Crohn’s & Colitis Australia

Learnt so much about #ostomates at the Stoma Industry Association event at Parliament House. Having a stoma can : ▪️be lonely and stressful ▪️damage your mental health ▪️harm your career ▪️destroy your self-esteem. The quality of life for people with ostomates is 10% lower than other developed nations. This can be improved with an investment in more stoma nurses and innovative products that will increase QoL by 14%,reduce product usage and reduce healthcare cost. 50,000 Australians including those with #Crohns and #Colitis deserve better. Carolyn Rutherford Jamie Snashall Crohn’s & Colitis Australia

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬! Last night Live Fearless Champion Tracey Murrin celebrated her 7th year of the Challenge by taking on a personal fear; her fear of heights! The Doing it for Declan – Aura Sports team climbed the Brisbane Story Bridge and raised an additional $1,200 - with Director of Aura Sport Ari Jelekainen donating $100 for each of the Aura Live Fearless Team that made it to the top. “I am so incredibly grateful to my wonderful colleagues for getting behind me this year and supporting the LFC. I already knew that I had the best team of people around me, and once again they proved that,” Tracey said. "I am terrified of heights, so I thought what better challenge to get into the spirit of Live Fearless than to climb the bridge." Support the Doing it for Declan team in the link below: https://lnkd.in/gQeM3WCF

"Living with a gastrointestinal condition (at least four in ten Australians do) may contribute to parcopresis due to anxiety about the need to use a toilet frequently, and perceived judgment from others when doing so. Other factors, such as past negative experiences or accessibility challenges, may also play a role. Using a public toilet can understandably cause some anxiety or be unpleasant. But for a small minority of people it can be a real problem, causing severe distress and affecting their ability to engage in activities of daily living.If doing a poo in a toilet at work or another public setting causes you anxiety, be kind to yourself. A number of strategies might help: * Identify and challenge negative thoughts about using public toilets and remind yourself that using the bathroom is normal, and that most people are not paying attention to others in the toilets * Try to manage stress through relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, which involves tensing and relaxing different muscles around the body *Engaging in gradual exposure can be helpful, which means visiting public toilets at different times and locations, so you can develop greater confidence in using them *Use grounding or distraction techniques while going to the toilet. These might include listening to music, watching something on your phone, or focusing on your breathing. If you feel parcopresis is having a significant impact on your life, talk to your GP or a psychologist who can help identify appropriate approaches to treatment. This might include cognitive behavioural therapy." A piece in The Conversation Australia + NZ by Prof. Simon Knowles about parcopresis (or 'shy bowels'). Well worth a read! https://lnkd.in/gaWWyjD2

#flushthestigma Crohn’s & Colitis Australia

"A social media post by Queensland Health called “It's okay to poo at work" went viral this week. It started a conversation that people seem to have only with a small and specific cluster of close friends, usually on the understanding that the conversation, unlike the smell coming from that locked stall, will go no further. Do you poo at work? And if not, why? It cut through because there’s a distaste around talking about poo. I respect and understand this. I don’t love poo talk, and won’t allow it at the dinner table, for instance. It would be inappropriate with new friends, or while enjoying a soft serve chocolate ice-cream, or when applying a mud mask to one’s face. Hearing about poo is too evocative and gross in most settings. But this bodily function, like our naked bottoms, needs occasional time in the sun. If there’s something we need education on, or social change, or if there’s something affecting our health – we have to talk about it." An excellent piece by Yumi Stynes about the harmful stigma that exists around going to the bathroom at work, and the significant health consequences that can follow. https://lnkd.in/gCuP2J4e

This morning's announcement from Stephen Jones is brilliant news for every Australian!👏👏👏 Fears of genetic discrimination have held back many people from having genetic testing - testing that could save not only their own lives but potentially the lives of family members. That now will be a thing of the past. Jim Chalmers Anthony Albanese The Royal Australasian College of Physicians The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Jane Tiller (PhD) Paul Lacaze Human Genetics Society of Australasia - HGSA Genea Monash University Monash IVF Group IVF Australia

“Have some empathy. That’s all I ask for as you don’t know until you’re in their shoes what they’re actually going through.” While raising her young children in a new country, Barbara Hutcheon was living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and was trying her best to save face. Barbara and her daughter, IBD Nurse Samantha Bullman spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) earlier this year. Cristy-Lee Macqueen. Listen to the interview here: https://lnkd.in/g3dJFtsq Sign up to the Live Fearless Challenge (and support the fearless LFC participants) as they raise funds for research, resources and services for the IBD community here: https://lnkd.in/gUnsiKcY

10,000 kilometres 🏃♂️ 🏃♀️ That's nearly one lap of Australia. What an amazing effort from the CCA community. Let's keep it going! 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 to join the challenge as we raise awareness and vital funds (for research, resources and services) for the IBD community. Australia first, the world next! 🌍 🌍 🌍 https://lnkd.in/gUnsiKcY

We're after 500 LFC sign ups! Help us reach this milestone. It's all about encouraging movement and activity, while raising awareness and funds for the IBD community. If you can, tell everyone about the Live Fearless Challenge. We're pivoting away from it being the best-kept secret. https://lnkd.in/gs6YiN5A

"With a new liver, my Crohn's is under control, my health is at a really great stage, I'm keeping fit and active by playing soccer at the age of 44, and now I'm really excited to be able to create awareness about organ donation and share my story with the world." A fantastic piece in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) about the Transplant Australia Football Team, who are competing in the inaugural World Cup. It features an interview with Ante Kelic who lives with Crohn's Disease and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, and is competing in the event following his recovery from a life-saving liver transplant. https://lnkd.in/gbheNch5