What do you say when...?

 

BitBit,

Yes, people do comment on my weight loss, mostly co-workers and family that I don't see very often. You have to understand though that before I got really sick from CD I weighed about 165lbs, then I got really ill with vomiting, diarrhea (before CD diagnosis and treatment) and went down to about 118lbs. That was a pretty drastic weight loss so I would hear a lot of comments like "it's great that you've lost weight but you really should stop now, you're starting to look sick." I would then politely explain (without detail) that I have been sick and that's what's caused the weight loss, I'm not purposely trying to lose more weight. If they got real nosey and asked what I was sick with I just gave them a generic "it's a stomach thing" answer because 1) i don't want people knowing my business, and 2) no one knows what CD is and it's to hard to explain it to them. There were rumors around my office about my weight loss, everything from "she's bulemic or anorexic" to "she's got AIDS"...yes, people can be very, very cruel. As you may know, office environments are not unlike high schools...haha. I just blew them off and went about my business, trying to get well.

I'm now holding stead at about 125lbs and have been for awhile so people don't pay me much attention anymore, which is just what I wanted ;)

Tell people only what you are comfortable with them knowing, no more-no less. People are going to gossip and be nosy, that's our nature, don't sweat it.

Take care of yourself!

My response is "Still Standing" to those that do know about my CD & those who don't. Their reply is usually something like "Well, that's good". Little do they know that sometimes I am even amazed that I truly am!

Only comment I ever had to make was when a boss of mine said that I did not LOOK sick. I told him he did not look stupid .

1. people comment on your weight/appearance?
- People have noticed the moon face I got from Prednisone, I told them its the pills i'm on for my condition

- When I was 105lbs (I'm 5'6 btw) many said I look sick, need to gain weight, blah blah blah (i'm now 125lbs and happy at that) I told them it's my condition doing it and I don't have anorexia, I love to eat, and when they see me eat a full medium pizza (when i'm in remission) they're surprised it doesn't stay with me, they ask for tips and i'm like, sorry, wait your turn and see if you get what I have (it's a bad joke but we laugh)

2. people ask you how you feel?
- I tell them I got stomach/joint pain, upset stomach pretty much says it in a nice way

I wouldn't bother telling them I have Crohn's unless I know them really well, some people would look it up and think I have every symptom and then look at me and don't know what else to say. It's happened to me, it's odd. I hate telling people close to me I get the D now and then and well the gas is obvious, it grosses them out and they get odd, ha, it grosses me out but i'm getting use to it, there's hope ;)

Comments about my weight depends on the comment and who is saying it. My coworkers are all pretty educated on CD (thanks to our jobs and my teaching them) Strangers and not so close friends do make comments. If they are curious, I explain that weight fluctuations are a part of the chronic illness I have. If they are rude, I say...if you saw a person losing their hair, would you make light that they could have cancer OR do you think twice about making stupid, uninformed comments.

How do you feel depends on who asks. I follow the old school ettiquette rules in general when it is polite conversation "fine, thank you. And you". Some friends I will outright say my life stinks right now and I feel like crud. My coworkers usually ask out of caring, but I still worry about divulging too much. I usually just say I am having a tough tummy day and leave it at that.

How about "Not worth a darn, but I am sure I will get over it"

one of my favs.