It's time for some more hops this month. There has been quite a few!
The Bucket List bloghop is co-hosted by Sherry Ellis at Mama Diaries and Susanne Drazic at Putting Words Down on Paper.
Travel to...
1. Australia/New Zealand
2. Hawaii
3. Yukon for camping trip
Visit...
4. Yellowstone National Park
5. Yosemite National Park
6. Niagara Falls
7. Finish/Publish my WIP
8. Find our forever home
9. Have my wardrobe look like my Pinterest wardrobe
10. Go white water rafting one more time
Survive & Thrive Bloghop
Monday, October 20, 2014
I'm going to highlight a chronic disease my husband battles every day.
Crohns Disease - also known as Crohn syndrome and regional enteritis, is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from
mouth to anus. Symptoms often include: abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and weight loss. Crohn's disease is caused by a combination of environmental, immune and bacterial factors in genetically susceptible individuals. Crohn's disease affects about 3.2 per 1,000 people in Europe and North America. While the exact cause is unknown, Crohn's disease seems to be due to a combination of environmental factors and genetic predisposition. Crohn's has a genetic component. Because of this, siblings of known people with Crohn's are 30 times more likely to develop Crohn's than the general population. The diagnosis of Crohn's disease can sometimes be challenging, and a number of tests are often required to assist the physician in making the diagnosis.
Ok, so thats the short Wiki version... my husband was diagnosed in early 2006 but had symptoms starting in late 2005. He was sick for months, going from 198lbs to 125lbs in a matter of months. The biggest symptoms were his very high fevers and an enlarged segment of his stomach that was bulbous, red, and hot to the touch. And it could be easily noticed just by looking at it. I took him to the hospital because I thought it was his appendix. This is when his condition went from Acid Reflux/IBS to Crohns. After a week long stay in the hospital and almost having a section of his intestines removed, the doctors put him on some serious meds which helped! After a series of medications that wouldn't stabilize his condition, the doctors decided to put him on Remicade. Remicade is an intervenes drug that helps treat anything from arthritis to various cancers. (He sits at the hospital for 4 hours, once every 6-8 weeks.
Side effects from Remicade:
- serious and sometimes fatal blood disorders
- serious infections
- lymphoma and solid tissue cancers
- reports of serious liver injury
- drug-induced lupus
- demyelinating central nervous system disorders
- psoriasis and psoriasiform skin lesions
and others.
Since taking Remicade, he is back up to his original weight and seems to be healthier. Although, taking this drug diminishes your immune system so he [we] have dealt with some serious skin infections and it happens on a regular basis. He now has to treat these occurrences with more drugs. It's a never ending cycle.
Side note: Another side effect... crabbiness (that's gentle way of putting it).
Thank you for stopping by and taking a peak at my Bucket List. And big thumbs up for taking the time to read about Crohns.
Stay Healthy my friends!
Came over to see your Bucket List, number 9 is a hoot! Love it!
ReplyDeleteHi, Dani. You have some interesting places to visit on your bucket list. Thank you for sharing the information about Crohn's Disease. I'm so sorry that your husband has to deal with this.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see that everyone includes travel in the bucket list (me included).
ReplyDeleteNiagara...as long as you're visiting the Canadian side, go for it. And be sure to bring some cash for the boat that goes down by the falls. It's expensive but you really can't appreciate the power of the falls from a distance.
ReplyDeleteNew Zealand's on my list, too.... let's go together!
ReplyDeleteAnother great bucket list. Most people want to travel. Your husband's Crohns sounds like a very serious case. It's a very difficult disease to control.
ReplyDeleteHi, Dani,
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining the hop! So sorry to hear about your husband's condition. Poor Guy. Anyone would be crabby under those conditions. Thankfully he has you to keep him in check with your loving smile.
I'd love to do the national parks, too. I did visit Niagra Falls a few years ago and it was breathtaking. Looking forward to revisiting.
