May 19: World IBD Day

Wednesday May 19, 2010 is World IBD Day. If you or someone you love or someone you know has Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis -- and if you think you don't know anybody who does, I bet you're wrong -- May 19 would be a good day for you to talk to them about it.

Patient groups from the United States, Canada, Australia, 23 European nations, and Brazil are working to draw awareness to IBD. IBD, which stands for inflammatory bowel diseases, is comprised of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis — two serious, chronic digestive diseases that affect five million people worldwide (1.4 million in the U.S. alone). Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis directly affect the digestive system and cause intestinal tissue to become inflamed, form sores, and bleed easily. There is no cure, no known cause, and little public understanding of the pain and chronic suffering with which IBD patients courageously cope every day of their lives.

See World IBD Day website.

Yours truly has suffered from IBD for more than 35 years. It's no fun. Fifteen prescription medications every day just to keep myself going. Not being able to eat when I'm out of the house or away from a bathroom. Being low on energy, being in pain 24/7 -- it's not an easy way to live.

So on May 19, 2010, think of me and the FIVE MILLION IBD SUFFERERS WORLDWIDE. Join us in hoping for a cure in our lifetimes. Jennifer