REAL-LIFE ADVICE FOR HANDLING A SUDDEN CROHN'S ATTACK

REAL-LIFE ATTACK FOR HANDLING A SUDDEN CROHN'S ATTACK
For many people living with Crohn's disease, having an attack in public is a big fear. One woman who learned to cope now shares a decade's worth of advice.
While Crohn's disease has a wide range of symptoms and affects each person differently, most people with Crohn's share the need to use the bathroom frequently throughout the day. And that presents unique issues—bathroom accessibility and the ability to clean up after an attack being two big ones.
Nichole J. was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1999. A graduate student now living in Washington, Nicole says there are ways you can deal with the disease, all while keeping your dignity. Here, she shares what she has learned.
Crohn's Disease: Start by Preventing Attacks
Nicole recommends that you pack extra medications in your tote or knapsack and keep a supply at you desk at work. “It can be easy to forget to take your medications in the morning as you run out the door,” Nicole says. When you're in remission you feel good, so medications are sometimes overlooked in the rush to find your keys and make a commuter bus or train. But properly following all facets of your treatment plan, including taking needed medications, is what keeps you feeling good. She says, “if I forget to take them, I notice that I start to feel a little worse as the day goes on, so it's great to have a supply right there.”
Crohn's Disease: Managing in Public
Part of your time managing Crohn's disease symptoms is going to be in the bathroom. “The bottom line of this disease is that you spend a lot of time thinking about bowel movements. How many times a day, how bad it is, and if blood is present,” acknowledges Nicole. Here are her practical tips to help you prepare for an attack when you are away from home or out in public.
Always know where bathrooms are located. Nicole says, “If I were in the middle of a flare-up, I would pay attention to where the restrooms are.” Of course, you may not have any time to spare when an attack is imminent, so be sure you know where the toilets are before you need them. Take a few minutes to survey your surroundings if you're in a new environment. Make note of public restrooms along along your commute to work or school. Knowing exactly where the bathrooms are can save you time when you need to get one in a hurry.
Carry a change of underwear. Nicole says her body usually gives her advance warning so she can make it to the bathroom in time. “It's not often that you don't make it, but when it does happen, you know you just won't make those last few steps and there's nothing you can do about it. That's a bad feeling,” she says. Nicole knows fellow Crohn's sufferers who always carry a change of underwear in case of emergency; she says she does so if she notices signs that indicate it might be that kind of day. Don't forget a zip-closing plastic bag to store the old pair.
Always have your own tissues or toilet paper. Nicole says carrying a supply of tissues is “prudent.” In a situation where you have to go immediately, you may not have time to inspect each stall for an adequate supply of toilet paper.
Crohn's Disease: Sharing Your Situation
Finding the balance between confidentiality and disclosure can be hard. The nature of Crohn's attacks makes them an awkward topic of conversation, but you want people to know enough about your condition so that they understand why you might have to run to the restroom. Nicole says it helps to tell close friends “mostly so they don't worry, or think it's weird when I have to go to the bathroom all the time.” But she prefers not to disclose her personal information to people she doesn't know as well.
Deciding on who tell will also depend on your personal school or work situation. Because Nicole is in graduate school and can slip out of class when necessary, she does not need to tell her professors about her medical condition. But people who must ask to use the restroom, like schoolchildren, or whose jobs require someone else to cover for them when they take a break, might benefit from telling the appropriate people—a manager, co-workers, or teachers.
Public attacks can be among the most upsetting situations for those with Crohn's disease, but being prepared will allow you to handle them without becoming overwhelmed and without the fear of drawing unwanted attention to yourself.
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