding on what I am going though. Marlena – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi Vanny God that’s terrible that you’re being sidelined! Really awful. I know how hard it is to work though when you’re ill. I was diagnosed at the end of May and was ill for 10 months before that, and for every hour of every day I was so sick and in so much pain that it was all I could do to sit up straight. However, I worked every day and only took two sick days in 10 months, simply because I DIDN’T want to be seen as unreliable. Isn’t that terrible that even with a chronic condiditon we all work ourselves into the ground? I really think people with IBD are so bloody wonderful to keep going because this is really an awful crushing disease and if we let it, it would take over all aspects of our lives. Anyway, I told my boss I was ill and all about the tests I’d have to have and what the outcome might be and in the end I told them the diagnosis too. I felt it was easier than trying to conceal it. Maybe if you talk to your boss and let them know that you DO have a chronic illness, they might be more understanding? Maybe now they just think you’re faking being ill or making it out to be worse than it is, just to get time off work, so you should set them straight. Explain that yes, you are ill, but you’re not in a coma, so you shouldn’t be doing all those menial tasks, you should get a chance to do the stuff you’re good at too! I haven’t been sidelined here at all, I’m still doing the same job as before I got ill and enjoying it again too. My boss understands that if I’m in the loo five times an hour, that it means I’m having a bad day and I’ll make up the time another way. He also knows to give me some space at lunch time to put my head down and rest if I need it and that I need to take meds several times a day. I’m very lucky in that my career hasn’t suffered and workmates have been understanding. It SHOULD be the same for you Vanny, you deserve better. So think about telling your boss the full story and pointing out like I said that just because you have an illness does NOT mean you shouldn’t be able to do the job you were hired to do. Be firm with them and don’t let them get you down! Good luck Karen How have fellow IBDers managed to keep their jobs with their respective illnesses? Does anyone have any useful tips here. I was off for 8 weeks last year – 6 weeks hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, tumours and adhesiolysis in addition to a further 2 weeks with gut problems. This year I was off for 3 months with gut problems – required a section of small intestine removing and my ileostoma remodelling due to a complete ileostoma stenosis. The result is that I have been sidelined at work and labelled as unreliable. So I am getting all the cinderella tasks that nobody else wants to do. I would have been back at work at least three weeks if not a month earlier this year, but the hospital diagnosed me with oesophagitis and gastritis the day before my op., wrote a report and then archived it without bothering to inform either my GP or me, neither did they think of starting me on any medication. It was only on my insistence that they sent someone to search in the archives that I found out why I was feeling so $%&/y. I was going to pursue this as a case of negligence, but I had enough on my plate and really could face the extra stress and hassle. As it was, at that time I was thinking that I would never work again. I thought that my Crohn’s had come back mega time – it was obviously not nice. Now I feel miles better than I have for several years. I am still playing with my diet (after having cut out milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, etc.) and have to pace myself. For the first time in over a year I took my bike out this evening and we were out for 2 hours. I am so pleased that my health has returned, but the situation at work is not very challenging and rewarding at present. I have only over the last 4 weeks started to regain my full health, but have naturally told my employer that I cannot guarantee that I will not get ill again and did point out that nobody at the company could do that. For your info. I have an abdominal tumour with pain (alternatively might be adhesion pain), get blockages on the LHS (probably due to adhesions wound round my small intestine) and have a 2 cm gallstone which occasionally plays up. So it might be that I need another op. Applying for another job is out of the question at the moment. How has everyone else coped? How have you regained your ’street cred’ at work? I did not feel like broadcasting my surgical castration or my ileostomy cosmetic surgery at work, so they just know that I was operated on twice. They also do not know that I have Crohn’s (to my mind that would mean the end of my career – I cannot see what advantage total disclosure to my employer would give me). By the way in Germany the data protection act is very tight and an employee is not required to reveal details of their medical history to their employer. Many thanks, Vanny

Response:

I’ve been lucky after my job looked suspect my boss sugested i review all my options (a hint that maybe I should leave) they have now turned around and are re writing my job description to suit my condition. This was after personnel department saidd they can’t get rid of me. Paul

Response:

Hi Vanny God that’s terrible that you’re being sidelined! Really awful. I know how hard it is to work though when you’re ill. I was diagnosed at the end of May and was ill for 10 months before that, and for every hour of every day I was so sick and in so much pain that it was all I could do to sit up straight. However, I worked every day and only took two sick days in 10 months, simply because I DIDN’T want to be seen as unreliable. Isn’t that terrible that even with a chronic condiditon we all work ourselves into the ground? I really think people with IBD are so bloody wonderful to keep going because this is really an awful crushing disease and if we let it, it would take over all aspects of our lives. Anyway, I told my boss I was ill and all about the tests I’d have to have and what the outcome might be and in the end I told them the diagnosis too. I felt it was easier than trying to conceal it. Maybe if you talk to your boss and let them know that you DO have a chronic illness, they might be more understanding? Maybe now they just think you’re faking being ill or making it out to be worse than it is, just to get time off work, so you should set them straight. Explain that yes, you are ill, but you’re not in a coma, so you shouldn’t be doing all those menial tasks, you should get a chance to do the stuff you’re good at too! I haven’t been sidelined here at all, I’m still doing the same job as before I got ill and enjoying it again too. My boss understands that if I’m in the loo five times an hour, that it means I’m having a bad day and I’ll make up the time another way. He also knows to give me some space at lunch time to put my head down and rest if I need it and that I need to take meds several times a day. I’m very lucky in that my career hasn’t suffered and workmates have been understanding. It SHOULD be the same for you Vanny, you deserve better. So think about telling your boss the full story and pointing out like I said that just because you have an illness does NOT mean you shouldn’t be able to do the job you were hired to do. Be firm with them and don’t let them get you down! Good luck Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How have fellow IBDers managed to keep their jobs with their respective illnesses? Does anyone have any useful tips here. I was off for 8 weeks last year – 6 weeks hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, tumours and adhesiolysis in addition to a further 2 weeks with gut problems. This year I was off for 3 months with gut problems – required a section of small intestine removing and my ileostoma remodelling due to a complete ileostoma stenosis. The result is that I have been sidelined at work and labelled as unreliable. So I am getting all the cinderella tasks that nobody else wants to do. I would have been back at work at least three weeks if not a month earlier this year, but the hospital diagnosed me with oesophagitis and gastritis the day before my op., wrote a report and then archived it without bothering to inform either my GP or me, neither did they think of starting me on any medication. It was only on my insistence that they sent someone to search in the archives that I found out why I was feeling so $%&/y. I was going to pursue this as a case of negligence, but I had enough on my plate and really could face the extra stress and hassle. As it was, at that time I was thinking that I would never work again. I thought that my Crohn’s had come back mega time – it was obviously not nice. Now I feel miles better than I have for several years. I am still playing with my diet (after having cut out milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, etc.) and have to pace myself. For the first time in over a year I took my bike out this evening and we were out for 2 hours. I am so pleased that my health has returned, but the situation at work is not very challenging and rewarding at present. I have only over the last 4 weeks started to regain my full health, but have naturally told my employer that I cannot guarantee that I will not get ill again and did point out that nobody at the company could do that. For your info. I have an abdominal tumour with pain (alternatively might be adhesion pain), get blockages on the LHS (probably due to adhesions wound round my small intestine) and have a 2 cm gallstone which occasionally plays up. So it might be that I need another op. Applying for another job is out of the question at the moment. How has everyone else coped? How have you regained your ’street cred’ at work? I did not feel like broadcasting my surgical castration or my ileostomy cosmetic surgery at work, so they just know that I was operated on twice. They also do not know that I have Crohn’s (to my mind that would mean the end of my career – I cannot see what advantage total disclosure to my employer would give me). By the way in Germany the data protection act is very tight and an employee is not required to reveal details of their medical history to their employer. Many thanks, Vanny

Response:

I work like 3 jobs now.  I am down from 5 jobs. I probably should go on disability, however, I can’t stand being bored more than I cant stand UC/CD. One of the best things that I have found is that if you can, work for yourself.  Although it can be more stressful, if you make your own hours you can get more done when you want to and not when your boss wants you to. One of my jobs is also in corporate america for a large company.  I’ve explained to them that somedays are good and some days are bad.  On the good days I will work twice as hard to make up for the bad.  It took a little bit of a risk on their part, but I think they’ve come to realize that even though my UC/CD takes me down for the count, I will get my job done and then some.. Andy

Response:

