Anyone see "The Doctors" coverage of Crohn's?

"The Doctors" TV show just aired in my area and featured a young woman's treatment for her Crohn's. The woman is being treated with Remicade and Imuran and is having issues with hair loss. Of course, these pieces are usually quite short with very limited information, but I personally was underwhelmed, NOT with the CD patient as she came across as a very nice person, but with the overall explanation of the disease by the physician/host.

I didn't even understand the doctor's definition of fistulae and I have them. I think what annoyed me most is at the end of the piece when, as TV often does, they tried to wrap it up with a nice bow and all, and the doctor says of the CD patient, "And she's got the RIGHT attitude!"

Well, excuse me, but after all these years of nonstop pain, I don't quite feel like having the RIGHT attitude. I know the doctor meant well, but these fluff pieces influence the minds of how others treat someone with the illness. I will eventually have someone tell me that if I just have the RIGHT attitude, I'll do SO much better.

I don't recall any mention of surgeries, ileostomies, colostomies, arthritis, skin and eye disease, death (though they did make mention of the possible dangers of the immune suppression of Remicade and the like).

Oh well...... Did anyone else have a better take (I am a natural-born pessemist) on the coverage? Do you think it helped, hurt, or was it neither here nor there?

I saw it, and was annoyed the whole time. Seemed like they felt it was "easy" to treat. They talked about the effects of infection from the medications, but not really all the OTHER side effects we have to deal with. Just seemed like they were saying take this medication and change your diet and you'll be fine! Plus have that great attitude. Not to mention the symptoms of the disease being some "tummy upset and gas." What??? I wanted to chuck something at the tv. Maybe I'm a born pessimist myself. lol

I wonder how quickly I'll be getting phone calls from people I know that saw it, telling me to take what she takes and do the diet she does so I can be "happy every day."

The fistula explanation was kind of bad. The intestine "folds" over on itself? Not exactly. The problem is we know what it's REALLY like, but people who don't will take this as fact. But I agree the commercials are worse!

Thanks for all the input. I know trying to cover a complicated disease is impossible in a few short minutes, and CD isn't the only disease that gets covered that way.

I was wondering if I misunderstood the fistula definition, but Jen verified what I heard. That was strange.

Thanks again. -Joy