Media

Brian Hikes and Climbs the 46 High Peaks for IBD and Ostomy Awareness

 

Hello I.I.F. Supporters,

As many of you know, I suffer from severe Crohn’s disease and have an ileostomy. The journey of my life so far has not been the easiest, but I believe in living life to the fullest and not letting my disease get in the way of that goal. Now, I want to impart what I have learned about overcoming the obstacles in my path to live as normal and active a life as possible to others with IBD conditions.

The IIF’s New Never Stay Quiet Awareness Campaign

The Intense Intestines Foundation is always looking for new ways to reach as many people as possible and raise awareness for Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and ostomies.  A couple of our main goals are to show people that they can live a normal life with the right planning and preparation, as well as to open up about their disease and know that it’s okay to discuss everything they’re going through.

This is why we’ve created the Never Stay Quiet campaign for IBD and ostomy awareness.  The main goals of this campaign is to show others with IBD and/or ostomies that it’s okay to discuss their condition with others and raise awareness themselves, as well as open up so they can feel better about themselves.  Another goal of the campaign is to allow those who don’t know much about an IBD or ostomy, that even though patients might suffer from many symptoms we can overcome the diseases and live a normal life.

We’ll be shooting videos with many different people of different genders, ages, ethnicities, diseases and more for the Never Stay Quiet campaign.  This way everyone with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and/or ostomies will be able to find a video with a story they can connect too.

Here is our first video from IIF follower Marisa, who was nice enough to share her story.  The words Never Stay Quiet have a very important place in her life.

For more information on the IIF’s Never Stay Quiet campaign, please visit our campaign page here.

We look forward to helping as many people as possible with this project and raise more awareness for Crohn’s, colitis and ostomies.

Never Stay Quiet!

The Escape the Stall Campaign by the CCFA

In recent days we’ve seen many posts about the new Escape the Stall campaign by the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.  Social media sites have been buzzing about the campaign and many people have been sharing their feelings about the pictures the CCFA has released to raise IBD awareness.

Influential people in the IBD community like Jessica Grossman of Uncover Ostomy have written about the campaign (Click here for Jessica’s post) and Sara Ringer of Inflamed and Untamed wrote about it as well (Click here for Sara’s post).  To many people to count have commented on these two posts and other posts on various Facebook pages or Twitter accounts, all sharing different and varying thoughts.  Most people in the IBD community seem to be viewing the campaign in a negative way.

We made this short video with the pictures from the Escape the Stall campaign.

These pictures have been seen in movie theaters, magazines, newspapers and other areas to raise IBD awareness.  We’d like to know what you think and hear your thoughts.  Please feel free to leave a comment and start a discussion on the topic here or on our Youtube page.  It might be good feedback for the CCFA.

Never Stay Quiet!

Public Bathroom With No Stall Door

Sometimes there are just things that aren’t right in society.  Some of them we can’t do anything about, others though we can have a voice and make changes.  The other day I was at a local sports bar in Norwalk, CT and when I went to the bathroom there was no door on the stall.  As an Inflammatory bowel disease patient for the last 20 years and one who lives with an ostomy now, I was amazed to see this.  How could an established sports bar like this one not have something as simple as a door on their stall?

I took a moment to think about while I was there.  Being someone who is extremely comfortable with my ostomy I had used it.  My thought process was that whoever might walk into the bathroom right now will just get a lesson in ostomy awareness.  It might just be another chance for me to bring awareness to the cause.

As I was sitting there doing my thing, I began to think about all the other people in a similar situation as me or how about just regular people who might want a little privacy when they use the bathroom.  As a Crohn’s patient I thought about all my IBD friends who wouldn’t be comfortable with this.  What about those few that have an ostomy who don’t wish for others to see it, how are they supposed to handle this situation when they need to use the bathroom?

This is something that any person might not know about until it’s to late.  They would get to the restaurant, eat a good meal, all of a sudden have the urge to go, get to the bathroom and have no choice.  Someone with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis wouldn’t have a choice.  When the urge hits, you have to go and many times you have to go at that moment.  Sometimes without even enough time to get a friend to watch the door for you if you aren’t comfortable.

Needless to say I’m writing a letter to the owner of the restaurant.  This situation is something that shouldn’t be a situation at all.  How can a bar not have a door on their stall?  I understand that if it were a straight bar or club trying to be trendy, or maybe that will deter people from making a mess, doing drugs, or using the bathroom in any other way that it wasn’t meant for.  But what about the rest of us, the 99% of patrons that just might need to go to the bathroom and would like a little privacy.

I will let you know the outcome of writing management and the owner.  This is a perfect example of how we should…

 Never Stay Quiet!

Skiing and Snowboarding with an IBD or Ostomy

Many activities can look scary when having an ostomy.  Some of them are and precautions have to be made.  You should only partake in many activities if they are in a safe environment.   Skiing is a sport that some ostomates stay away from.  There are so many factors and variables that go into a sport like skiing or snowboarding that it can be intimidating

These winter sports that so many love can be done with an ostomy and enjoyed.  The most important thing to remember is that they must be done when your body is strong.  If you’re uncomfortable with your body, then an activity with as much motion as skiing or snowboarding is hard.  When you body is strong, you can begin to think about going for a trip.