I’ve been very lucky with my job.  I do technical consulting I’m able to work from home about 50% of the time with just my computer and telephone.  So, during those times there’s no major problem going on and I handle it well. The other 50% of the time I’m on the road to do work at client offices throughout the country.  I truly hate the airline travel and the taxi ride from the airport to the client’s place.  I keep my finger’s crossed the whole time. Once I’m at the client site I usually don’t mention my condition, but sometimes have to bring up that I need to make frequent restroom stops and I find that everyone is pretty understanding of the situation. I recently also found out that my direct boss has Crohns; so that added a great level of understanding. I haven’t missed any major amount of work for UC related problems yet. Nothing more than a few odd days here and there for tests and the like. My most recently flare up that I’m going, the worst I’ve ever had, has caused me to realize that I’ve got a pretty darn flexible job with good medical coverage.  It’s made me a little worried about the possiblity of losing it sometime.  Hope the US technical economy keeps its stabilazation path. -rev – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How have fellow IBDers managed to keep their jobs with their respective illnesses? Does anyone have any useful tips here. I was off for 8 weeks last year – 6 weeks hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, tumours and adhesiolysis in addition to a further 2 weeks with gut problems. This year I was off for 3 months with gut problems – required a section of small intestine removing and my ileostoma remodelling due to a complete ileostoma stenosis. The result is that I have been sidelined at work and labelled as unreliable. So I am getting all the cinderella tasks that nobody else wants to do. I would have been back at work at least three weeks if not a month earlier this year, but the hospital diagnosed me with oesophagitis and gastritis the day before my op., wrote a report and then archived it without bothering to inform either my GP or me, neither did they think of starting me on any medication. It was only on my insistence that they sent someone to search in the archives that I found out why I was feeling so $%&/y. I was going to pursue this as a case of negligence, but I had enough on my plate and really could face the extra stress and hassle. As it was, at that time I was thinking that I would never work again. I thought that my Crohn’s had come back mega time – it was obviously not nice. Now I feel miles better than I have for several years. I am still playing with my diet (after having cut out milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, etc.) and have to pace myself. For the first time in over a year I took my bike out this evening and we were out for 2 hours. I am so pleased that my health has returned, but the situation at work is not very challenging and rewarding at present. I have only over the last 4 weeks started to regain my full health, but have naturally told my employer that I cannot guarantee that I will not get ill again and did point out that nobody at the company could do that. For your info. I have an abdominal tumour with pain (alternatively might be adhesion pain), get blockages on the LHS (probably due to adhesions wound round my small intestine) and have a 2 cm gallstone which occasionally plays up. So it might be that I need another op. Applying for another job is out of the question at the moment. How has everyone else coped? How have you regained your ’street cred’ at work? I did not feel like broadcasting my surgical castration or my ileostomy cosmetic surgery at work, so they just know that I was operated on twice. They also do not know that I have Crohn’s (to my mind that would mean the end of my career – I cannot see what advantage total disclosure to my employer would give me). By the way in Germany the data protection act is very tight and an employee is not required to reveal details of their medical history to their employer. Many thanks, Vanny

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How have fellow IBDers managed to keep their jobs with their respective illnesses? Does anyone have any useful tips here. I was off for 8 weeks last year – 6 weeks hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, tumours and adhesiolysis in addition to a further 2 weeks with gut problems. This year I was off for 3 months with gut problems – required a section of small intestine removing and my ileostoma remodelling due to a complete ileostoma stenosis. The result is that I have been sidelined at work and labelled as unreliable. So I am getting all the cinderella tasks that nobody else wants to do. I would have been back at work at least three weeks if not a month earlier this year, but the hospital diagnosed me with oesophagitis and gastritis the day before my op., wrote a report and then archived it without bothering to inform either my GP or me, neither did they think of starting me on any medication. It was only on my insistence that they sent someone to search in the archives that I found out why I was feeling so $%&/y. I was going to pursue this as a case of negligence, but I had enough on my plate and really could face the extra stress and hassle. As it was, at that time I was thinking that I would never work again. I thought that my Crohn’s had come back mega time – it was obviously not nice. Now I feel miles better than I have for several years. I am still playing with my diet (after having cut out milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, etc.) and have to pace myself. For the first time in over a year I took my bike out this evening and we were out for 2 hours. I am so pleased that my health has returned, but the situation at work is not very challenging and rewarding at present. I have only over the last 4 weeks started to regain my full health, but have naturally told my employer that I cannot guarantee that I will not get ill again and did point out that nobody at the company could do that. For your info. I have an abdominal tumour with pain (alternatively might be adhesion pain), get blockages on the LHS (probably due to adhesions wound round my small intestine) and have a 2 cm gallstone which occasionally plays up. So it might be that I need another op. Applying for another job is out of the question at the moment. How has everyone else coped? How have you regained your ’street cred’ at work? I did not feel like broadcasting my surgical castration or my ileostomy cosmetic surgery at work, so they just know that I was operated on twice. They also do not know that I have Crohn’s (to my mind that would mean the end of my career – I cannot see what advantage total disclosure to my employer would give me). By the way in Germany the data protection act is very tight and an employee is not required to reveal details of their medical history to their employer. Many thanks, Vanny

hi vanny i am on disability now..between the chrohns and epilepsy(so i cant drive so i had to stand around waiting for buses and trains to even get to work..well u can imagine).in the summer of 95 i knew i couldnt go back(i was teaching) for years i worked while having this…on one job..it was great..the principal also had some health problems..i didnt really say what was wrong..just that i needed to use the bathroom a lot..he put my classroom next to the bathroom and he spaced my prep periods apart in the day so i had frequent breaks..the other teachers there also were great..if i didnt feel well someone would cover..if i had ot be out or in the hospital..people covered for me and made it very easy…but that was the exception..other places were NOT like that..one place i was not only criticized for being hospitalized for a week..but i was gone after for being swollen from the prednisone(i didnt "look" right( and for having some problems carrying things(i dropped a book in the faculty dining room and got in trouble for being "unwell"..tho i could teach just fine) another place..the last one i was at in fact..i had to go on a lot of retreats and they were tiring..the day after i would still go in but i wouldnt be as energetic..i got criticized for ‘not having a lot of energy"..it was getting so i dreaded getting up in the am and going ..by the time i got to my workplace i was exhausted(and this was one place i actually had a ride in)…i got in trouble for having a glass of water or tea on my desk(so i wouldnt get dehydrated..i was on a lot of meds..bleeding a lot..and had very few breaks during the day)..i just gave it up and went on ssd..it wasnt worth risking my life for a bunch of people who had no care or concern…i miss working a lot..but i would have to be a lot better before i would go back..and thats not gonna happen now..i have faced that..i guess a lot is up to where u work..whom u work for and just how sick u are right then..good luck annie

Response:

Hi Vanny!  Sorry to hear about your problems with work.  I, too, have experienced some stress and worry over losing my job, etc…  I have been with my company for 7 years and while there I have had three of my surgeries which has caused me to be out for at least 4-6 weeks each time. Currently, I am on disability leave and have been out for 5 weeks. I, too, have been very worried about losing my job or job promotions. Without this job, I would lose health insurance, etc. which I truly can not afford. I have told everyone had my job that I have Crohn’s disease.  I have worked there so long that there is no way for them not knowing at this point.  I have always been honest with each new boss in letting them know about my illness, so they DON’T think I’m just faking it or calling in sick for the hell of it. This illness really hasn’t caused me loss of pay increase or job promotion, but I haven’t really been sick when I have been trying for a new position or around review time when they increase our salary. They also know I have been there a long time and I have been promoted a few times over the years and I am now basically at a dead end job, which is okay at the moment because I’m ill anyway. Fortunately for me right now, my boss is a very understanding caring man and has basically told me if I feel sick, then go home.  "You can’t help it, can you Marlena?".   You may not have the type of job where you can tell them, but in my experience that has worked out best for me so I could inform them about the illness and that way they knew I truly was sick.  Because as you know, we don’t always look sick.   Plus, it makes it pretty hard for them to fire me when I have a disability.  I hate to be that way but it’s not like i can help it when I am sick. Hope if works out for you.  I truly understand where you are coming from and for me I am  just very fortunate that I work for a very large corporate company vs. a small company that may not be so easy going and relaxed.  I totally understand your frustration, and even under my current situation at work, I too feel distressed and have the same worries about it sometimes. If you don’t want the Crap work, then perhaps you need to stand up and prove to them that you can be there and reliable.  If not, then perhaps you will be stuck with the crap work.  BUT, that’s better than NO WORK at all…  At least until you start feeling a lot better and can fight and prove to them that you will be there. Take care, Marlena – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -How have fellow IBDers managed to keep their jobs with their respective illnesses? Does anyone have any useful tips here. I was off for 8 weeks last year – 6 weeks hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, tumours and adhesiolysis in addition to a further 2 weeks with gut problems. This year I was off for 3 months with gut problems – required a section of small intestine removing and my ileostoma remodelling due to a complete ileostoma stenosis. The result is that I have been sidelined at work and labelled as unreliable. So I am getting all the cinderella tasks that nobody else wants to do. I would have been back at work at least three weeks if not a month earlier this year, but the hospital diagnosed me with oesophagitis and gastritis the day before my op., wrote a report and then archived it without bothering to inform either my GP or me, neither did they think of starting me on any medication. It was only on my insistence that they sent someone to search in the archives that I found out why I was feeling so $%&/y. I was going to pursue this as a case of negligence, but I had enough on my plate and really could face the extra stress and hassle. As it was, at that time I was thinking that I would never work again. I thought that my Crohn’s had come back mega time – it was obviously not nice. Now I feel miles better than I have for several years. I am still playing with my diet (after having cut out milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, etc.) and have to pace myself. For the first time in over a year I took my bike out this evening and we were out for 2 hours. I am so pleased that my health has returned, but the situation at work is not very challenging and rewarding at present. I have only over the last 4 weeks started to regain my full health, but have naturally told my employer that I cannot guarantee that I will not get ill again and did point out that nobody at the company could do that. For your info. I have an abdominal tumour with pain (alternatively might be adhesion pain), get blockages on the LHS (probably due to adhesions wound round my small intestine) and have a 2 cm gallstone which occasionally plays up. So it might be that I need another op. Applying for another job is out of the question at the moment. How has everyone else coped? How have you regained your ’street cred’ at work? I did not feel like broadcasting my surgical castration or my ileostomy cosmetic surgery at work, so they just know that I was operated on twice. They also do not know that I have Crohn’s (to my mind that would mean the end of my career – I cannot see what advantage total disclosure to my employer would give me). By the way in Germany the data protection act is very tight and an employee is not required to reveal details of their medical history to their employer. Many thanks, Vanny

Response:

