Row, Row, Row Your Bloat

For the most part, looking at me, you would never know I had anything "wrong" with me.  I one thing you might notice though is that I always look about 4-5 months pregnant.  The bloat drives me crazy!  I know many people with a wide range of digestive disorders face this same problem.  Not only do our clothes not fit properly but it physically feels uncomfortable and makes a person sluggish.  BTW, mine seems worse at night.  No matter how much we weigh, our gut sticks out in an unnatural way and I HATE it.  I hate that I cannot wear fitted tops because I am in a constant fear that someone will ask me "when I am due?" and I will be completely devastated.  I also have a very hard time finding pants that are comfortable (and that don't make my stomach hurt to wear) other than sweats, just one reason I wear mostly skirts.  I know all this is vain and I should be thankful I am able to function and I am very thankful everyday, I just hate the look and the feeling of being bloated all the time.  If any reads this, I would love feedback on how to combat the bloat.  For now, I am trying to remember that everyday is a gift and I will count my blessings because I know what it is like to be really sick with Crohn's and not able to do anything at all.

Almost....

This morning I almost made it through an entire bowl movement without one of my kids banging on the bathroom door or barging in...almost.  I know the time will come when I miss that but right now I just really want to poop in peace.  Sometimes I feel guilty that my kids have to "deal" with my disease like postponing things, or just not leaving the house.  They do have a strong empathy for sickness and want to "take care of me" and for that I am grateful.  I have found my stomach/bowls are more upset in the morning until about 3 pm or so and after that I rarely seem to go.  When I was a kid, before I was diagnosed and shortly after, I was mostly sick late night/middle of the night.  Is everyone that way?

Finding the Funny

We all know that socially it is not "appropriate" to discuss any kind of intestinal discomfort.  That being said, with all the different stomach/bowl disorders out there, at any given time there are many people all around us who are suffering.  And it is suffering indeed!  I have found that sometimes when you have no control of your body, all you can do is shrug you shoulders and try to find something to laugh about.  I have this fear of being pulled over for speeding someday when I am rushing to try and make it home before I poop all over the car seat so I found the following bumper sticker very funny:

I REALLY need this.

I know the word "entitled" has been thrown around a ton lately but, by golly, after 21+ years with this disease, I am entitled to a little potty humor.  Here is one more for today.  I hope it does not offend anyone.