Sam Faiers Diagnosed With Crohn's Disease: A Viewpoint From A Crohn's Patient

So recently Sam Faiers came out and said that she had Crohn's disease. I live in the United States and she lives in the UK so I am not familar with her (although she is pretty attractive) and is a model and reality TV star in the UK. At any rate Sam Faiers is only 23 years old and lost a stone and a half (21 pounds for those in the United States). She started to lose weight and realized it wasn't just a stomach bug. Crohn's actually does affect 100,000 people in the UK. Sam said she couldn't hold food down for almost a month. Currently, Sam is drinking shakes (all-liquid diet for the 6 weeks in order to give her bowels a rest).

Sam has an experience that many Crohn's patients have. When I was in graduate school and got symptoms I had no idea what I actually had. I remember feeling very tired (pretty similar to when I had mono in college) but actually felt tired before the stomach issues started to come up. My father who is a chemical engineer researched everything and told the doctors it was c diff and they told him no it was something else. My GI suspected it was Crohn's and actually confirmed it via a colonoscopy. Catching Crohn's early on can not only help the patient but reduces the risk of having surgery. I have not had surgery yet and continue to take Humira (I started it June 6, 2012) and feel actually like I did before Crohn's (some days I even forget I have it to be honest). Getting the diagnosis for Crohn's or any illness is the best feeling you can get. I still remember feeling a little bumped knowing I would have Crohn's the rest of my life (unless we find a cure). However, the human mind constantly is creative and creating things we never thought possible. Think about it 20 years ago would you have honestly imagined some of the wonderful technology we have today? 

I hope Sam Faiers gets well and gets herself into remission. However, maybe the silver lining is raising awareness about Crohn's which is positive. Sometimes I tell even random strangers about it just to spread the knowledge and awareness. 

Amy Brenneman Ulcerative Colitis and CCFA PSA

Actress Amy Brenneman who now stars in Private Practice and Judging Amy (she isn't bad on the eyes either) is doing a PSA for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. Amy had her colon removed in 2010. When her colon was taken out she had an ileostomy bag in for three months but then had it taken out in a second operation that reconnected the insides. She took about six weeks to recover. Amy was in the emergency room three times in two weeks. She admits her body fell apart. She recently talked about on October 1, 2012 on the show “The View”.  Amy suffered from ulcerative colitis and was diagnosed during her second pregnancy. She took Humira, 6-MP, Colazal, and other drugs. 

Celebrities brining light to inflammatory bowel disease is a good thing. If more stars talk about the diease the more knowledge average people will get which will be good. Raising awareness is always great. Even individuals can spread the word about it. In fact tell complete strangers.