Hi Vanny.  I have been unable to work now since July 1, 2000.  With the pain meds and other meds I take I would never pass a drug test!  Seriously, can’t get released from my drs to go back as I was a manager of a retail pharmacy and working would burn to many calories when I am well as I have a weight problem, too light,and  drop my weight real quickly.  Went on a cruise for 8 days, ate constantly at least 6 times or more a day and lost over 5 pounds.  Drs couldn’t believe it.  No one loses weight on a cruise ship they say.  The nice people I met all gained weight, at least 10 pounds. I sure do miss working though.  UM MOM Susan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How have fellow IBDers managed to keep their jobs with their respective illnesses? Does anyone have any useful tips here. I was off for 8 weeks last year – 6 weeks hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, tumours and adhesiolysis in addition to a further 2 weeks with gut problems. This year I was off for 3 months with gut problems – required a section of small intestine removing and my ileostoma remodelling due to a complete ileostoma stenosis. The result is that I have been sidelined at work and labelled as unreliable. So I am getting all the cinderella tasks that nobody else wants to do. I would have been back at work at least three weeks if not a month earlier this year, but the hospital diagnosed me with oesophagitis and gastritis the day before my op., wrote a report and then archived it without bothering to inform either my GP or me, neither did they think of starting me on any medication. It was only on my insistence that they sent someone to search in the archives that I found out why I was feeling so $%&/y. I was going to pursue this as a case of negligence, but I had enough on my plate and really could face the extra stress and hassle. As it was, at that time I was thinking that I would never work again. I thought that my Crohn’s had come back mega time – it was obviously not nice. Now I feel miles better than I have for several years. I am still playing with my diet (after having cut out milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, etc.) and have to pace myself. For the first time in over a year I took my bike out this evening and we were out for 2 hours. I am so pleased that my health has returned, but the situation at work is not very challenging and rewarding at present. I have only over the last 4 weeks started to regain my full health, but have naturally told my employer that I cannot guarantee that I will not get ill again and did point out that nobody at the company could do that. For your info. I have an abdominal tumour with pain (alternatively might be adhesion pain), get blockages on the LHS (probably due to adhesions wound round my small intestine) and have a 2 cm gallstone which occasionally plays up. So it might be that I need another op. Applying for another job is out of the question at the moment. How has everyone else coped? How have you regained your ’street cred’ at work? I did not feel like broadcasting my surgical castration or my ileostomy cosmetic surgery at work, so they just know that I was operated on twice. They also do not know that I have Crohn’s (to my mind that would mean the end of my career – I cannot see what advantage total disclosure to my employer would give me). By the way in Germany the data protection act is very tight and an employee is not required to reveal details of their medical history to their employer. Many thanks, Vanny

Response:

I am so pleased that my health has returned, but the situation at work is not very challenging and rewarding at present… How has everyone else coped? How have you regained your ’street cred’ at work?

I’m retired now, but I worked 36 years with Crohn’s disease. I, too, didn’t feel free to change jobs, mostly for health-coverage reasons. The solution is to play the cards you’re dealt in the best way you can. When I was relatively well, which, thankfully, was most of the time, I always worked hard and tried to exceed (and, to be candid, to be SEEN to exceed) was was expected of me. To a certain extent, I  was able to find or create some challenges during those times when the basic job was not so challenging. But from what I read, most jobs are more "rigid" in Germany than in the US, so that option may not be open to you. It’s not much comfort, but many people are stuck in jobs that are probably worse than yours, for many different reasons. Wayne Marsh       Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Response:

How have fellow IBDers managed to keep their jobs with their respective illnesses? Does anyone have any useful tips here. I was off for 8 weeks last year – 6 weeks hysterectomy, removal of ovaries, tumours and adhesiolysis in addition to a further 2 weeks with gut problems. This year I was off for 3 months with gut problems – required a section of small intestine removing and my ileostoma remodelling due to a complete ileostoma stenosis. The result is that I have been sidelined at work and labelled as unreliable. So I am getting all the cinderella tasks that nobody else wants to do. I would have been back at work at least three weeks if not a month earlier this year, but the hospital diagnosed me with oesophagitis and gastritis the day before my op., wrote a report and then archived it without bothering to inform either my GP or me, neither did they think of starting me on any medication. It was only on my insistence that they sent someone to search in the archives that I found out why I was feeling so $%&/y. I was going to pursue this as a case of negligence, but I had enough on my plate and really could face the extra stress and hassle. As it was, at that time I was thinking that I would never work again. I thought that my Crohn’s had come back mega time – it was obviously not nice. Now I feel miles better than I have for several years. I am still playing with my diet (after having cut out milk, yoghurt, buttermilk, etc.) and have to pace myself. For the first time in over a year I took my bike out this evening and we were out for 2 hours. I am so pleased that my health has returned, but the situation at work is not very challenging and rewarding at present. I have only over the last 4 weeks started to regain my full health, but have naturally told my employer that I cannot guarantee that I will not get ill again and did point out that nobody at the company could do that. For your info. I have an abdominal tumour with pain (alternatively might be adhesion pain), get blockages on the LHS (probably due to adhesions wound round my small intestine) and have a 2 cm gallstone which occasionally plays up. So it might be that I need another op. Applying for another job is out of the question at the moment. How has everyone else coped? How have you regained your ’street cred’ at work? I did not feel like broadcasting my surgical castration or my ileostomy cosmetic surgery at work, so they just know that I was operated on twice. They also do not know that I have Crohn’s (to my mind that would mean the end of my career – I cannot see what advantage total disclosure to my employer would give me). By the way in Germany the data protection act is very tight and an employee is not required to reveal details of their medical history to their employer. Many thanks, Vanny

Response:

Question:

Well my sister had 50 to 60 ml taken for blood tests they stated to suspect LUPUS Or LUPIS which ever she does not have that or anyother autoimune stuff just Crohns and MS.She’s had Crohns since the sixties but she got MS as info as I was taking my first trek thru the wonderful world of MS. So the Dr. has said "So you already know about the MS then ." And she and I were not sure how to tell our mother who is 80 but sis told her and she took the news well.     My sister says now she has a name for what has been happening and she says with a ‘Smirk’,"We now share the same ‘Clammy’ feeling!"                                             John

Response:

I don’t want to be a nag but have you contacted MADGC abt their family study, John?     Jayne

Response:

Both my sons, brother, and 17 year old grandson have Crohns….. I have MS… dory

Response:

Hi John!  The Multiple Autoimmune Diseases Genetics Consortium has a family study. If your family has three- or more- members with autoimmune  diseases you may qualify to join the family study. Autoimmune  diseases are diabetes, rhematoid arthritis, Crohn’s Disease or ulcerative  colitis, autoimmune thyroid disease & multiple sclerosis. MADGC is reachable online at MAGC.org    Jayne

Response:

"Nick Topolnyski" <nt…@shaw.ca

wrote in message

news:6X9Ea.142495$ro6.4220299@news2.calgary.shaw.ca…

The similarities between AI diseases are aspects that provide further evidence for the causes of autoimmunity. What is the cause is of course

the

million dollar question.

Sick and tired of being called a hypochondriac, I havent been near a doctor excepting when I was hospitalised and for my anti acid reflux drug for over 2 years now. I once decided to count what I have. In remission from Graves Disease. IBS, Sleep Apnea (chronic), CFS, CP and once was told I have MS but I havent done anything about that to date. Interested in what constitutes AI diseases, I looked them up and found every single one of the ones I am medically proven to have plus, of course, the MS, are AI. I dont know what knowing all that does for me. Apparently any single one of those problems can make you deathly tired and I have all the proven ones and possibly have MS. In fact I had to have a break typing there and came back to it after thinking about all this and I have decided I think I now do know what knowing all that does for me. With Graves Disease if it ever came back, I could be killed in any number of ways because it makes you aggressive and erratic. With Sleep Apnea I can get my licence taken off me if a doctor thinks I am a danger on the road so I cant piss a doctor off, thus I couldnt do my job for the measly income I make. CFS, CP and the admittedly mild, at this stage, MS I possibly have along with the rest get me no Govt assistance individually or all together as I am now. So what knowing all this does do for me is to remind me to keep my mouth shut because there is no help yet there are ways I can lose what little income I make if I speak up and ask for help. I guess I understand modern society, at least in Australia, now. UM.

Response:

My immediate family is clear, a couple of uncles and cousins have RA. My dad had an attack of traverse myelitis 16 years ago – far worse than any of my relapses have been  - but nothing since. He of course now believes he somehow passed this weakness onto me — Anna We are all travellers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend. – Robert Louis Stevenson

Response:

Good post John The similarities between AI diseases are aspects that provide further evidence for the causes of autoimmunity. What is the cause is of course the million dollar question. The presence of AI diseases in families speak to the influence of genetics. This aspect is the most influential factor as it determines who is susceptible or not, what type of AI condition is expressed, the degree of affliction, etc. Beyond the genetic factor then are the environmental influences. IMO these environmental influences are certain food proteins in concert with a deficiency of vitamin D. There is abundant circumstantial evidence which implicates these elements as governing factors in other AI conditions. Hence you see common denominators such as a proportionate change of prevalence with latitude, in other autoimmune diseases, such as RA and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus as you do with MS. Interestingly enough Cowboy has recently posted two key articles on June 5 entitled Vitamin D and the other Investigating MS Latitude Mystery. The latter alludes to the marked variation in Australia of the highest prevalence of MS (type 1, diabetes or IDDM, rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis too) in the region of Australia furthest from the equator and conversely the lowest MS prevalence in the region closest to the equator.  Proximity to the equator is also proximity to our most potent and direct source of vitamin D3, the sun. You might think that if vitamin D3 has such an influence on autoimmunity, there should be no AI disease given the intensity of sunlight in Australia. For starters it not surprising that the prevalence of MS in such high latitude countries as Canada is about ten times the prevalence of MS than in Australia.   It is also critical to recognise how much vitamin D3 is necessary to induce effective suppression of the immune system and how much exposure is required to do so. Also consider that the sun offers only the potential to get therapeutic doses of vitamin D3. It is possible to entirely avoid exposure to the sun during the time of day best able to induce vitamin D production. This research addresses such an aspect. In Canada, there exists only three or four months during the year in which to potentially receive therapeutic doses of vitamin D3 from the sun, hence the high prevalence of AI diseases there. This study out of Calgary substantiates the state of D3 insufficiency in Canada. There are other studies from Australia such as this by Pasco et al (2001) which have assessed the serum D3 content of civilians. Embry et al (2000) and Vieth (1999) have both demonstrated that certain levels of internal D3 (

= 100 nmol/L) are necessary for maximum immunosuppression. Pasco et al (2001) found average levels of serum D3 to be less than 100 mol/L in the study participants for both summer and winter.