When planning your trip there are some factors that you must think about.  Here are a few.

1) Conditions: You don’t want to ski or ride when the conditions are tough.  If the mountain is full of ice and the chances are higher than normal for a fall or accident, then it’s not worth the risk.

2) Weather: If you aren’t going to be comfortable on the mountain then you won’t perform well.  This will raise the chances of something happening and possibly falling.  If the weather is going to be 10 degrees with 40 mph winds, STAY AT HOME.

3) Friends: Unless you’re an expert and are at a mountain you know, you should be skiing with friends who know you.  Being with people who know your situation will make you more confident and allow you to ski/ride better.

4) Stay Hydrated: When performing heavy activity in cold weather your body has to work hard.  You might not sweat but your body is still losing moisture.  Wear a hydration system and stay away from beverages that will dehydrate you.

5) Use Common Sense: No one knows your body better than you, so make a smart decision on if skiing or riding at this time is correct.  If you have any doubts, then it’s not the right time. Wait until you know the timing is right.

Performing certain activities with an ostomy can be scary, but most if not all activities can be done with the right planning and preparation   Founder of the IIF Brian Greenberg went skiing last year.  Here are some thoughts Brian had on his first trip since surgery.

“I waited until the time was right.  My first winter with an ostomy was great, but I was nervous.  I spent the winter snowshoeing which still allowed me to enjoy being outside.  Last year the season on the East Coast was not the best.  The conditions were icy and even though I was strong, I didn’t want to risk falling on my stoma.  Later in the season the mountain began to get snow, a lot of snow.  As soon as the conditions were going to be soft, I began to make calls and plan a trip.  I was lucky as a friend has a house I could stay at.  This made me even more comfortable since I knew I had all the comforts of home at the end of the day.  The two days were great, I skied most of the time in powder and never had a worry in the world.  I fell twice and it was like nothing happened.  The trip gave me more confidence that my body was getting stronger and I could do what I loved again”

This shows you that when the timing is right with your body, you still might have to wait till other factors are right too.  Brian was smart and his patience paid off, which allowed him to ski without worrying about anything happening.  Take your time and when it’s right to go skiing o riding for the first time, you’ll know it.

Never Stay Quiet! 

IIF Year In Review: 2012 Was A Great First Year!

Now that we have officially begun 2013, all of us at the IIF wanted to take a quick look back at our first full year of operation.  It was a year in which we all learned a lot, and all of us are looking forward to applying what we learned and helping even more IBD and ostomy patients in 2013.

In our first year of raising Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and ostomy awareness we were able to fundraise over $10,000 in order start the IIF, create the resources needed and begin to create the Intense Intestines Scholarship, to help young adults reach their higher education goals.

We held events throughout the year which included:

• The Climb for Crohn’s & Colitis, climbing event (World IBD Day, May 19th)
• The Comedy for Crohn’s & Colitis Event, featuring the Chris and Paul Show (July 28th)
• Bring Your Baggage, World Ostomy Day Event (October 6th)
• IIF Bike Ride From New York City to Boston (October 26th-28th)
• Strike Down Crohn’s & Colitis, bowling event (Crohn’s & Colitis Awareness Week, Dec 2nd)

All of these events led us to meet incredible people and we were able to reach new IIF followers who weren’t even aware of IBD or ostomies.  In 2013 we have even more planned in order to raise awareness with events like the ones above and more.  Including a great Never Stay Quiet campaign to raise even more awareness for Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and ostomies.

Here are some videos from 2012

 

 

 

During 2012, we didn’t just hold events either.  We were given incredible opportunities to be featured in magazines like the back cover of Crohn’s Advocate, the The City That Works feature and Brian Greenberg appeared on New Channel 12 CT for a segment called 12 on Health to raise IBD awareness.

We’re ready for the start of 2013 and are excited to say that we will soon be fully 501(c)(3) certified by the Internal Revenue Service.  This will allow us to run as fully tax exempt nonprofit and will allow our contributors to get the write offs which they deserve for helping us in our mission of helping others.

As the IIF continues to grow, we’ll be sure to continue to bring you more good news.  We can’t wait to see where 2013 will take all of us and what will be in store.  All of us are passionate and can’t wait to carry out our mission for another year.  We get incredible satisfaction by helping others with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and ostomies.  Nothing will stop us from doing everything we can to make the lives of others with these diseases better.

Never Stay Quiet!

Overcoming IBD and Ostomy Workouts (Boxing/Kickboxing)

In this video Intense Intestines Foundation Founder & President, Brian Phillip Greenberg overcomes his Crohn’s disease and ostomy to train in boxing and kickboxing with his trainer.  It’s important to only train like this with someone who knows about your health conditions.

You can overcome your IBD and ostomy as well.  We all just have to put in the effort and try.  Is today the day you will start overcoming your IBD or ostomy?

