News, articles, resources and more for the person with Crohn’s Disease.

I want you to know that I appreciate your interest in receiving this information, and I promise you that I will endeavor to make it worth your time, both now and in the future.

If you enjoy this month’s edition and find it valuable, then I would appreciate it if you would forward it to other people you know who have Crohn’s Disease or are the family or friends of someone with the disease. If they would like to subscribe, have them send an email to

subscribe@crohns-disease-and-stress.com

Many thanks!

In This Issue.....

1. Famous people with Crohn’s Disease and one lesson we can learn from them.
2. Interview - Randal (Randy) Meyers - Randynoguts of HealingWell.com forum fame.
3. The importance of humor in our lives


1. Famous people with Crohn’s Disease and one lesson we can learn from them.

What does president Dwight D. Eisenhower, former Mr. USA (body building) Peter Neilsen, and former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley have in common?

Well, this is a newsletter about Crohn’s Disease and Stress. You guessed it, all of the above suffered from Crohn’s Disease. Famous people have to deal with the disease just as we do.

President Eisenhower had an emergency resection in 1956. He was elected to a second term that same year. Here’s a question to ponder… Knowing what you do about Crohn’s Disease, would you want the pressure of being President of the USA?

Peter Neilsen was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at the age of 15. After losing 59 pounds and having two feet of his intestines removed, he went on years later to win Mr. USA (body building).

Mary Ann Mobley is the co-chairwoman of the Celebrity Club of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America. This lady has been so active in so many ways, I’m just going to give you a link. I suggest you go to it to get a sense of possibilities for all of us with Crohn’s Disease. To go to it, click here.

Now here’s an important question to ask yourself -- Do you think the above people had bad days? Days where depression set in? Of course they did. They’re like you and me.

So what’s the key to dealing with those days? First, it’s realizing that it’s not being depressed that matters so much as to how quickly you’ll come out of the depression.

Do what you have to , to recover. Post to a Crohn’s forum and vent or ask for advice (here’s a link to my web page with different forums: click here )

Also, do you have a family member(s) who understands and really listens? How about a good friend?

Is there something you’ve done in the past that brought you out of depression? Try it again. If necessary, find something new to recharge your batteries.

And for goodness sake, when you’re down, do not read the newspaper or watch the news on TV. There’s so many negative things to see and read. Why put yourself through that?

Finally, ask yourself this question: If a good friend of yours was feeling down, what would you do to help them recover? Be your own best friend. Be kind to yourself.

Remember… You still have a lot of life left to live. If others can do it, you can too.

A story about Winston Churchill:

After World War II, Winston Churchill was to give a commencement speech at a university. It came his time to talk and everyone wondered what this great man would say. He got up, approached the podium, looked out over the crowd and began. “Never, never, never, never give up,” he said. And turned around and walked back to his chair. That was his entire speech. That’s what got him through those tough times during the war.

I say to you, “Never, never, never, never give up.” You can do it; find a way.

2. Interview - Randal (Randy) Meyers - Randynoguts of HealingWell.com forum fame.

Speaking of never giving up. I interviewed Randal (Randy) Meyers - Randynoguts of HealingWell.com forum fame. You can see his website by clicking here. I decided to interview him because he is so helpful on the forum and because he’s been through so much. Very few people have had to deal with this disease the way Randy has.

I asked him a few questions and he was kind enough to respond.

1) To start, tell us your Crohn's story.

My story began in 1984. I began having pains and bleeding when I used the restroom. This went on a while until I had a fistula develop on my rear. After getting that checked out I was sent for tests to determine what was up. I was found to have crohn's disease. I went through many episodes of pain and nausea, along with hospitalizations etc... for many years. I had to have my first surgery in 1985 and continued one about every 2 years or so since. My particular case was deemed "severe" as I continually had recurrent strictures and loop to loop fistula formation. I ended up so far with 14 operations and the loss of all but about 1.5 to 2 feet of small bowel and about 1/2 of my colon. I have been forced to retire from 2 jobs because of the CD and I have been on TPN for more than 5 years. I have tried most drugs, and treatment for CD and have come up with little success.