What the heck does vitamin D have to do with Crohn’s disease? There is a wealth of circumstantial evidence implicating MS and D3 deficiency, some of which I mentioned above (for much more, go to DIRECT-MS). A reasonable correlation would be to determine if a deficiency in D3 could also be related to Crohn

Question:

Just had my kidney removed due to cancer. Also have Crohn’s disease. Anyone else with same problem?

Try the newsgroup alt.support.chrohns-colitis (I’m not sure that’s the right name, but its’ close). Before being diagnosed with rectal cancer, my doctor and I thought I might have ulcerative colitis. I started lurking in the UC/Crohns newsgroup, and found it very helpful (if you have the disease, that is <g). Michele – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Just had my kidney removed due to cancer. Also have Crohn’s disease. Anyone else with same problem?

Response:

Just had my kidney removed due to cancer. Also have Crohn’s disease. Anyone else with same problem?

I remember you posting in January, don’t remember you getting any replies. I don’t have Crohn’s but do have cancer in both kidneys. Not sure that I could answer your questions related to Crohn’s but might be able to help with the kidney cancer questions. HTH Jerry

Response:

Just had my kidney removed due to cancer. Also have Crohn’s disease. Anyone else with same problem?

Hello, HTH J

Response:

Yes, I did post the same message earlier and got no replies. I’m having some very unusual problems after the surgery. This seems like a good place to find others with the same problem. I’ve also posted the same message in the Crohn’s newsgroup. Thanks for your reply and concern.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just had my kidney removed due to cancer. Also have Crohn’s disease. Anyone else with same problem? I remember you posting in January, don’t remember you getting any replies. I don’t have Crohn’s but do have cancer in both kidneys. Not sure that I could answer your questions related to Crohn’s but might be able to help with the kidney cancer questions. HTH Jerry

Response:

Question:

On 16 Dec 2002 19:43:20 GMT, ironjust…@aol.comdoe (doe) wrote in alt.support.mult-sclerosis:

Rob, Tommy has slipped over into complete psychosis as seen in his posts during the last couple of weeks. He now thinks he is a Nobel prize winner! You know damn well what I meant when I said it ..

We all know what you meant, you said it enough times.  You have lost touch with reality.

You are attempting to discredit me .. Have been for quite some time .. by hook or by crook .. You ain’t any ‘friend’ .. to ANYONE on this list .. You have an agenda .. and it is to make me look .. bad ..

There is only one person in the whole world who can make you look bad or discredit you.  Look in a mirror if you want to see him. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

Better get your priorities straight .. cow .. And you want us to believe him? You only came to his defence because he mentioned your beloved mycoplasma. And YOU have attacked him numerous times OVER his stance on mycoplasma .. Personal abusive taunting .. attacks .. Better look into it .. YOU have some kind of problem with your head .. Again .. I repeat .. LOOK INTO IT ..

You confirm your loss of contact with reality, Tommy.  Find even one such attack on Google.  There aren’t any.  Get help, Tommy, you really need it. — You just .. ‘don’t get it’ .. do ya .. My credentials are . . every medical article I post .. And if THAT doesn’t make me a NOBEL PRIZE WINNER .. I don’t know what would ..   -Tom Hennessy ( ironjust…@aol.com )   Message-ID: <20021214180459.28328.00000…@mb-fo.aol.com

Response:

"Stef Duncan" <robandstef2…@earthlink.net

wrote in message

news:nLzL9.1182$1a1.119081@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net… > "Joan Carter" <jcar…@ripnet.com

wrote in message

> news:an3svucfkhm9e0casp4f1g5972kh3mulac@4ax.com… > > Rob, Tommy has slipped over into complete psychosis as seen in his posts > > during the last couple of weeks. He now thinks he is a Nobel prize winner!

Oh.   I thought he was joking.

Not a bit. It was said in response to a barrage of questioning by scientists and medical techs in the sci.med.laboratory NG. When questioned about his claim to a Nobel, he further stated that he *owns* all the research articles whose abstracts he’s posted over the years, and that they qualify him for the prize. He didn’t specify the discipline in which his "work" earned him the Nobel, though.    (I wonder if "passive restraints" were his discipline…)

Rob A FRIGGEN NOBEL CANDIDATE.  LOL  8^)

Oh, that’s rich.   I bet he got *that* from you, too, huh?  :-) ((U))   M

Response:

I made the original post which Tom/doe is quoting. (And no, I don’t know Tom.).  I have third-stage breast/blood/lymph cancer, & I am looking for better blood testing.  The two most promising tests appear to be the multi-element analysis of blood, hair, & urine (http://www.balcolab.com) for trace minerals, toxic metals, etc., … & the Mycoplasma infection testing which I wrote about in my original post. I have had chemotherapy & radiation therapy, & so far I’m very disappointed with the end result.  My experience has been, that after the cancer treatments are over, & when they don’t seem to have worked well, … then the doctors/oncologists will ignore reality, will ignore your physical condition, will act determinedly-dumb/cold/cruel/uncaring, & will desert/abandon you. This isn’t right. I am very weak/ill, my cancer tumor marker test numbers keep going up (which isn’t good), & the docs are stalling & waiting for the next cancerous lumps to form Before doing anything.  This is medical quackery & it super-s*cks. I am trying to find something positive to do, since the docs seem/act incompetent & won’t work.  I am also trying to find better cancer docs, which is very difficult in Texas & Louisiana.  The medical system is terrible here, partly due to bad laws & the failed/nonworking govt systems.  No quality controls, no enforceable penalties for wrongdoing, no legal recourse, etc. It is important to have hope, to keep reading & learning, & to keep trying to find good medical care. Susan, Su_Texas  my opinions

Response:

On 15 Dec 2002 23:38:22 -0800, robandstef2…@hotmail.com (Rob) wrote in alt.support.mult-sclerosis:

Do you really want someone who *may hold a piece of the puzzle to shut down due to insults cast by the ignorant?  I respect someone who stands by their convictions more, even if they are wrong, than someone who slinks away like a coward, or has no convictions at all.

Rob, Tommy has slipped over into complete psychosis as seen in his posts during the last couple of weeks. He now thinks he is a Nobel prize winner! And you want us to believe him? You only came to his defence because he mentioned your beloved mycoplasma. — Joan "And as ‘per my qualifications’ .. I AM A    FRIGGIN NOBEL PRIZE WINNER .. and my proof    is EVERY MEDICAL DISEASE THERE IS .. and    that .. is ALL THAT FRIGGIN MATTERS on this    medical newsgroup."     – Tom Hennessy ("doe"), Calgary, Canada. 14 Dec/2002     Message-ID: <0021214180459.28328.00000…@mb-fo.aol.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

Subject: Re: mycoplasma / fwd From: Joan Carter jcar…@ripnet.com Date: 12/16/2002 10:42 AM Mountain Standard Time Message-id: <an3svucfkhm9e0casp4f1g5972kh3mu…@4ax.com On 15 Dec 2002 23:38:22 -0800, robandstef2…@hotmail.com (Rob) wrote in alt.support.mult-sclerosis: Do you really want someone who *may hold a piece of the puzzle to shut down due to insults cast by the ignorant?  I respect someone who stands by their convictions more, even if they are wrong, than someone who slinks away like a coward, or has no convictions at all. Rob, Tommy has slipped over into complete psychosis as seen in his posts during the last couple of weeks. He now thinks he is a Nobel prize winner!

You know damn well what I meant when I said it .. You are attempting to discredit me .. Have been for quite some time .. by hook or by crook .. You ain’t any ‘friend’ .. to ANYONE on this list .. You have an agenda .. and it is to make me look .. bad .. Better get your priorities straight .. cow ..  

And you want us to believe him? You only came to his defence because he mentioned your beloved mycoplasma.

And YOU have attacked him numerous times OVER his stance on mycoplasma .. Personal abusive taunting .. attacks .. Better look into it .. YOU have some kind of problem with your head .. Again .. I repeat .. LOOK INTO IT .. Who loves ya. Tom Jesus was a vegetarian!   http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com Jesus was a vegetarian! http://www.nucleus.com/watchman Moses was a mystic! http://www.nucleus.com/watchman/light.html

Response:

"Mona" <thehappyw…@myrealbox.com

wrote in message <news:atii6l$144d7q$1@ID-95032.news.dfncis.de… But Tom is only entertaining to you Robbie…

I go other places for entertainment.  Certainly not here.  And you have used the name "Robbie" as an insult before.  Did you know someone named "Robbie" that you had an intense dislike for?  You must admit that thats a rather odd way to use someone’s name.  While its not my name, I do find it funny that you would think I would be insulted by being called "Robbie".  Dont you realize you are making a complete ASS of yourself if someone who reads the NG is named "Robbie".  Put down the bottle girl and think before you hit send.   LOL

his rambling just annoys us.

Your rambling annoys us, my rambling annoys people, tons of things annoy people.  Adults get over it and move on, children cant…

Trying to help by giving damaging or false outdated information needs to be pointed out to readers that are not as aware of the nature of tom’s blather as the rest of us are. It is rubbish.  As for encouraging someone because they ‘fight back’ – I’ll name a few I can think of who "fight back" or fought back.. should we have encouraged  them more in the past or encourage them now? Hitler..Sadaam..Al Quaida…  Hell lets encourage everyone who sticks up for there opinions out of respect for them.  Oh yes, that would make this a fine world indeed (NOT)…………

Encourage?  You bring up people who are the epitomy of evil, and try and compare Tom to them.  Get real.