Never Stay Quiet!

Overcoming IBD and Ostomy Workouts (Circuit Training)

Anyone can do something if they put their mind to it.  Sometimes when a person has an IBD or ostomy they just have to try a little harder.  If they put the effort into changing their life and living a healthy lifestyle, it can make a huge difference in their quality of life.

Brian has overcome more then 25 surgeries and many flares with his Crohn’s disease.  Now he lives with an ostomy and is reclaiming his life.  Here Brian shows that even with Crohn’s disease and an ostomy you can exercise just like a healthy person.  He takes that extra step to make sure that he lives as normal a life as possible even after everything he’s been through.

Is today the day that you take your first step and start to overcome your IBD or ostomy?

Never Stay Quiet

Hiking/Climbing the 46 High Peaks for IBD & Ostomy Awareness

Intense Intestines Foundation’s Founder and President, Brian Phillip Greenberg wants to do everything he can to show others with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and ostomies that anything can be done.  It might take more planning and preparation but those with these conditions can live life to the fullest.

Here is a short introduction video about the 46 High Peaks and why Brian is hiking them for IBD/Ostomy awareness.

Brian’s Story with Crohn’s disease Part 3 (Living with Crohn’s)

I was given the opportunity to make a short video series for Health Theater about Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This is the third part of the three part series in which I discuss how to live with Crohn’s disease and what I’ve found to work for myself. I also talk about always visiting your doctors and to keep as much information that you can about you Inflammatory Bowel Disease in order to learn how to control it.

I.I.F.’s Spotlight in The City That Helps Magazine

This past winter the Intense Intestines had the great honor of being profiled in The City That Helps Magazine.  It was something that we weren’t expecting, but when the opportunity presented itself, we were excited to be a part of the issue.

The City That Helps is a magazine that specializes in local nonprofits in the Fairfield and Westchester county areas.  Some of the organizations that we were next to in this issue were the Boy and Girls Club of Stamford, St. Lukes Lifeworks, and the National MS Society.  To be next to these nonprofits and others was an incredible privilege for the Intense Intestines Foundation.

You can read the issue at the link we’ve supplied below.  We hope that you take a look at this great profile on us at the I.I.F. and we hope to have more opportunities like this in the future.

http://en.calameo.com/read/0001344193255a335b83f

Never Stay Quiet

Video Post: Relationships and dating with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and an ostomy

With Valentines Day just past us, I wanted to share some thoughts about relationships and dating with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and an ostomy.  Since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 11 and having the disease as a young man I thought I might have some good tips for others.  Throw into the picture that I’ve had my ileostomy for over a year now I felt like I could assist others going through some of the mental battles that come with dating and having an ostomy.  Please watch both videos if this topic is of interest to you.  I’ll give you a heads up that all the information I give you is wrapped up in a very powerful statement at the end of the second video that everyone should hear and live by when it comes to this topic.

In this first video I discuss some tips and answer some questions like when to bring up your IBD, what to discuss and how to talk about it with your interest or partner.

 

 

In the second video I talk more about relationships and dating with an ostomy, but still have tips and thoughts for those that don’t have a ostomy yet.  I discuss topics such as how dating with an ostomy is different, becoming educated together, how to be physical with an ostomy, as well as a big question that your partner is thinking.

 

Brian’s Story with Crohn’s disease Part 1 (Diagnosis)

 

This past summer I was contacted by a company called Health Theater that does short pieces as well as longer documentaries on many different types of diseases.  They contacted me about my Crohn’s disease and if I would be willing to discuss it on camera.  I took the opportunity without hesitation.

This video which is part one of three is an introduction to my story with Crohn’s and what it was like to be diagnosed at such a young age.  It wasn’t easy dealing with a chronic illness at 11 years old.  The battle I’ve had with my Crohn’s has been long and hard.  All though I would have liked a normal life.  This path has led me to the person I am today and when I look at what I’m doing by helping others with my story, as well as bringing inflammatory bowel disease patients together with Intense Intestines Social, I’m very happy.

I hope that you enjoy part 1 of the 3 part series.

Never Stay Quiet

IBD Video Tuesdays

Today is the start of IBD Video Tuesdays from the Intense Intestines Foundation.  We’re going to bring you a video every Tuesday, having Brian cover various topics on Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. These topics will cover IBD news, diet, exercise, supplementation, ostomies, relationships, IIF news, and many other Crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis topics.  We hope you like the videos that we bring to you and the topics that we cover.

Crossing the Finish Line After 13.1 Miles for Team Challenge

One of the great experiences during the first year with my ostomy was running with Team Challenge to support the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.  The entire trip was one that I will never forget.  For almost three years it was hard for me to go more then a couple of hours from my house and during some of that it was even hard to leave for minutes.  Now I was traveling across the country to Napa California to run a half marathon.  It was truly one the greatest vacations of my life for so many reasons.  In the end I raised just under $5,000 for Inflammatory Bowel Disease also, which goes to a great cause.