Everybody Poops: Down with Diarrhea!

               Frequent trips to the bathroom is not the only symptom of Crohn's disease, but it is safe to say that it is the most embarrassing and troublesome. All of us Crohnies have horror stories about our bathroom experiences, but don't always have someone to share them with.  These not-so-glamorous side effects can make it hard to not feel completely alone and misunderstood.  It affects every aspect of our lives from work to dating to just going out to have a good time.  How do you broach the subject when you meet someone new?  I've had the disease long enough that I'm not too shy about telling people what's what.  When I first started dating my fiance I would spend quite a lot of time at his house.  Hiding my "problem" came to be more and more difficult as I was spending longer and longer periods of time with him.  Finally one night, when I knew there was no avoiding spending a considerable amount of time in his bathroom, I just flat out told him: "Look, I'm going to blow up your bathroom occasionally.  There is nothing I can do about it."  Luckily, I picked a good one and he took it pretty well.  We still laugh about it to this day. 

               What I've learned over the years is that if you are not embarrassed by what your body does, no one else is going to be embarrassed for you.  Just be honest and upfront with people.  You condemn yourself to a lonely existence if you don't.  If you can't talk to someone, hell talk to me.  I will help you laugh at yourself.  Don't take it so seriously and I guarantee the people around you will come to understand what you are going through even more.  In the meantime, familiarize yourself with websites that show where public bathrooms are located, such as www.sitorsquat.com and also print yourself off an "I can't wait card" which are available on the net from many Crohn's and Crohn's related organizations. Another little hint:  I sometimes carry pocket spray air-freshener in my purse.  So, my fellow rangers, shout it from the rooftops: "Everybody poops!  But probably not as much as I do!"  Trust me, you will feel better and freer.  Don't let this disease confine you any more than it already has.  Honesty, that's my policy.