And also how DARE you presuppose that the rest of us are remaining  "in the status quo". — Laura

Laura, unless you are doing something you havent spoken of, or I have missed it, you "are" the status quo.  Handing over money to these financial leaches under the threat of medical blackmail is probably most peoples only option, but its collaboration none-the-less.  I dont expect, nor desire people to take the extreme route.  It may lead to nothing but disaster and thats the last thing I want.  So I dont expect it of people.  But Im not going to allow it to be an excuse for me to do nothing as well.  I will always do what I think is right and prudent.  Come hell or high water, life or death, I can only be what I was created to be… and thats an inovator, a maverick, a bad speller, a puzzle/problem solver with big feet, big fists, and a big mouth. Ill change for nobody.  I hope nobody changes under the duress of insults and ridicule.  Choose to be who you are.  Thats my motto.

In some cultures what I do would be considered normal.

Who cares whose normal?  Normal never landed on the moon. Rob

Response:

in article dfbcd749.0212141859.c955…@posting.google.com, Rob at robandstef2…@hotmail.com wrote on 12/14/02 8:59 PM:12/14/02 8:59 PM

You wanna know why I dont have a problem with Tom?  He is trying to help.  Maybe not in the most conventional manner, and maybe his help goes unapriciated, but he is *trying to help.  Its sad that you guys dont give him credit for at least doing that.  He is a good person, we can all see that, but he does fight back when attacked, as he should, and I respect that.

a===== Remember the old saying "It takes  one to know  one?  "   Well,  Rob’s post shoots That theory,  doesn’t it?   sorry,  I had to say it.  .  . Laura

Response:

Jim Carter <no.s…@softhome.net

wrote in message <news:oldpvugiklmj9bij46p9f82a695o2k7i4i@4ax.com… On 14 Dec 2002 18:59:51 -0800, robandstef2…@hotmail.com (Rob) wrote: You wanna know why I dont have a problem with Tom?  He is trying to help.  Maybe not in the most conventional manner, and maybe his help goes unapriciated, but he is *trying to help.  Its sad that you guys dont give him credit for at least doing that.  He is a good person, we can all see that, but he does fight back when attacked, as he should, and I respect that. Do you really believe he is a good person and is trying to help?  I see him as amoral, bigoted and uncaring.  I am not going into a lot of detail on why I feel this way, I will let Tommy himself tell you. =======================================================================

This may not be the most caring method of discourse, but when someone starts throwing shit at a person for speaking their mind, then all bets are off.  The gloves come off, and every tactic is fair game, in my book. All is fair in love and war.  Thats why I thought it was funny that after everyone was giving him hell, he fought back, (as he should have if he has any self respect) and then people attacked his theological beliefs.  LOL.  If you are in an argument with someone who takes the low-road, I say join em if you wanna walk away with any self-respect. Or you can curl up and die… showing a complete lack of conviction in your own beliefs and no personel fortitude. Arguments with hysterical strangers requires no politeness nor tact. But thats just me.  Others might not mind being censored for their beliefs and have no trouble being run over by big-mouths.  Obviously thats not me.  And I suspect that Tom isnt much like that either.  Our lives are at stake folks.  Our lives.  Do you really want someone who *may hold a piece of the puzzle to shut down due to insults cast by the ignorant?  I respect someone who stands by their convictions more, even if they are wrong, than someone who slinks away like a coward, or has no convictions at all.

First, look at how caring he is.  Tommy and the lady had not exchanged messages previously that I have been able to find. I just went to a funeral for a friend who insisted on using this weirdball "cure" for the last year of his life.  He died right after a treatment. Well if we are being .. anectdotal .. I read about a person .. who knew YOU .. who .. died .. Who loves ya. Tom

Was that responce called for?  Heck if I know.  And people do make mistakes, and they learn from them. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

=========================================================================== = Here is Tommy advising someone how to dilute hydrogen peroxide.  Note the warning from the H2O2 bottle that is quoted, which does not stop Tommy.  H2O2 is not acid, but it should be treated as such.  Other posters pointed this out to Tommy. How does one dilute the 35% to an lesser percentage (6-12%)?   The answer doesn’t appear to be as obvious as just adding distilled water because the bottle of peroxide comes only half full (I am told due to volatility).  And there are warnings (hood, mask, ventilation, gloves, etc) all over the bottle.  So, if one wanted to create this dilution, would one: *pour a portion into a glass and then add two times that quantity of d. water *transfer the contents to a larger container (how?) and then add the water *or ? I do not have a lab or lab equipment.  I have tried all the Dermatology treatments, Lysine, metaplast, salic. acid (14-40%).  Only peroxide and Cimetidine remain. It is easily handled safely. You just mix the acid with five times the water and you now have a 7% mixture. One tablespoon hydrogen peroxide to five tablespoons water. 1 x 5 .. Who loves ya. Tom Who loves ya. Tom ======================================================================== Other posters advised Tommy that a 35% solution will splatter, perhaps cause a steam explosion and will certainly burn and possibly blind the person who handled the hydrogen peroxide carelessly.  Here is Tommy’s subsequent advice to another person.  By the way, you help prevent this splatter by adding H2O2 to water, not water to H2O2. ======================================================================= Hi – I guess the subject says it all – I wonder if anyone out there would know of any dirt-cheap solutions for being rid of Athlete’s Foot…(aside from those nice, expensive products sold in stores to do the same) Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks, Dave. Food grade hydrogen peroxide diluted down to 7% used as a soak. Food grade hydrogen peroxide .. found in health food stores , pharmacies and greenhouse supply is 35% hydrogen peroxide compared to the 3% we buy at the pharmacy and local grocery store. So in order to make 7% you just add five parts water to the 35% and .. voila .. 7% hydrogen peroxide solution. Twice a day for a couple of days or more if you like . Cost .. between 7-15 dollars. Who loves ya. Tom

This was for athletes foot?  A weeks worth of liberal aplication of triple- antibiotic works for that.  It shouldnt, but it does.  Ive no idea why. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

=================================================================== And his bigotry… If you shell out good time and money to attend an educational event, and some escapee from a mental facility walks in and attempts to hijack the meeting, I started the thread .. noone invited you .. to Tommy’s ISP’s until they boot him for open statements of anti-Semitism, Yeh .. right .. Only to Jewish people who attempt to PUSH their Jewish shite in my face .. Gay bashing, Only to limp wrists who .. get in my face .. and frequent threats of violence directed toward people who have the temerity to tell him he is an uneducated, semi-illiterate psychotic.   Only to self-proclaimed psychiatrists ..  He has a history of offering what he considers medical advice to others who might be swayed by the journal extracts he cuts and pastes but fails to understand. Yeah .. right .. reversing cirrhosis , cancer , hepatitis .. What have YOU ‘contributed’ .. ? " Stay away from blood donor clinics .. they make you anemic .." I was recommending iron deprivation seven years ago when YOUR ‘types’ were telling the parents to .. " measure the kid for a casket .." [snip]

Nobody is all good.  Nobody.   Do his replies to those who insult him leave something to be desired?   Sure.  But thats just "tough" in my book.  You wanna insult someone you gotta deal with the reply. Whatever it is.  As I said, all bets are off when someone desides to start an argument.  (rather than a discussion or heated debate.)  If you (not you) insult someone you have to be able to deal with the results.  Thats life. Im not defending Tom, or supporting his ideas, but I am certainly supporting his right to state them.  Not to mention his right to reply "in-kind" when attacked.  People have no right to expect civility when they behave as if they are above reproach while insulting and degrading someone who feels they may be of benefit. And finally, I really dont care enough to contribute much more to this thread other than to read and reply to Mona’s responce.  If youre in a fight, use your fists, not fancy, polite, sweet smelling words. Rob

Response:

"Joan Carter" <jcar…@ripnet.com

wrote in message

news:an3svucfkhm9e0casp4f1g5972kh3mulac@4ax.com…

On 15 Dec 2002 23:38:22 -0800, robandstef2…@hotmail.com (Rob) wrote in alt.support.mult-sclerosis: Do you really want someone who *may hold a piece of the puzzle to shut down due to insults cast by the ignorant?  I respect someone who stands by their convictions more, even if they are wrong, than someone who slinks away like a coward, or has no convictions at all. Rob, Tommy has slipped over into complete psychosis as seen in his posts

during

the last couple of weeks. He now thinks he is a Nobel prize winner!

Oh.   I thought he was joking.

And you want us to believe him? You only came to his defence because he mentioned your beloved mycoplasma.

Nope.  Ive stood by his right to speak his mind before, and if I’m not mistaken, Ive never been anything but kind to him.  Mycoplasma or not.

