The Crohnology Blog

The Crohnology blog is delighted to introduce you to Sara Ringer, a talented e-patient whose blog and website are wonderful contributions to the Crohn's and colitis community. Check them out-- but first, read the interview and get to know Sara!

Hello Sara, care to introduce yourself?

Hey there! I’m Sara, a classy sassy female living life with Crohn’s disease, a motility disorder, and arthritis. It is my goal to show others how to be positive and to own their disease instead of letting it own them, while educating them about IBD along the way. My first hospitalization came when I was just 10 months old and my last hospitalization was not that long ago. After a childhood of hospitalizations with no answers, I finally got an official diagnosis of ulcerative colitis in 1996. In 2008 I underwent surgery to have my entire large intestine and rectum removed and have a temporary ileostomy created along with an internal ileo-pouch (j-pouch) constructed. A few months later I had a 2nd surgery to reverse my ileostomy and to remove adhesions that were strangling my small bowel and causing a blockage. In 2011 I found out that my original diagnosis of ulcerative colitis was incorrect and that I actually have Crohn’s disease. I currently treat my disease with remicade infusions and methotrexate injections coupled with vitamins, supplements, and proper nutrition, and I live life to the fullest on the days that I can knowing that a hospitalization could be (and usually is) just around the corner. Life with Crohn's disease isn't easy, but it made me pretty awesome!

Describe your condition. How it has affected you?

How has it not affected me? It has had its effect in every single aspect of my life. Of course there are the obvious physical things like the pain, my surgeries, living with no colon, the side-effects of medication. But then there are the other things that most people don't see like the embarrassment, the isolation, and the fear. My disease took away some of my life dreams, careers, and relationships at times. It took away precious time that I could have spent with my loved ones or just living my life, but instead was spent in a hospital. There is the fear of the medications I take and what they can do to me long term and the "what if's" that exist in the back of my mind. There is the insane amount of medical debt I racked up and so much more that has made me feel like Crohn's disease pulled the rug out from under my feet and made me fall to the floor. It's hard for anyone to pick themselves back up after all that and rise above to become a positive person. But that is the thing, I am thankful for my disease. Yes, it is hard and scary and painful but it made me into the person I am today, and I like her! I have some great things that were brought into my life because I am sick and that is a wonderful thing. There is nothing I can do about the fact that I have a disease, so I might as well make the best of what I have to work with ya know?

When were you diagnosed? How has your outlook on your condition changed since your diagnosis?

I was diagnosed when I was a self-conscious, hyper-aware teenage girl of 14 years old. Like most teenage girls, talking about blood in my stool was totally mortifying! I didn't want to acknowledge having anything that made me different from anyone else, like a disease. As the years went by and my disease got more and more severe the isolation and embarrassment only increased. I was scared for the future and most of all I was a very angry person. I would always think "why did this happen to a good person like me?". I was so angry at one point that my mom stopped visiting me in the hospital until I could be nice because I was taking all my anger and fear out on my loved ones and treating them terribly. If you know me now then you know that I will talk about anything and everything and that embarrassment clearly doesn't come easily anymore. I am able to talk about my disease openly and honestly to anyone and I am no longer angry that I have a disease because I learned to accept it. My disease taught me how to let go of control, how to accept what is, how to appreciate the present, and how to be a happy positive person.

You seem very active in the Crohn's/colitis/IBD online community; can you tell our readers about your efforts?

I wanted to give people what I had so desperately needed all the years I went through this alone, and that was a voice. Hard to imagine, but there was a time that I couldn't talk about my disease and it would have been nice to hear someone else put my thoughts and feelings into words. That is what I try to do with my videos and blogs is to share my stories, but do so in a way that someone else can see themselves through my words. It helps to know that you're not alone, and I want my "fans" to know that. Some people have a hard time explaining to their friends and family what they are going through so often they will use one of my videos or blogs to show to their families and that's a great thing! I have to admit I also have a phenomenal memory and love to learn and it was my dream to be a high school teacher so I feel like in a way I am teaching through my blog. I see so many others out there writing blogs with incorrect information or spreading myths and a little piece of me screams inside. I like that I can be a resource of accurate information and hopefully teach people a thing or two about their disease. That is my goal, to provide something for everyone whether they need support, a friend, something to relate to, or accurate information.

Crohn's can be such a struggle, what keeps you going when times are tough?

A lot of it comes from an inner strength because I don't have family around me and I don't get to see many people. That just made me sound like the biggest loner... I'm not a loser I swear! But in all seriousness besides my inner strength I have created myself a great family of support with friends I've made who also have Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. I have a great group of friends in real life who are so important to me because any time I see them I always leave with this great feeling of elation. I also have so many friends that I have acquired online that are amazing as well. It overwhelms me that complete strangers have shared so much of themselves with me and truly care and want to support me just as much as I hope to support them. It's important to have people in my life who "get it" and I am lucky to have that. My blog and other various projects keep me going too because life can be pretty lonely sometimes with a disease especially when I have been really sick and out of work. I feel like I am doing something worthwhile and it's a way for me to connect to people when things can be lonely. I also have a few great friends that don't have IBD who remind me of who I am besides my disease and that is nice. I also think it's important to "get away" from your disease and still do all the things you love. For me that is reading, the outdoors, traveling, and dancing. I don't want to be the kind of person who only defines herself as her disease, I am a lot more than that!

It's been a pleasure having you with us, Sara! Could you direct us to some of your favorite posts from A Girl With Guts?

• My Life with Crohn's Disease Video
• Coming out of my depression, was it all a dream?
• Can you be sexy with an "ugly disease"?

Thanks so much to Sara, and make sure to check back in during the next couple weeks for another e-patient feature!