2) Your posts have a sense of humor about them. How do you keep your spirits up as well as your sense of humor?

As far as my sense of humor, I just have found that it does no good to whine and bellyache. I found that people are much more willing to help and really listen if you are not complaining all the time. From medical people to friends and family, be more upbeat and you get more response. Besides it is just in my nature to be an optimist.

3)What advice would you give newbies?

For the newly diagnosed I would say, yes it is terrible, but you will adjust. You are not alone, and nothing you could say would embarrass another CD patient! Ask questions of your doctors and any other health care providers. Always be clear on what is being given to you or done to you. If you do not understand completely, ask for a better explanation. Remember that it may take a long time to get diagnosed correctly. CD symptoms are like those of many other problems. The best advice I can give is to never let your health insurance lapse. We need the insurance more than anything else. If you do not have insurance, many drug companies have programs to help you get your medication free or at greatly reduced rates. Same for hospitals, always ask about programs for the uninsured.

4)What do you do for yourself when you have a flare-up?

What I do?? Hmmm, lets see. well I used to just go to work and deal with it. when I was sicker I would go to the doctor and either start new meds or increase old ones. I never really had "flares" as a lot of people put it. I was in pain from the first time I was diagnosed till last April when I had the 14th surgery. I honestly cannot remember one specific day without pain in all those years. I never was asymptomatic, and my doctors all agreed I never went into remission. since I finally got the large fistula repaired last April, I have been feeling better with almost and absence of pain. However actually I have noticed in the last few weeks some signs of my old nemesis returning. oh joy! I just look forward to each new day and glad when I am sleeping cause you can dream about being well.

3. The importance of humor in our lives

Isn’t it amazing that someone who has been through so much has kept his sense of humor. Randy is an inspiration to us all. Again, you can see his website by, clicking here.

Humor does so much for the body. Did you know that laughter reduces pain by releasing endorphins in the body. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkiller. It also reduces your level of stress by lowering the level of Cortisol, a hormone that has a lot to do with stress levels and the immune system.

So here is something to help reduce pain and lower your stress level. A friend of mine faxed me something I think is quite funny. I hope you like it.

Aussie Airline Humor Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints/problems, generally known as squawks, recently submitted by Quantas Pilots to maintenance engineers. After attending to the squawks, maintenance crews are required to log the details of the action taken to solve the pilots squawks.

(P = The problem logged by the pilot)
(S = The solution and action taken by the maintenance engineers)

P - Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S - Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P - Test flight OK, except autoland very rough
S - Autoland not installed on this aircraft.

P - #2 propeller seeping prop fluid
S - #2 propeller seepage normal - #1,3,4 propellers lack normal seepage.

P - Something loose in cockpit
S - Something tightened in cockpit

P - Dead bugs on windshield
S - Live bugs on backorder

P - Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200-fpm descent.
S - Cannot reproduce problem on ground

P - Evidence of a leak on right main landing gear.
S - Evidence removed.

P - DME volume unbelievably loud.
S - Volume set to more believable level.

P - Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S - That's what they're there for!

P - IFF inoperative
S - IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P - Number 3 engine missing.
S - Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P - Aircraft handles funny.
S - Aircraft warned to "Straighten Up, Fly Right, and Be Serious."

P - Target radar hums.
S - Reprogrammed target radar with words.

I hope you liked it.

Finally

If you haven’t gotten the free diet journal I offer from the website, click here

If you’d like to tell your Crohn’s story and have it on the website, click here

I want to include the quote you will find on many of the pages on my website. I believe if you will develop the skill of putting this quote into practice, it will help you immensely in reducing the stress you feel from life and the disease. Here’s the quote:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
Wisdom to know the difference.

I wish you all the best.

Till next time,

Ed Kalski

Health Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided for information only and supplied “as is.” It is NOT intended to substitute for the services of a licensed health care provider in the diagnosis or treatment of Crohn’s Disease or any other disease, condition, or injury.