— Joan "And as ‘per my qualifications’ .. I AM A    FRIGGIN NOBEL PRIZE WINNER .. and my proof    is EVERY MEDICAL DISEASE THERE IS .. and    that .. is ALL THAT FRIGGIN MATTERS on this    medical newsgroup."     – Tom Hennessy ("doe"), Calgary, Canada. 14 Dec/2002     Message-ID: <0021214180459.28328.00000…@mb-fo.aol.com

Rob A FRIGGEN NOBEL CANDIDATE.  LOL  8^)

Response:

But Tom is only entertaining to you Robbie…his rambling just annoys us. Trying to help by giving damaging or false outdated information needs to be pointed out to readers that are not as aware of the nature of tom’s blather as the rest of us are. It is rubbish.  As for encouraging someone because they ‘fight back’ – I’ll name a few I can think of who "fight back" or fought back.. should we have encouraged  them more in the past or encourage them now? Hitler..Sadaam..Al Quaida…  Hell lets encourage everyone who sticks up for there opinions out of respect for them.  Oh yes, that would make this a fine world indeed (NOT)………… And also how DARE you presuppose that the rest of us are remaining  "in the status quo". — Laura In some cultures what I do would be considered normal. "Rob" <robandstef2…@hotmail.com

wrote in message

news:dfbcd749.0212141859.c9554f2@posting.google.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You wanna know why I dont have a problem with Tom?  He is trying to > help.  Maybe not in the most conventional manner, and maybe his help > goes unapriciated, but he is *trying to help.  Its sad that you guys > dont give him credit for at least doing that.  He is a good person, we > can all see that, but he does fight back when attacked, as he should, > and I respect that. > People need to wise-up.  We are all, every one of us, experiencing the > lack of benefit of remaining within the confines of the status quo. > We need people who are willing to entertain theories, ideas, that fall > outside of conventional wisdom.  Conventional wisdom has brought us to > the point that we shell out $10,000.00 a year to reduce our avg annual > relapse rate by one.  What a privilage eh?  Yes folks.  The ABC’s (not > Novantrone) at their best, can only be shown to reduce relapse rate by > ONE a year.  That is all.  And we are asked, no, blackmailed, into > paying nearly $10,000.00 a year for that devine pleasure. > If it wasnt for couragous people, who are willing to suffer the slings > and arrows of the common idiots mind, we would remain exactly where we > are at right now.  Which is in the SHIT-HOLE.  I disagree with Tom on > many things, but I dont fault him for arriving at different > conclusions than I.  Different background, different method of > research, different perspectives… Folks, those are things we NEED, > not things to be smothered, stomped on, and summarily discarded.  He > is trying. > The Iron thing… well, excess iron isnt good.  But neither is anemia. >  I dont pay too much attention to the Iron thing as I have always been > low-iron, and a veggy to boot.  But hey, who knows, maybe it does have > a role in this complex mess that is MS? > As long as he isnt trying to pull people away from the only proven > medications we have at our disposal, and isnt trying to sell people > something, then I see no problem leaving him unmolested.  Whatever the > case, honest, open, intelligent dialogue has never hurt anyone.  If he > is wrong he can be proven wrong through open dialogue.  If he is right > that too will be exposed.  But eliminating his opportunity to hash > over his ideas wont get anyone anywhere, and may in the end be to our > detriment. > Im not trying to be anyones defender, rather I am asking people to > examine what they would do if they held an idea that wasnt in the > mainstream, but may be helpfull for people.  When we stomp on people > who dont hold common views, we are left with only the common view. > Are you seriously satisfied with the situation we are stuck in right > now?  Im not.  And you arent either.  And we are where we are at now, > due to conventional wisdom.  Instead of sinking, I think it may be > time to rock the boat a little harder. > Just a thought.  Carry on. > Rob > Jim Carter <spam.f…@softhome.net

wrote in message

<news:bn6nvu053nvkvslt3i5li7r1ctqvac4j4e@4ax.com

…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

You are seeing this message because Tom Hennessy aka Doe aka Watchman has left a message in alt.support.mult-sclerosis .  You should read this fully before accepting that what he says has any merit;

regulars

here should just skip this message. Hennessy is a frequent poster to all newsgroups dealing with diseases, some accounts place his postings to over 100 unrelated newsgroups.

Response:

You are seeing this message because Tom Hennessy aka Doe aka Watchman has left a message in alt.support.mult-sclerosis .  You should read this fully before accepting that what he says has any merit; regulars here should just skip this message. Hennessy is a frequent poster to all newsgroups dealing with diseases, some accounts place his postings to over 100 unrelated newsgroups.  His obsession is that iron is the cause of all disease.  Hennessy came to this conclusion because he believes he found a secret code in the Bible and that code allows him to see that mankind sinned by becoming meat eaters because meat contains a high quantity of iron.  Diseases, according to Tommy, are God’s retribution because we eat animals.  No thought seems to have been given to vegetarians who also become ill. He does not understand the content of the abstracts he posts and becomes abusive if questioned about parts of the abstract.  He does not realise or he chooses to ignore, that abstracts provide only a fraction of the information of a full article and that they can be and often are misleading because of this lack of information.  He also mistakes case studies for clinical trials or fails to understand that animal studies seldom translate to the same response in humans.  Further, the articles often have nothing to do with Multiple Sclerosis and frequently advocate a course of action that is contrary to known, accepted, medical principles. Hennessy is crazy.  Not just one of the run-of-the-mill crazies who inhabit usenet: Tom is CRAZY.  He honestly believes that he has cured cancer, diabetes and cirrhosis <of the <unspecified organ

.  If pressed,  he will admit that

he has cured multiple sclerosis. Hennessy has also been found to be a liar in order to promote his own beliefs.  View with suspicion anything he says in rebuttal to any argument. His present address is ironjust…@aol.com, but recent posts on Google are from ironjust…@aol.comdoe and earlier posts from watch…@nucleus.com and tann…@my-deja.com.  If you intend to correspond with him in public then see the additional information at http://www.winternet.com/~mikelr/flame63.html . You might be invited to his web site or be tempted to go there on your own.  Be aware that you will be sent spyware cookies that are stored on your hard drive without your knowledge or consent.  It is the purpose of these cookies to track your activities everywhere you go on the internet and report your activities to various marketing companies.  These cookies are known as "spyware" and they do not leave your system unless you follow one of a few special procedures. Hennessy is aware and takes no action about this.  The marketing companies pay web site owners or those who host web sites to send these cookies.  If you have already been trapped then visit http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ and download their free program called "ad-aware".  This program will identify and remove the spyware. Another of his current obsessions is phytic acid.  This prevents the uptake of several minerals, notably calcium. Therefore, phytic acid should not be taken by anyone who is at risk from or is concerned about osteoporosis (loss of bone mass).  He will not advise of this side-effect of phytic acid. At this point, you have been warned.  Feel free to ask questions in alt.support.mult-sclerosis about anything Hennessy says pertaining to Multiple Sclerosis; better yet, speak to your doctor if your question relates directly to medicine.  Rarely, Hennessy is correct, in the same way that a watch that doesn’t go is correct twice a day. Here is a message from Tommy, displaying most of his characteristics.  Beware, the language is "off colour" if you are offended by such things: "

Subject: Re: Holotransferrin From: "Michael" muirh…@island.net Date: 12/8/2002 7:22 PM Mountain Standard Time Message-id: <at0upf01…@enews1.newsguy.com And again, read *my* lips: You claimed *you* cured the boy, and you *lied* about both the cure and your association with it.

I am .. the .. coxswain .. Have you not heard that from me before .. ? Again . cognition problems .. eh .. If I ‘personally’ conducted the work the work would be considered ’skewed’ by .. jerkoffs like .. YOU .. So .. the study showed plasmapheresis .. saved the kid . and by your own admission the ‘cure’ didn’t happen UNTIL .. the autopsy at his death in fifty to eighty years .. Well excuse me . but I ain’t got that kind of time and I say he is .. cured .. Don’t like my ‘interpretation’ .. ask the kid .. So .. all iron work / studies are MINE .. simply BECAUSE .. I . . TOLD everyone .. even that little Bangladesh researcher who got published .. lately. So .. read my lips .. all .. work .. researched .. with .. iron .. is .. mine .. thusly ALL ‘results’ of deprivation of iron by bloodletting and low iron diet is . . mine. Dig .. ? "Let My Iron Go" What does THAT ‘hint at’ .. ? Bible ? Check it out .. medline. So .. you got a problem with me .. ? Keep it to yourself .. Simply BECAUSE as I’ve said repeatedly .. cancer is being cured , cirrhosis is being reversed .. iron deprivation recommended for MILLIONS OF PEOPLE .. so .. F .. O .. You should deem yourself lucky to be even speaking to me .. Do you understand? HIT .. it .. Who loves ya. Tom Jesus was a vegetarian!   http://jesuswasavegetarian.7h.com" — Spelling and grammatical errors are deliberate to catch copyright violators.

Question:

Thanks! I am 51, so I’m eligible for AARP membership. I’ll check both the auto and health insurance offerings. Take care, Jonathan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You might also try the AARP.  They might be able to help you get a better choice at a better price.  I think you have to be over 50 to qualify, you do for auto insurance, but I don’t know about the health insurances the offer. IEEE is very expensive for insurance because the assume that no matter what you are a engineer and the money is there.  UM MOM Susan

Response:

Your welcome.  We haven’t been able to use the auto insurance.  I am too young, 46 (boy does that sound good "too young".  But when I become of age we are going to check with them on all the insurance and see what they have to offer.  My hubby is a member.  UM MOM Susan

Thanks! I am 51, so I’m eligible for AARP membership. I’ll check both the auto and health insurance offerings. Take care, Jonathan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You might also try the AARP.  They might be able to help you get a better choice at a better price.  I think you have to be over 50 to qualify, you do for auto insurance, but I don’t know about the health insurances the offer. IEEE is very expensive for insurance because the assume that no matter what you are a engineer and the money is there.  UM MOM Susan

Response:

I don’t know that there is any data on this… but since stress seems to exascerbate symptoms… I would think that a high-stress  job would be one to avoid.  I am a software validation engineer, and have an office right near the rest room (that’s not ALWAYS a good thing – lol).  My employer is very flexible, so that reduces alot of the stress. Be well- Tracy CD class of ‘98 my homepage: http://home.talkcity.com/ParadiseDr/goodboie/index.html  : )  smile – it makes people wonder what you’re up to!

