Here are some of my ugly truths about life with Crohn’s Disease:
- I’ve crapped my pants so many times that I lost count.
- I always used to carry extra underwear in my purse for such days. I would toss the dirty pair and put on the clean one and hopefully salvage my day. Sometimes that wasn’t enough and I would have to go home.
- I had the fastest routes always planned with easy to get to bathroom stops along the way. I knew what gas stations and stores had easily accessible bathrooms.
- I wouldn’t eat in the morning because I didn’t want to worry about running to the bathroom.
- I’ve worn adult diapers because it was just easier.
- I’ve pushed people away because this disease makes you feel like less of a person.
- Moments after the picture below was taken I had to run to the bathroom. I didn’t make it. I just threw away the jeans since I was traveling. I loved those jeans.
- I never used to wear white pants because if I didn’t make it to the bathroom it would be very obvious.
- I’ve spent many nights on the bathroom floor just crying.
- Now that I have an ostomy I don’t worry about not making it to the bathroom, but I still carry around emergency colostomy supplies in case something happens.
- I used to think it was easier being alone.
- I once had an accident on a date. We were at an ice skating rink and I struggled when I was trying to take my skates off in the bathroom. I had to get my underwear off to toss it. I probably spent 20 minutes in there.
- I’ve tried to ignore this disease and that never works.
One of the reasons I started blogging about Crohn’s Disease 7 years ago (wow) was to make it easier for myself to talk about life with this disease. For so long I kept everything to myself and that didn’t help one bit. I’ve stopped being ashamed about a lot of these ugly truths, but I still have my moments where I just shut down.
