Hi, I’m Mendy Pellin and I have Ulcerative Colitis.
I made that declaration on social media a few years ago, right after moving from Los Angeles to New York. I had forgotten about the culture of secrecy and stigma and I wanted to help others not feel alone in the bathroom. OK, that sounds a bit funny.
Since I’ve “come out of the bathroom” I’ve been able to support scores of people in our community, that felt safe to reach out, after being diagnosed with IBD or not having luck with various treatments.
They say that humor is often a response to trauma. So where does bathroom humor come from?
A question that can probably be answered by anyone afflicted with Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis. Humor can definitely dial down the shame associated with the many awkward situations we find ourselves.
Another thing that can dial down the shame is meeting with others in the same boat as you – or at least in the next stall.
Shame only feeds anxiety that attributes to that disruptive flare-up.
Also, equipping yourself with the latest information can dial down anxiety.
Those are the ingredients that make up our event this Tuesday evening:
– Meet your neighbors that are also struggling in silence.
– Hear about the latest medical treatments from Dr. Hudesman, a global authority on IBD.
– Hear from Dr. Keefer, a global leader on research and education focusing on the mind-gut connection.
– Hear from our beloved doctor, Dr. Eli Rosen, who understands our community’s health issues more than anyone.
That’s some seriously valuable information – all sprinkled with a dash of humor, as your evening’s host.
This event is not just for those with IBD. It’s also for friends, parents and family of those with IBD to get a better understanding how to support your loved one.
I made sure all restrooms are nearby, fully stocked and in working order, so you can avoid another “humorous” story.
Tuesday, February 25, at 8:30 PM at Lubavitcher Yeshiva, 570 Crown Street.
For questions about the event email [email protected].
Such an important point! Thank you for bringing this up and for addressing this so that nobody needs to suffer in silence! Yasher Koach
Seems as if neurological disorders like epilepsy is not a socially accepted illness in our community that most feel they need to keep a secret,especially those that are “fortunate” enough to have a case that can be controlled by medication. Let’s make people with epilepsy who already live with the trauma and life effects of experiencing seizures, feel accepted.
When will doctors speak about avoiding fried food and oil and eating more natural vegetables with no oil and sugar and salt added?
I go to the supermarkets and there’s rows of so many amazing processed foods. All logic gets thrown out the window.
You are what you eat.
Will they be discussing this at the event?
Will the panelists be speaking only about managing symptoms or do they have a way to CURE these conditions? I’m grateful to have found homeopathy to completely reverse and heal my ulcerative colitis, I haven’t found any cures in the western medical community before I found homeopathy. Did that change or is it still only management of symptoms?
Maybe you should be added to the panel
For the future, please invite a holistic doctor to join the panel. Holistic medicine recognizes the root cause of Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis and has tremendous insight to share on the progression of disease and restoration to health. Homeopathic practitioners often see the development of Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis after someone previously had eczema which was suppressed with cortisone and then developed asthma – again suppressed with steroids which drove the pathology deeper, resulting in Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, as the body had to find a new path to express the internal imbalance. We need these minds to present, people… Read more »
> [H]olistic medicine is far more advanced and effective with chronic issues [than modern medicine].
This is false and foolish. Don’t believe this.
I think the shame of having chronic illness isn’t unique to IBD, so I’m sure the psychologist speaking will address things that are relevant to a lot of people
After years of suffering from IBS while eating a very clean non-processed food diet, I got my IBS under control by cutting out a lot of vegetables, cutting carbs, and eating a high fat and protein diet
IBD, like Crohns and Colitis are autoimmune disorders. Changing your diet won’t cure you
Maybe you should try. Read a book. Enough people report feeling better after fixing their food to make you at least curious.
As our population is aging, chronic illness such as heart disease, kidney issues and diabetes are more prevalent. I have gone into the take out restaurants and asked them if there are any dishes with out and or without sugar to which the answer is no. It would be awesome if there were salads with no sugar and low or no salt. As a wife of a diabetic with chronic heart failure it would be also nice to be able to go in and buy a little take out not worry about these issues. In addition there should be more… Read more »
Yes, all the conditions can be improved with diet. Processed food is designed to make the seller rich. It’s not designed to make you healthy.