Response:

Hi Jeffy Thanks now I understand better… In my case in some periods being "close to a potty" is vital. But than again in other periods the pain attacks make me so tired that I might as well need a bed in the office.. Basically I can say that I am lucky to live in Norway as here your employer will have to accept you whatever disease you may have (the gov will pay them for everyday you are sick). But to build up a serious career seems rather impossible. With a 60% job in which 50% of the time I am sick. Regards On Elpeleg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – no problem..my first statement "close to a potty" pretty much sums it up. if you are working someplace that requires you to be out of touch with a potty for hours, that is not good.  and i can think of lots of jobs like that. jeffy Jeffy sorry for pushing it. English is not my mother language and I may have misunderstood you. I got the [wrong] impression that you thought that me wanting to discuss career aspects of CD suffering people is a waste of time as their condition is so bad that there is nothing to discuss. But as you said you only wanted to help. My appologies. On Elpeleg "i am wrong"…do you have to rub it in so?  i was genuinly trying to help and answer your question.  take it or leave it then.  did i suggest an argument about who is suffering more?   i don’t recall inviting that. why are you so touchy?   just ignor me if you don’t like my comments. just trying to be honest and help people…i am a up front to the point person. jeffy You are wrong. Infact very wrong, I have had CD for 25 years now, was actually very ‘lucky’ as a child to be diagnosed (25 years ago you wouldn’t be able to find CD patients under the age of 30!). Well I am not going to start an argument who is suffering the most, because we all do, but the main point is how to keep moving rather than drawn our self in self pities (that is way to easy). Regards On Elpeleg i take it you don’t have cd yourself. or if you do, you don’t run to the toilet more than a couple of times a day.  i have 3 to 5 a day. when it comes up, it is urgent and i had better be close.  i can kind of time it, since the last bm i know about how long i can go.  i have to keep potty stops in my plan at work.  i work as a quality engineer and travel, mostly short trips.  i have to take this into consideration during my normal day at work. jeffy heh, take one CLOSE to the potty!! jeffy Not sure I am with you, do you mind elaborating more? Regards On Elpeleg Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

no problem..my first statement "close to a potty" pretty much sums it up. if you are working someplace that requires you to be out of touch with a potty for hours, that is not good.  and i can think of lots of jobs like that. jeffy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jeffy sorry for pushing it. English is not my mother language and I may have misunderstood you. I got the [wrong] impression that you thought that me wanting to discuss career aspects of CD suffering people is a waste of time as their condition is so bad that there is nothing to discuss. But as you said you only wanted to help. My appologies. On Elpeleg "i am wrong"…do you have to rub it in so?  i was genuinly trying to help and answer your question.  take it or leave it then.  did i suggest an argument about who is suffering more?   i don’t recall inviting that. why are you so touchy?   just ignor me if you don’t like my comments.  just trying to be honest and help people…i am a up front to the point person. jeffy You are wrong. Infact very wrong, I have had CD for 25 years now, was actually very ‘lucky’ as a child to be diagnosed (25 years ago you wouldn’t be able to find CD patients under the age of 30!). Well I am not going to start an argument who is suffering the most, because we all do, but the main point is how to keep moving rather than drawn our self in self pities (that is way to easy). Regards On Elpeleg i take it you don’t have cd yourself. or if you do, you don’t run to the toilet more than a couple of times a day.  i have 3 to 5 a day. when it comes up, it is urgent and i had better be close.  i can kind of time it, since the last bm i know about how long i can go.  i have to keep potty stops in my plan at work.  i work as a quality engineer and travel, mostly short trips.  i have to take this into consideration during my normal day at work. jeffy heh, take one CLOSE to the potty!! jeffy Not sure I am with you, do you mind elaborating more? Regards On Elpeleg Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

This is indeed all just a misunderstanding.  Jeff made a joke that used used Amercian slang not understood by On Elpeleg, and things deteriorated from there. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Jeffy sorry for pushing it. English is not my mother language and I may have misunderstood you. I got the [wrong] impression that you thought that me wanting to discuss career aspects of CD suffering people is a waste of time as their condition is so bad that there is nothing to discuss. But as you said you only wanted to help. My appologies. On Elpeleg "i am wrong"…do you have to rub it in so?  i was genuinly trying to help and answer your question.  take it or leave it then.  did i suggest an argument about who is suffering more?   i don’t recall inviting that.  why are you so touchy?   just ignor me if you don’t like my comments.  just trying to be honest and help people…i am a up front to the point person. jeffy You are wrong. Infact very wrong, I have had CD for 25 years now, was actually very ‘lucky’ as a child to be diagnosed (25 years ago you wouldn’t be able to find CD patients under the age of 30!). Well I am not going to start an argument who is suffering the most, because we all do, but the main point is how to keep moving rather than drawn our self in self pities (that is way to easy). Regards On Elpeleg i take it you don’t have cd yourself. or if you do, you don’t run to the toilet more than a couple of times a day.  i have 3 to 5 a day.  when it comes up, it is urgent and i had better be close.  i can kind of time it, since the last bm i know about how long i can go.  i have to keep potty stops in my plan at work.  i work as a quality engineer and travel, mostly short trips.  i have to take this into consideration during my normal day at work. jeffy heh, take one CLOSE to the potty!! jeffy Not sure I am with you, do you mind elaborating more? Regards On Elpeleg Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

You might also try the AARP.  They might be able to help you get a better choice at a better price.  I think you have to be over 50 to qualify, you do for auto insurance, but I don’t know about the health insurances the offer. IEEE is very expensive for insurance because the assume that no matter what you are a engineer and the money is there.  UM MOM Susan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dotsie, The health insurance coverage (comprehensive medical) from IEEE is costing me over $3300 per quarter, with a $1000 in-network deductible.  The plan covers me, my spouse and daughter.  Note, that my spouse and I am are over 50, which contributes to the high cost.  My wife will probably change over to an individual plan, since she doesn’t have any pre-existing conditions and switching will provide a cost savings.  My daughter will be leaving the plan, since she will soon be too old to qualify for coverage under my plan. So I am considering the following options (in order of preference): -IEEE coverage for only me with a $5000 deductible (highest offered) -W2 hourly rate employment with a temp agency that offers health insurance. -direct employment -chamber of commerce -small business administration -PA high risk pool Are you a member of IEEE?  If so, you should still contact the IEEE Insurance plan administrator at 800-493-4333.  This plan might represent the best option for you, given your preference for self-employment and might end up being my best option also.  Your rate is going to be influenced by: 1)state you live in 2)your age 3)number of dependents covered 4)your choice of deductible.  Hence, if you are under 40, live in a ‘low cost’ state, choose a high deductible and only require coverage for yourself, you might be okay.  My age, deductible and state are adding to the high cost of my coverage. You might also want to consider W2 hourly rate employment with a temp agency that offers health insurance.  This could provide you with a ‘compromise’ solution. I will post my findings to the group as they become available and continue to share any insurance plan options with the group that you uncover in the future? (thanks)? Just for the record, I have Crohns Disease and have been in remission since Oct 2000.  If I wasn’t in remission, then insurance would not be a high priority item on my agenda.  Thus,  I am thankful to be dealing with these insurance related issues than having to deal with the awful symptoms associated with CD. Take care, Jonathan CD class of 99.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sorry that this is an issue for you as well, Jonathan. How much is the IEEE? I was going to research them as I am a systems engineer, but that doesn’t sound like an option now. Let us know what you find out from the local Chamber of Commerce. Someone else told me to try the Small Business Administration. Dotsie

Response:

Dotsie, The health insurance coverage (comprehensive medical) from IEEE is costing me over $3300 per quarter, with a $1000 in-network deductible.  The plan covers me, my spouse and daughter.  Note, that my spouse and I am are over 50, which contributes to the high cost.  My wife will probably change over to an individual plan, since she doesn’t have any pre-existing conditions and switching will provide a cost savings.  My daughter will be leaving the plan, since she will soon be too old to qualify for coverage under my plan. So I am considering the following options (in order of preference): -IEEE coverage for only me with a $5000 deductible (highest offered) -W2 hourly rate employment with a temp agency that offers health insurance. -direct employment -chamber of commerce -small business administration -PA high risk pool Are you a member of IEEE?  If so, you should still contact the IEEE Insurance plan administrator at 800-493-4333.  This plan might represent the best option for you, given your preference for self-employment and might end up being my best option also.  Your rate is going to be influenced by: 1)state you live in 2)your age 3)number of dependents covered 4)your choice of deductible.  Hence, if you are under 40, live in a ‘low cost’ state, choose a high deductible and only require coverage for yourself, you might be okay.  My age, deductible and state are adding to the high cost of my coverage. You might also want to consider W2 hourly rate employment with a temp agency that offers health insurance.  This could provide you with a ‘compromise’ solution. I will post my findings to the group as they become available and continue to share any insurance plan options with the group that you uncover in the future? (thanks)? Just for the record, I have Crohns Disease and have been in remission since Oct 2000.  If I wasn’t in remission, then insurance would not be a high priority item on my agenda.  Thus,  I am thankful to be dealing with these insurance related issues than having to deal with the awful symptoms associated with CD. Take care, Jonathan CD class of 99. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sorry that this is an issue for you as well, Jonathan. How much is the IEEE? I was going to research them as I am a systems engineer, but that doesn’t sound like an option now. Let us know what you find out from the local Chamber of Commerce. Someone else told me to try the Small Business Administration. Dotsie

Response:

Jeffy sorry for pushing it. English is not my mother language and I may have misunderstood you. I got the [wrong] impression that you thought that me wanting to discuss career aspects of CD suffering people is a waste of time as their condition is so bad that there is nothing to discuss. But as you said you only wanted to help. My appologies. On Elpeleg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "i am wrong"…do you have to rub it in so?  i was genuinly trying to help and answer your question.  take it or leave it then.  did i suggest an argument about who is suffering more?   i don’t recall inviting that.  why are you so touchy?   just ignor me if you don’t like my comments.  just trying to be honest and help people…i am a up front to the point person. jeffy You are wrong. Infact very wrong, I have had CD for 25 years now, was actually very ‘lucky’ as a child to be diagnosed (25 years ago you wouldn’t be able to find CD patients under the age of 30!). Well I am not going to start an argument who is suffering the most, because we all do, but the main point is how to keep moving rather than drawn our self in self pities (that is way to easy). Regards On Elpeleg i take it you don’t have cd yourself. or if you do, you don’t run to the toilet more than a couple of times a day.  i have 3 to 5 a day.  when it comes up, it is urgent and i had better be close.  i can kind of time it, since the last bm i know about how long i can go.  i have to keep potty stops in my plan at work.  i work as a quality engineer and travel, mostly short trips.  i have to take this into consideration during my normal day at work. jeffy heh, take one CLOSE to the potty!! jeffy Not sure I am with you, do you mind elaborating more? Regards On Elpeleg Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