Oh Dani, I'm sorry about your hubby's Crohns. I know he must go through some serious trials and tribulations, especially when he gets his treatments at the hospital. I remember those days with the TTP. He's very lucky to have you by his side. I've no doubt you're one heck of a nursemaid. :)
ReplyDeleteLove that bucketlist! I wish I'd have known about it. Have a great day. I'll be thinking about you guys!! {{{{Dani}}}} Eva
Crohns is a terrible disease, and we don't have a lot of options right now for it. I know they're working on some things, so hopefully there will be better treatments with less side effects coming out of the pipeline.
ReplyDeleteGoing to all of those places would be an experience to remember. :)
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to your husband. I know people who have Crohns Disease and its not an easy one to manage. Thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteAnd good luck with your bucket list. Finish and publish that WIP!!!
Crohns is a tough one. Glad he found something to help. Sorry about the crabbiness side effect, but I'm sure you've got a strategy to handle it.
ReplyDeleteLoved your bucket list items. Here's to doing each one of them.
National Parks are my favorite to see on bucket lists. My love is Yosemite. I have been to a few and that is my absolute fave. Hope you get to see them!
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating in the bucket list blog hop! A camping trip in the Yukon sounds fun. Just watch out for bears!
ReplyDeleteI live 15 minutes from Niagara Falls:) If ever in the area....will be happy to be a tour guide. One can go on a white water raft fun escapade on the Niagara River too. There is also the beautiful and old (for Canada) Niagara On The Lake. Now, my co-worker's ex has Crohn's and it is horrible. She believes her one chid has it also but nothing has shown up yet but he exhibits similar symptoms. Would going to a naturalpath help at all? There are probably many types of foods he needs to avoid which makes him even more grumpy. My hubby has Rheumatoid Arthritis and has to take an injection weekly with similar side effects especially watching out for the liver, immunity and being tired. He is now taking B12 which is helping his tiredness. Grumpiness on the other hand .......I am glad I have my craft room:)
ReplyDeleteBit late for my bucket list - 61 and in a wheelchair - but I could say I've done some of yours :-) Been to the Yukon on a white-water expedition that involved camping in the bush, Visited Yosemite and Niagara. Published first WIP and working on releasing second. Oh and retired to 'our forever home' in North Wales. Sadly, won't make it to Middle Earth, but have made it as far as Sri Lanka overland from London.
ReplyDeleteMy best wishes to your husband. Sorry to hear about all problems with Crohn's. Some things sound too familiar, but multiple sclerosis can seem mild in comparison.
Some of those items are on my bucket list, too, but I've been to Niagara Falls a few times. It's worth the trip!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI've been to Niagara Falls a few times it is very beautiful on both the US and Canadian side. Sorry to here about the Crohn's disease. Sometimes Lyme disease is diagnosed as Crohn's.
Chron's is very nasty disease. Hope he is getting better.
ReplyDeleteI'd so love to travel during my retirement.
Thanks for sharing your husband's journey. What a scary time that must have been before he was diagnosed. Best wishes to him.
ReplyDeleteWow, never knew it could be that serious! That is a scary weight loss. Thank God he is alive and well now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating int eh blogfest.
I've heard lots about this disease from a friend. Not easy. Sending positive vibes your way.
ReplyDeleteGreat bucket list! I hope you get to do some of this, and soon!
Heather
I'm sorry the treatment is so harsh. My cousin has Crohn's, and has been through some nasty times with it. It's a miserable thing to have to suffer.
ReplyDeleteI like all those travel spots. The only one I'd take off that list is camping in the Yukon. Visit, sure, I'd do it. Camp... no. (Perhaps I'm a bit wimpier than you. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry your husband suffers from Crohn's disease. My brother was first diagnosed with it at fourteen, and I know treatments have come a long way since then. Today he's in great shape at fifty six, and often works out with my sons. Hope your husband continues to do well on the Remicade. He probably has good days, and bad days, and is lucky to have you helping him through it. Hopefully, you'll both visit some of your bucket list destinations in the near future. Sending lots of good thoughts your way!
ReplyDeleteJulie