Awareness – The Great Bowel Movement

From the Hospital to the Big Screen: Derek and the Crohnie Movie

by Comment Closed

From the Hospital to the Big Screen: Derek and the 'Crohnie' Movie A conversation with Derek Mari Recently, we had the chance to chat with Derek Mari about his diagnosis of Crohn's disease, why he fights so hard against stigma and shame, and how he's bringing this story (hopefully) to a really, really large audience - through a full-length film. Follow along with what he had to share: GBM: Let's start at the very beginning - your diagnosis story. Derek: I grew up in Modesto, CA, and was originally diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 15. It happened after about a year of dealing with symptoms, and so so much Tylenol. Although I finally received that diagnosis, it still felt like a mystery. I didn't really understand the problem, only that I was in a ton of pain and wanted it to stop. I eventually moved to Los Angeles to go to film school, and I started seeing a gastroenterologist at UCLA. My diagnosis...

We Are Living In A Time of Great Empathy

by Comment Closed

“Empathy is the only human superpower: it can shrink distance, cut through social and power hierarchies, transcend differences, and provoke political and social change.” -Poet Elizabeth Thomas We Are Living In A Time of Great Empathy Understanding leads to Empathy There is hardly an IBD patient out there that hasn't struggled with being misunderstood. We've all tried to explain what our diseases, and lives, are like, only to be met with some combination of disgust, pity, or aversion. Or maybe it was a well-intentioned effort at support, a suggestion to drink more tumeric tea, or a misaligned attempt to relate, with the story of that one time they ate a bad meal. As we work towards a greater understanding of the real, complex, and often changing lives we live with IBD, we also work towards more empathy. After all, the more others understand, the more they can support us in the right ways, fight on our side, and empathetically just be present when there's nothing...

To Talk, or Not To Talk?

by Comment Closed

To talk, or not to talk? That is the question. Okay, so if Shakespeare were here and had Inflammatory Bowel Disease he would totally be asking you that exact question right? I COMPLETELY understand that talking openly and honestly about Inflammatory Bowel Disease, whether you have Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis has probably sent many of you to run and hide behind the back of the sofa. Come out…please come out? I get it, I’ve been there myself… It can be embarrassing, hard to talk about and some of you may prefer to keep it all to yourselves. Keep your ‘secret’ hidden away because that’s what makes you feel most comfortable. Not having to talk about your illness whether it be due to feeling ashamed, frightened or a burden on other people, these are all natural when someone brings up the topic of ‘discussing’ IBD in a very public way. We have all felt annoyed or angry when someone says a really mean comment....

What I Want You To Know

by Comment Closed

What I Want You To Know about Crohn's and Colitis To all the caregivers, bosses, classmates, and friends. To all the boyfriends and best friends, to the girl that I see at yoga class. I want you to know this: I have IBD. It stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease. (It does not stand for Irritable Bowel Disorder, or anything else, and it’s not the same as IBS). If you know me, you probably know this. I talk about it frequently. I volunteer for various organizations. I have my elevator speech worked out, and I can rattle off definitions, facts, and statistics in my sleep. But do you know what that means to me, and the other patients who live day in and day out with IBD? Do you know that it’s not just some medical jargon that I apply to my digestive system? It’s so much more than trips to the toilet and chronic fatigue and bi-monthly infusions and doctors’ visits. This is my life. We all know...