Hey everybody, the translation project is continuing and I have a new video with Catalan subtitles: the video describing my first surgery. More Catalan videos to come. If you know anybody in Spain who might benefit from these videos, please let them know! I know Catalan is not the most popular language in the world but the people who speak it still get ulcerative colitis.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
As the year winds down, it’s time to start thinking about next year–and the latest edition of the Colondar! This amazing work of art features models under the age of 50 showing off the scars left after being diagnosed with colon cancer and having their colons removed. This calender will certainly make a statement in your house and is a great conversation starter.
To learn more about the models in this year’s Colondar, click here.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
For all my American viewers, today is the day to be thankful for all that we have. I know many of your are going through intense physical struggles. I still have my bad days and bad nights as well. But there is still much to be thankful for in the midst of pain.
Two years ago I spent Thanksgiving in the hospital on bowel rest, eating nothing but TPN through a PICC line. But even in that situation there was still much to be thankful for.
So spend some time with your family and friends today. Don’t watch any videos.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Following last week’s post about new research finding that temporary ostomates are less happy than permanent ostomates, this week’s C3Life.com blog is about why I think that is so, from my experience. Feel free to respond with any insight you have from personal experience.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Lisa, founder of ostomysecrets has had her story featured in local news. This short video is worth checking out to get an idea of how somebody can turn a medical problem into an inspiring business for others. If you have an ostomy or know somebody with an ostomy be sure to share her website with others.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Great Comebacks is an awards program recognizing inspiring individuals who have made a difference in the inflammatory bowel disease community. You may remember our friend Nadia won an award earlier this year.
The Comeback Kids program recently announced the 2009 winners, and the winner of the central region was Laurel Schwartz, a camper who I met personally at Camp Oasis this summer. She’s been through a lot with her Crohn’s disease but has really made it her mission to raise money and awareness to fight this disease. Read her story to see how even young people can make a difference if they keep fighting.
~Dennis
You may have noticed I added some new links to the sidebar this week. If you haven’t noticed…well, here’s what they are and why they are important!
Take Steps This is a fundraiser walkathon sponsored by the CCFA. Many people are involved with it and it has raised millions of dollars for research. If you are looking to get involved, check out the site to learn about the 2010 season. In 2009, Take Steps raised $7 million!
Team Challenge A little tougher than Take Steps, Team Challenge is a half-marathon run/walk that also raises substantial money for Crohn’s and colitis research. The 2009 challenge is almost finished, so it’s time to start looking into next year’s challenge.
ostomysecrets For those having trouble with their ostomy bags, ostomysecrets offers underwear and swimwear to help with your troubles. They sell great products and are certainly worth checking out.
J-Pouch.org This J-pouch community site is very popular. One of their most useful features is the extensive forums, so if you have questions about your J-pouch and want to talk to others who have one, check out this site.
Those are all the links I have for now. As I come across more useful sites I will let you know.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
A new research study by the University of Michigan Health System finds that patients who have temporary colostomies are generally less happy than patients with permanent colostomies. And the reason is simple: people with a temporary situation hope for a better future, and consequently postpone getting on with their life in the present. Conversely, patients with permanent colostomies know there is no changing their situation, so they deal with it and move on.
This study confirms what I’ve been suspecting for awhile now: that those with temporary ostomies have a harder time managing them and dealing with body image issues than those with permanent ostomies. Certainly this isn’t true in all cases, but in a significant number from my experience talking with others.
This video from the U of M features the researchers talking about their findings.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
Question: If you live with a temporary ostomy, does this study describe you? Reply to this post and continue the dialogue.
All of us have had colonoscopies, but how many of us were awake when it happened, or saw a video of it afterwards? If you are curious about the inner workings of the colon, intestine, and the rest of the digestive tract, check out this video website for gastroenterologists called the DAVE Project. “DAVE” stands for Digital Atlas of Video Education and features hundreds of videos from scopes done through the body. There are videos of every type of colon and digestive problem you can think of. There are videos for colitis and for various other problems that one may develop in the course of his or her disease.
Only those with an iron stomach and an intense curiosity of such things should visit the site. I can’t stand to watch the videos for more than thirty seconds, but some might find it interesting.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
This week’s C3Life.com blog is about my experiences deer hunting last weekend, and how surgery and ulcerative colitis have kept me from this activity the past two years. For those who would like to see a concrete example of how surgery can change your life for the better, this entry gives a good overview.
Keep fighting,
~Dennis
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