One of the local NHL hockey players here in Edmonton was just diagnosed with UC. The newspapers and people are making it seem like the world is going to end. Saying things like his career is over and that its so debilitaing that we all need to feel sorry for him.

Now dont get me wrong i definately know what its like to have uc. But i just think its funny that as soon as someone worth mentioning gets it everyone thinks they know everything about it because of what they've read in the paper. Its good that maybe it will be getting some attention finally but its not really the right kind. All the info ive read doenst seem too accurate.

Im not really sure if this is the publicity it should be getting. But hopefully in the next week or so maybe someone will write a column or have a news thing on it to really inform everyone about what it is.

Maybe ill write to the paper..

THey have no clue.. Send the news to me.. I played Ice hockey (full check) with uc, with the bag and so on LOL... Some ppl have no idea

http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/story.html?i...39-9832-d2a836787f02

That was the only one i could find.
But there is a group someone made "Get well Pisani" Which had this...

Edmonton Oiler Fernando Pisani has recently been diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, a type of Ulcer that is located in the colon. This can be a very serious illness that is not only potentially career ending but life altering as well. Are hearts are with you and your family Pies and you have all of our support for your recovery.

A type of ulcer in the colon...haha. Could you be any more vauge?

I know its hard to deal with but they just make it sound so much worse...like if he was dying.

yeah, it definitely shouldn't be career threatening... But our broadcasters (in Vancouver) were saying that taking a week off is ridiculous (which seems pretty crazy).. I'm sure he'll play again, but he'll probably need some time to get his strength/stamina. It took me out of hockey for over a year cuz the flares never seemed to get better..

Hey Jason, did you find that it was any tougher playing hockey with the bag? I don't have my next surgery til mid-season, but I'd like to play up until that point. Did you wear any special padding or anything for it?

I cant speak from expierence but one hockey player for the Calgary Flames played for years with a bag and i dont believe he had any problems.

As for the bag itself, naaa I dont find it any harder. I wear a big waiste like belt that I lay the bag in sideways and then a flap goes over it and hold it in place. I also bought a lacross rib protector that covers my stoma area and protects it. I stop eating about 2 hours before the game and its perfect. I drink a ton during the game but because you sweat so much my bag is maybe 1/4 full at the end of the game!
The only difference I see it energy, but in time and not having any operations, I am sure it will only get better!

great stuff... Thanks for the tips Jason, I can't wait to get back out there! I couldn't think of any way to protect the stoma, but the lacrosse guard is a terrific idea. And thanks Ash for the heads up on the Flames player that played as well; I knew about a pro golfer and an nfl kicker that played with the bag, but never a hockey player.. Thanks a lot!

Np bud... at first i was so freaked about playing.. as soon as I hit the ice I forgot about everything and was my crazy self! Keep me posted and if you have any questions just pm me

will do... Thank you very much again... Can't wait to lace em up!

So i wrote in to the newspaper and it was in it today! It was a little embarrasing when my neighbor called about it though.
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/letters/stor...27-abad-70db449e4ffd

Then!! There was another artical in the journal about colitis.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/bodyandhealt...6d-84cb-87395ecad7cb

That's very cool Ashley. Hopefully this will open up the UC 'wound' just a little more. Thank you for writing for all of us.

kathy

Great Job Ashley....the more press, the better it is for those that have this awful disease and no one to talk with. I had UC for almost 25 years, and no one knew how bad it really was until a few years before I had surgery. I had never met or talked to anyone that had it as bad as I did, until I found this wonderful site. So, the more people are aware that there is a good solution to UC, the better it is. I think it's great that you took the initiative to write the article; and don't be embarrassed, we are all proud of you.

janna

Way to go Ashley. That's a pretty courageous thing to do; thanks for speaking up. I'm sure that your letter will help someone that has just been (or soon will be) diagnosed with UC.

It's always easier for people to understand something when it's contextualized into a personal experience. I'm sure your letter will help to open a lot of eyes, and prove to be educational for the large number of people that do not understand the disease. Awesome job!

Your letter looks great.

However, in the article 2nd, it says this:

...
two things need to be present for a person to develop the condition, Fedorak says. You have to be born with a specific genetic mutation and you have to have a type of bacteria growing in your intestines common to people living in northern developing countries.

A popular theory suggests ulcerative colitis may be connected to bacteria on food and in the environment that a person ingests as a child, because bacteria here, for example, are different than bacteria ingested in Mexico or a warm tropical climate where there is no ulcerative colitis, Fedorak says.


Is this true? I had never really heard this before.

I've never heard it either. I would be interested in knowing if anyone else has. Thanks for the article Ashley.

janna