Are you uncomfortable sharing in public?

All of us are different :) I am not bothered about asking for medication/health food products either for myself or family(son has crohns) but I can vividly recall having to go into a chemist when children were in primary school and had caught headlice that needing treating. I must have examined every item in the chemist in minute detail waiting for the queue to die down lol

:D

I don't mind telling people I have crohn's. I also am not really embarrassed getting into detail with dr's or nurses, or buying things in the pharmacy. But I do not like to go into detail with friends or co-workers. They know I have crohn's, and a few details I wasn't great at hiding, but for the most part I don't like to talk about it. Which is hard when I need to leave work or call off. Sometime I'm not sure what people think.

I don't mind sharing at all, you'd be surprised when you tell someone you have cd, they have either cousin or friend who has ibd. I used to get embarrassed bying enema's. I use to lean towards constip. so enemas would help move things along in the morning. I couldn't imagine evan having a enema now. It's the last thing I need now. i absolutely don't care if when someone asked me what med's I take for cd. i make sure and include pain med's. right now they seem to work the best, for everything, back pain, joint and muscle, and gut, for me it's a mutli purpose medication.

AG

that's the way I felt when I worked for a Co.(casino, blackjack dealer). i really wanted people at work to understand what cd is about, I had FMLA, so I could call in sick, when needed, or leave work without fear of loosing my job.But everybody hated me for doing it, **** man I couldn't help it. I did it for 5 years, I went from just slighty flareing when I started that job to ssdi. I got on ssdi within 8 months after applying. Mind you my wife and I have home based art business. I can do that, because I'm home. but evan going out in public can be a challenge for me. But anyway i went to a clients place where I'm doing some custom work, haven't seen her in a few years, she new I was or had been sick, she said you look good. Go back 3 days, as I layed in infusion chair in hosp. getting my 6th dose of rem, plus taking ent. and pain med's, Hah! you look good. darnit I better.My first denial letter from ssd. Saids, since you can walk, and move your arms freely, we feel you do have discomfort, and pain, but we feel in this econmic times you can still work in the casino industry. To me that was a slap in the face. I appealed and won immediately.Everything is in my wife's name,and I do what i can do to help and pay our mortgage, right now we are really busy, gotta get better, sorry about post

AG

This subject is one that you are always walking a fine line with. It is very important to educate those around us about the disease but it is more important to do it in a proper manner. All too often Crohnies are not taken seriously because we normally do not show our disease on the outside. We all quickly learn to be great actors and know how to hide much of the pain and nausea. This is not always a bad thing but it does make it difficult for some to really understand our plight.
We should never be ashamed of our disease or the fact that we have to buy multiple medications. It is hard to emotionally handle this disease and most of us are always worried about coming across as a hyperchondriac to others. In my personal opinion, I feel that we should tailor each discussion about our disease to the individual that we are speaking to. As most had stated, I would never share the same information with a stranger or co worker that I would share with my wife or immediate family member. I also see no need to share the gory details with anyone besides medical professionals that are assisting us and your spouse or caretaker. Eventually as people are around you more and are desensitized to the situation, they may ask questions and then I believe it would be appropriate to get a little more in depth with my explaination. I just do not feel that there is any reason to advertise my disease and what I am going through. By being too open, we sometimes lose credibility with people or intimidate them so that they are afraid to be around us. We are so desensitized to the disease and the subject that almost nothing phases us but the majority of the public is not. I share a little info at a time with each individual that asks and will openly answer questions if the conversation leads into that by the other individual.
Soiled Shorts, never be ashamed of who you are. You are a person that had Crohn's disease and that is not a black mark upon whom you are. You never asked for this disease but you have been given the trial of overcoming it. Do not see it as a flaw in your character or make-up, look at it as a strength. You are living with this disease and you have not quit. That alone puts you head and shoulders about the majority of people on this earth. Everyone has their own burdens and obstacles in their lives and this is the one that has been placed before you. If someone were to look at you differently or look down upon you for being sick, they are the one that has the issue. You mentioned that you get embarrassed when you go into a pharmacy or vitamin shop because of the type of medication that you are buying. Just remember that everyone in the store is there because they need medication to overcome an illness of their own. As for the workers, they deal with this on a daily basis and should be glad that you are using their services. Remember, you are the consumer and you are the one that is feeding their families, paying their mortgages, and making their car payments. If it were not for you and your disease, they would be in a world of hurt. You are doing them a service.

Post Edited (tsitodawg) : 3/6/2011 1:29:29 AM (GMT-7)

I have never been secret about my health. I explain it so others can better understand what I am living with. I do agree with tsitodawg in that many times we look good on the outside, so people don't get how damaging this disease can be. What I am self concious about is using the restroom when others are in there. I always have alot of gas, and that always come out first before the stool. If I am at work, I will not go until others have left. But in an emergency will go to another floor and use their toilets. Or if out in the public and an emergency hits, I will keep repeating to myself that I will never see these people again. But going to the pharmacy or requesting info on meds on the phone or anything like that, no I do not have an issue with that. Hugs!

Back when I was first diagnosed as a teen I NEVER talked about it and got mad when my parents talked about my disease with family... However as I've gotten older I have become more open and shared with friends and family and I like it better like that. The less acting I have to do around friend and family the better (granted I'm sure they don't wanna hear some details I don't hold back much once we get to talking about it). Work, however, is a different story as I have not and probably will not share my medical issues with anyone there. It does become hard to hide when your in the bathroom 3, 4, 5 or more times in an 8 hour shift though... thank God for Imodium

I generally dislike talking over the phone. It makes me feel awkward. I prefer face-to-face conversation, or texting/forums/IMing.

As far as Crohn's in conversation goes, I simply tell the truth. Sometimes I shade it in more polite terms, sometimes I make it as raunchy as I can. It all depends on who I'm talking to. If I'm trying to express just how crappy I'm feeling to one of my close friends, I'll pull out all the stops, try to get a laugh out of them. If I'm covering the basics of the disease with someone I've just met, I phrase things as delicately as I can.