more IBD focused: “Worse things happen in a flare, flares have happened to me, so don’t let this beat you, don’t you dare!” It worked, as I made it to the top with everyone else and summited the other two mountains as well, completing the challenge in 23 hours and 13 minutes. Doing both challenges had left me very stiff and with pain in my feet, calves, left hip and thighs, but it was all worth it. The pain strangely gave me a great satisfaction of pushing myself to the limit and all BECAUSE I have IBD. Although it hurt everywhere, there was one place it didn’t hurt….my stomach. I wonder what I’ll do next BECAUSE I have IBD?
BRIAR L. @RAWLIBRARY wamblecropt.wordpress.com It’s crazy to think that it’s only coming up to three years since I was diagnosed with IBD. Granted, I’d had symptoms for about two years before I went to the doctor, but still – the idea that there was life before diagnosis seems almost impossible, and yet, there were about eighteen years of sweet simple freedom. Now that I’m post surgery #1, and I’ve got a temporary ostomy, it’s the first time in years that I’ve been able to live semi-normally. I can go out without scoping out bathroom possibilities, without keeping tramadol on hand. I have freedom again, and it’s amazing. Because I never got into remission – life had been a constant flare of varying severity for years – I haven’t had a chance to feel this way in so long. I still have to watch what I eat, even though the ‘bad’ bit has been taken out – it may be a little IBS on the side, or related to the fact that my gastro and surgery team is now reevaluating my case with regard to whether it’s ulcerative colitis (as previously thought) or Crohn’s disease. It’s all part of the journey, right? My rule of thumb is, somewhat depressingly, ‘if it’s healthy to the average person, I probably can’t handle it.’ Raw veggies, anything high fibre… all bad news. Refined carbs are my jam – I always try to have something like pretzels on hand to chew on when I’m peckish, since I can handle them even when I can’t manage more exotic things. I also try to always have chocolate or another sweet treat around, since they don’t tend to sit too
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