26 ridiculous things that people actually said to Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis patients

There’s no nice way to put this: When you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, you hear a lot of dumb comments.

It’s understandable that people don’t know what inflammatory disease is all about. Most of us didn’t, either, until we were diagnosed with it.

The issue is that some people don’t seem willing to learn. Sure, certain people in your life are likely to be wonderfully understanding and empathetic. Be sure to let these people know how much you appreciate them! Others, however, can come across as almost aggressively ignorant about your chronic illness. This can include friends, family members, romantic partners, colleagues, you name it. Sometimes even medical professionals aren’t as well-versed in IBD as one would hope.

We asked our growing Twitter community: “What’s the most RIDICULOUS thing someone has said to you about your IBD?” Look through the answers below and you’ll probably feel frustration and, at the same time, an odd sense of relief that you’re not alone in hearing some of these deflating comments. The unwelcome dietary advice, the blatant misunderstandings, the accusations of being crazy … it’s all here!

Let’s hope that we can increase public awareness about IBD in all its forms so that, someday, people won’t say hurtful or dismissive things about our conditions anymore. Until then, it’s best to develop a thick skin, educate others when possible, and vent with others who do understand. Be sure to follow @colitiscrohnshq on Twitter to find lots of folks who know exactly what you’re going through.

And be on the lookout for Part 2 of this article series, where we’ll bring you even more utterly ridiculous things that people said to IBD patients.

Some people are pretty sure that your IBD isn’t the big deal you think it is.

I think it’s all in your mind. Are you sure you’re not just anxious?

— Sheila Harrington🕷 (@sharrington_k) January 21, 2020

Many people confuse Crohn’s and colitis with something else. Something quite a bit less serious, and more fleeting.

Oh, I had that ONCE!

— Justine Mower (@jussiemow) January 21, 2020

Poof, it’s gone! (I wish …)

You’re looking well has the crohns gone ?

— Andrew Horton (@villandrew) January 21, 2020

Despite a lack of medical or scientific training, lots of folks think they know what’s causing your disease. (Hint: They believe you’re doing it to yourself.)

“Is your vegetarianism anything to do with it?”

— Ellis Creez (@EllisCreez) January 21, 2020

They’re pretty sure it’s because of the way you eat.

My father: you got UC, since you eat out a lot! 😱

— Ken Salehi (@SalehiKen) January 21, 2020

So many misconceptions.

The Top 5 Things Said To Me:

1. Have you tried changing your diet and exercising?

2. It’s all in your head.

3. If I’ve never heard of this illness, it doesn’t exist.

4. If I kiss you, can I catch it?

5. I’m sure it’s a stomach bug and you’re being traumatic.

— Twanz (@IAmTwanz) January 21, 2020

Sometimes even doctors have weird ideas.

From a doctor: That apparrently all my rectal bleeding and terminal ileal inflammation are a result of anxiety/depression.

From well meaning civilians: Have you tried manuka honey/cannabis/yoga/accupuncture…. the list goes on.

— Sam B (@crohns_999) January 21, 2020

Cures, cures, everywhere cures.

Have you tried having a cup of tea without milk or have you tried herbal tea

— Steph (@rosiesteph) January 21, 2020

If only it were this simple.

Aloe vera will cure your gut issues. #stupidcomment

— Jennifer Marks (@jennjmarks) January 21, 2020

Or this simple.

Eat some crackers, you’ll be fine!🙄😡 #crohnsdisease #jpouchlife

— Jami Star (@Jamistarme) January 21, 2020

There’s a lot of minimizing going on.

1) oh ya I have IBS you just need to cut out dairy and u will be fine!

2) your too young to health problems, you will get over it!

3) stop being such a wimp its not that bad – 1 week later- emergency surgery then spent a month in intensive care due to sepsis!

— sam (@sam_marie1985) January 24, 2020

Apparently if it’s not immediately visible, then it must not be a real disability.

Use your own toilet, these ones are for people with disabilities.

— M e l a n i e (@mellowe19) January 21, 2020

And perhaps it’s not even real at all!

“ You don’t look sick. “

— Hope ☤ CST (@TheSassyScrub) January 23, 2020

Even friends and family can be really insensitive.

A friend asked me if I liked being sick. In the matter of did I enjoy it? I replied with a big fat no!!!

— Jessica Rose🌹 (@JessicaSteelle) January 22, 2020

Pretty sure you don’t actually know how I feel.

“The other day I was in the bathroom for two hours from eating Chipotle I know how you feel” pic.twitter.com/AyMcndtSZE

— meësh (@mushkabarton) January 21, 2020

Ugh.

My dad told me it was a belly ache and to stop being dramatic, I nearly died 3 weeks later and was hospitalised for 3 entire weeks. He was recently diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis.

— emmy (@youmemmatsix) January 21, 2020

At times, you get accused of making life inconvenient for those around you.

You use too much loo roll (which i pay for) pic.twitter.com/fXH66rE4H5

— Ed P (@EdPapworth) January 21, 2020

It’s can make you feel like burden.

“ What another toilet stop” 😥

— rita ditch (@chop1960) January 22, 2020

It even happens at work!

Manager to me “Why do you spend so long going to the toliet? Can’t you control it or wait until it’s more convenient to others in the workplace ?”

— Mark Stannard (@MarkStannards) January 21, 2020

People point out supposed “bright sides,” and that’s not always helpful. At all.

“Well it’s a good way to lose weight. I wish I could be as slim as you” …..I looked hideously thin and skeletal at the time. 🤬🤨

— Jeanine H (@J9JSM) January 21, 2020

Believe me, you don’t want to lose weight this way.

Oh yeah I had a woman who had gastric sleeve surgery go off. At time I had a servre flare lost 50kg in 50 days and ended up in emergency surgery at end. While I was losing weight getting diagnosed she complained to her Dr I was losing more weight than she was.

— PUFFER FISH (@puffdfish) January 22, 2020

My personal favorite: the implications that you’re crazy.

Runner up: You are skinny and happy. You don’t look sick. What’s your doctors name and how long have they been a doctor?

Winner: it’s all in your head. I think if you just ignored it, it would go away

— Court. 🖤🦈 (@c_singleton23) January 21, 2020

People say this stuff all the time.

“you’re making it all up”
i nearly died after struggling for a year and ended up in a coma for a month, not expecting to live past it. all because i “was making it all up”

— kylie 🏳️‍🌈 (@kylie_honestly) January 21, 2020

Or maybe you just love drama?

That I love the attention I’m getting from it when I’m lying on the work couch in pain, and I should recognize how much my sickness puts me in the spotlight

— Carolin Sachgau (@carosachgau) January 21, 2020

But we as out patients know what we’re dealing with, even when others don’t understand.

It’s all in your head and that was from a doctor,2 life saving operations later,can truly say it’s not all in my head having crohns for 34 years think I know best doc

— . (@olivebeatt) January 22, 2020

Sometimes all you can do is laugh.

So if you don’t eat fruit because of Crohns does that mean you can’t have fruity pebbles? (It’s stupid but it is funny. I don’t have the brightest friends)

— JohnnyCrohns (@JohnnyCrohns) January 22, 2020