Tag: UC

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The first time

Briar

I was going through my old Tumblr to find my go-to chocolate cake recipe, and stumbled upon this… my first ever IBD-related blog post, I suspect. 25 May 2011. I thought I’d post it here for posterity. Those were the days… incredible pain on the daily, uncontrollable urgency, no painkillers, incapable of properly attending lectures. But also, relatively simple meds with less impact on my total system. No surgery, no steroids, no biologics. Not even my full-blown diagnosis yet. Anyway, without further ado, here’s 20-year-old Briar’s words about IBD:   Last December, after various fun filled tests, I was diagnosed … Continue reading The first time

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an adventure in the wonderful world of IBD vlogging!

Briar

So, I decided to have a play around with VIDEO. In here, there is much medication related rambling, self-introduction, diagnosis palaver… all of the things that you have quite possibly come to know and love from me and Wamblecropt already. Plus, it’s all in my oh-so-charming kiwi accent, which obviously doesn’t come across in my written posts. So, enjoy, and let me know if you’d like more video type posts! Continue reading an adventure in the wonderful world of IBD vlogging!

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IBD vs IBS – let’s talk it out

Briar

It’s a serious misconception out there among some people that the similarity in acronyms and the word ‘bowel’ across both must mean that IBD and IBS are fairly similar. It drives me crazy. Irritable bowel syndrome can be an unpleasant thing to experience for some people. I’d wager in some cases it can even be quite nasty. But when people flippantly refer to IBD as ‘irritable bowel disease’, rather than ‘inflammatory bowel disease’, it does nobody any favours. It furthers the notion that somehow IBS is comparable to Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. That if people with IBD could just manage … Continue reading IBD vs IBS – let’s talk it out

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staring down the barrel of re-diagnosis

Briar

I had my follow-up appointment with my surgeon yesterday. It wasn’t great. I was going into the appointment thinking everything’s going fine, I’m back at work, I’m healing up, the stoma’s looking mostly fine except for the hypergranulation around the outside. I’ll have ‘replumbing’ surgery ASAP, we’ll say a fond farewell to Buffy the Stoma and the rest of my colon and welcome the new, yet to be named j-pouch. The best laid plans… See, I had a Hartmann’s procedure (basically a colonic resection/partial colectomy) because my surgeon wanted to be sure that it wasn’t Crohn’s before yanking the whole … Continue reading staring down the barrel of re-diagnosis

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NEWS!

Briar

Hello, fine folks who read these pages! I’ve been doing some tinkering over the last few days, as a result of thinking about what directions I want this blog to go in – but at the same time, how I want to pursue my online presence overall. So… I’ve created a new blog/website explicitly for the health related topics that I’ve blogged about so very much here – IBD and its affiliated psychological issues, like depression and anxiety. It’s (hopefully) going to become a place for more people than just me to share their stories – but to make that … Continue reading NEWS!

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daily drug cocktails, the UC way

Briar

Originally posted on Raw Library in January this year. It’s official – I have a love/hate relationship with prednisone. I’ve been on it for nearly two months now, and it’s the only thing that’s had any kind of effect on my UC symptoms. But, as previously mentioned, I’ve been tapering it… and my insides have been starting to play up a bit again. So after a chat with Jacqui, the lovely IBD nurse at Middlemore – and after she consulted with the head of gastro, who’s one of the doctors on my case, as it were, I’m back up to … Continue reading daily drug cocktails, the UC way

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THINGS TO DO WHILE STUCK IN THE BATHROOM.

Briar

Originally posted on Raw Library Reading the backs of shampoo bottles can only get you so far when you’re on intimate terms with the bathroom. Here’s a handy list of ways to wile away the agonising hours (if you add up colitis bathroom time, it gets a little scary!) in the loo. do your nails. Only applicable when you’re not in writhing pain. put on moisturizer. Nothing like a bit of tearing up to help it soak in! listen to music. Especially good if you’re worried about unseemly noises, just bring along a iPod dock and crank it. Although, let’s … Continue reading THINGS TO DO WHILE STUCK IN THE BATHROOM.

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14 WAYS TO HAVE A RAD TIME, EVEN IF YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS THE PORCELAIN THRONE.

Briar

Originally posted on Raw Library [Section 1 – at home! since, you know, if you’re sick, home is often where the heart, and the head, and the whole body are] 1. Bubble bath. Perks include – it can calm you down (and stress can be a factor for some people with bowel problems), you can douse yourself in all kinds of sparkly delicious smells to disguise any (probably imaginary, but no less disturbing!) lingering odours that you may be inflicted with, AND, most conveniently, more often than not, it’s the same room as your toilet. SUPER WIN. 2. Bring your … Continue reading 14 WAYS TO HAVE A RAD TIME, EVEN IF YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS THE PORCELAIN THRONE.

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briar’s UC diagnosis story

Briar

Briar’s diagnosis story – originally posted on Raw Library. I was eighteen when I first encountered blood in the toilet bowl. And it definitely wasn’t my period. My first inclination wasn’t to freak out and Google what it meant, and it certainly wasn’t to go to the doctor – eighteen-year-old girl talking to the family GP about bowel movements? Yeah, no thanks. No, my approach was much less sensible – I ignored it. It happened again, every now and then, and I mentioned to my mum at one stage, and she said that it was probably worth going to the … Continue reading briar’s UC diagnosis story