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"i am wrong"…do you have to rub it in so?  i was genuinly trying to help and answer your question.  take it or leave it then.  did i suggest an argument about who is suffering more?   i don’t recall inviting that.  why are you so touchy?   just ignor me if you don’t like my comments.  just trying to be honest and help people…i am a up front to the point person. jeffy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You are wrong. Infact very wrong, I have had CD for 25 years now, was actually very ‘lucky’ as a child to be diagnosed (25 years ago you wouldn’t be able to find CD patients under the age of 30!). Well I am not going to start an argument who is suffering the most, because we all do, but the main point is how to keep moving rather than drawn our self in self pities (that is way to easy). Regards On Elpeleg i take it you don’t have cd yourself. or if you do, you don’t run to the toilet more than a couple of times a day.  i have 3 to 5 a day.  when it comes up, it is urgent and i had better be close.  i can kind of time it, since the last bm i know about how long i can go.  i have to keep potty stops in my plan at work.  i work as a quality engineer and travel, mostly short trips.  i have to take this into consideration during my normal day at work. jeffy heh, take one CLOSE to the potty!! jeffy Not sure I am with you, do you mind elaborating more? Regards On Elpeleg Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

You are wrong. Infact very wrong, I have had CD for 25 years now, was actually very ‘lucky’ as a child to be diagnosed (25 years ago you wouldn’t be able to find CD patients under the age of 30!). Well I am not going to start an argument who is suffering the most, because we all do, but the main point is how to keep moving rather than drawn our self in self pities (that is way to easy). Regards On Elpeleg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – i take it you don’t have cd yourself. or if you do, you don’t run to the toilet more than a couple of times a day.  i have 3 to 5 a day.  when it comes up, it is urgent and i had better be close.  i can kind of time it, since the last bm i know about how long i can go.  i have to keep potty stops in my plan at work.  i work as a quality engineer and travel, mostly short trips.  i have to take this into consideration during my normal day at work. jeffy heh, take one CLOSE to the potty!! jeffy Not sure I am with you, do you mind elaborating more? Regards On Elpeleg Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

Sorry that this is an issue for you as well, Jonathan. How much is the IEEE? I was going to research them as I am a systems engineer, but that doesn’t sound like an option now. Let us know what you find out from the local Chamber of Commerce. Someone else told me to try the Small Business Administration. Dotsie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The primary issue for me is extremely costly health insurance.  I am currently self-employed.  But that will have to change soon, because I will need to take employment with a company that provides affordable health insurance beneifits.  Currently, I have health insurance through a professional organization called the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE), which is ‘open’ to all members.  This insurance plan has become prohibitively expensive in the past year. I’ve investigated obtaining individual coverage and was informed that I cannot qualify for individual health insurance coverage with any insurance company – no surprise.  I was also told to contact the state (of PA) to be placed in the ‘high risk’ pool (ie, another unaffordable health insurance plan). Thus, self-employment is probably no longer an option, since open enrollment health insurance plans are so expensive.  As a last resort, I plan to contact the chamber of commerce – as someone suggested and see if they offer an affordable plan. Jonathan Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

The primary issue for me is extremely costly health insurance.  I am currently self-employed.  But that will have to change soon, because I will need to take employment with a company that provides affordable health insurance beneifits.  Currently, I have health insurance through a professional organization called the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE), which is ‘open’ to all members.  This insurance plan has become prohibitively expensive in the past year. I’ve investigated obtaining individual coverage and was informed that I cannot qualify for individual health insurance coverage with any insurance company – no surprise.  I was also told to contact the state (of PA) to be placed in the ‘high risk’ pool (ie, another unaffordable health insurance plan). Thus, self-employment is probably no longer an option, since open enrollment health insurance plans are so expensive.  As a last resort, I plan to contact the chamber of commerce – as someone suggested and see if they offer an affordable plan. Jonathan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

Thanks, Mark, but  my biggest expense is drugs. I spent $2500.00 last year out of pocket with decent drug coverage.  You are fortunate, indeed. Dotsie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Dotsie– I pay for my own health insurance which is Health Net.  No complaints and fortunate to have an excellent GI specialist.  However, it doesn’t cover drugs which is no big deal since prednisone is so cheap and I’m taking such a low dosage anyway. Mark     Mark,     What do you do for health insurance?     I’m looking for a job. I would like to do contract work for the     flexibility, but don’t know how I can ever get health insurance on     my own with CD.     Dotsie I guess I’m fortunate in this regard because for many years now(28)I’ve been a self-employed piano technician. It may not be the highest paying work around but it certainly is low stress. And I don’t have hassles with employers or supervisors about having to account for CD.  And if I ever have problems(which is only because of what I’ve eaten, not because of any flareup because I’m currently in remission), I merely have to ask a customer where the bathroom in the house is and simple as that. Mark Mandell Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

you might want to consider getting off of it if it has been a long time.  pred does terrible damage over the long term. jeffy   Dotsie–   I pay for my own health insurance which is Health Net.  No complaints and fortunate to have an excellent GI specialist.  However, it doesn’t cover drugs which is no big deal since prednisone is so cheap and I’m taking such a low dosage anyway.   Mark     Mark,     What do you do for health insurance?     I’m looking for a job. I would like to do contract work for the flexibility, but don’t know how I can ever get health insurance on my own with CD.     Dotsie Crohns and career:Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personalknowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are

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Considering the effect stress has on the gut in general and on Crohn’s in particular, I’d guess you should strive for as stress-free a job as possible. Maybe some sort of at home consulting work? Close to the bathroom, make your own hours… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

i take it you don’t have cd yourself. or if you do, you don’t run to the toilet more than a couple of times a day.  i have 3 to 5 a day.  when it comes up, it is urgent and i had better be close.  i can kind of time it, since the last bm i know about how long i can go.  i have to keep potty stops in my plan at work.  i work as a quality engineer and travel, mostly short trips.  i have to take this into consideration during my normal day at work. jeffy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – heh, take one CLOSE to the potty!! jeffy Not sure I am with you, do you mind elaborating more? Regards On Elpeleg Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

Dotsie– I pay for my own health insurance which is Health Net.  No complaints and fortunate to have an excellent GI specialist.  However, it doesn’t cover drugs which is no big deal since prednisone is so cheap and I’m taking such a low dosage anyway. Mark   Mark,   What do you do for health insurance?   I’m looking for a job. I would like to do contract work for the flexibility, but don’t know how I can ever get health insurance on my own with CD.   Dotsie Crohns and career:Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personalknowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are

Response:

Dotsie, There are a couple of options you may consider investigating regarding insurance.  I assume you are living in the US. (1) Contact your Chamber of Commerce.  Often times you can get group insurance by becoming a member. (2) If there are professional affiliations that correspond to your skill-set, see if they offer group insurance. If you don’t mind my asking, what type of contract work do you do?   Nadine – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Mark, What do you do for health insurance? I’m looking for a job. I would like to do contract work for the flexibility, but don’t know how I can ever get health insurance on my own with CD. Dotsie

Response:

heh, take one CLOSE to the potty!! jeffy

Not sure I am with you, do you mind elaborating more? Regards On Elpeleg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

hi’ til i was too sick to do anything i taught and did counseling in a private school..that was good..we had prep periods which i could opt to rest in…i asked for a homeroom near the bathroom and got it..she didnt know i had ibd but i just said i had a sensitive tummy(after i got the job that is) the day started early but i do better in the am ..the day ended by 3 cept when there were after school activities and meetings..i cuold prepare my work at home…but in a public school i would not have had all the same choices.. this was good for me..but then my ed background was good for this..find jobs that have decent breaks..that treat employees fairly ..i would look for places where there are disabled people…i taught at one public school which was very unusual in that we had one person with cancer..very ill who still tuaght..one person young..with osteoporosis and in a wheel chair..and me…and it was looked on as a lesson to students that one can be disabled aond work then i had a job in one particular private school where i dropped my books in the faculty room (had just gotten out of the hospital and was on LOTSS of pred) and i was criticized..i also had a slight limp..and i was told by the principal that it was a "bad example for the students to see a teacher who wasnt healthy’ i quit at the end of the year of course.. so it depends on who is running the show…that is if other things about the job are optimal for you.. good luck annie

Response:

Mark, What do you do for health insurance? I’m looking for a job. I would like to do contract work for the flexibility, but don’t know how I can ever get health insurance on my own with CD. Dotsie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I guess I’m fortunate in this regard because for many years now(28)I’ve been a self-employed piano technician. It may not be the highest paying work around but it certainly is low stress. And I don’t have hassles with employers or supervisors about having to account for CD.  And if I ever have problems(which is only because of what I’ve eaten, not because of any flareup because I’m currently in remission), I merely have to ask a customer where the bathroom in the house is and simple as that. Mark Mandell Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

I guess I’m fortunate in this regard because for many years now(28)I’ve been a self-employed piano technician. It may not be the highest paying work around but it certainly is low stress. And I don’t have hassles with employers or supervisors about having to account for CD.  And if I ever have problems(which is only because of what I’ve eaten, not because of any flareup because I’m currently in remission), I merely have to ask a customer where the bathroom in the house is and simple as that. Mark Mandell

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

Response:

heh, take one CLOSE to the potty!! jeffy

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Crohns and career: Does anyone of you have any statistical data for that, or/and any personal knowledge of what effect Crohns disease may have with regards to career and jobs. Are there certain type of jobs Chrohns patients should avoid?, or are there some jobs they should consider taking instead?. Regards On Elpeleg

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