IBD is depressing, maddening and unfair, but it's real.  We can't wish it away, so we have deal with it as best we can.

Some say that depression is caused by anger turned inward. Those of us who live with IBD daily need to find ways to get the anger out of our systems. My outlet is writing, composing & singing. Perhaps you have your own outlet.

Here I offer some things I've written over the years of living with Crohn's Disease. They're arranged in chronological order, so they're sort of a diary of coping and healing. Many deal specifically with IBD, but many deal with the stuff of life in general. Since I don't believe the body and mind and spirit function separately from one another, it all seems pertinent. I hope they bless you, amuse you and/or inspire you.

I am happy to link this page to similar sites, as well as to responsible IBD and IBS informational sites.

INDEX

Advice Corner

aka FAQs

Award from HealingWell.com

LINKS

to IBD resources

1989:

Observer
(Dealing with pain)
They Said
(Dealing with doctors)

1990:

Crohn's Disease Blues
(Song lyrics -- about illness and faith)
Crumb's Disease
(Parenting and chronic illness)
Crohn's, Doctors and Anger
(Dealing with doctors)

1991:

Monologue
(Dealing with doctors)
Take Me Home
(Despair)

1992:

You Can't Stop the Wind
(Submitting to life)
Dawn Came
(Choosing healthy lifestyle)
Learning to Trust
(Faith and submitting to life)

1993:

Ending Beginnings
(Honoring change)
The Washing
(Releasing the past)
Hitch-Hikers
(Releasing what doesn't work)
I Know Why
(Life choices)

1994:

Inside My Head
(Reprogramming myself)
Do People Die of This?
(Is the cure worth it?)

1995:

You Are
(Faith)
Duet
(Seasons of Life)

1996:

What Will You Do
(With the Healing you Pray For?)

1997:

Mary, Martha & Me
(Assessing priorities)
Fight It Out
(Moving On)

1998:

A lost year? Hmmmmm.....

1999:

Enough to Stay Alive
Goin' Through the Motions
(Uh-oh. Someone's depressed.)

2000:

This Cage
(Deciding to get undepressed.)
Not the Storm
(Premenopause)

2001:

Mothers of the World (or The Scolding)
(Winds of War)

2002 to present:

Coming as time & health permit.

My status:

In 2002 my disease flared up in a big way. I was referred to a specialist who is also a researcher and professor at UC Davis. It turns out drugs for Crohn’s have come a long way since my last major flare. I now take 6-MP daily and receive a Remicade infusion every 8 weeks. Both treatments have helped greatly to restore my vitality, although they beat down my immune system, so I’m vulnerable to infection. My disease is still active, but it is controlled, and life is good. Oh, and my nest is empty. The child who asked “why?” in 1990 is now a college student.