Crohns confession #1

I am a liar. Yes a liar, there I said it. But don’t judge me too fast. It’s not that I want to lie it’s just become a habit and even though I have confessed I know I will continue to do it over and over and over again. It’s always the same lie too. It always starts with the same question and always ends with the same answer.

The question: How are you?

The (lie) answer: I’m Fine!

Yes I always say I’m fine even when I’m not (which is just about always). Why do I say I’m fine even when I’m not? Come on now really. EVERYONE asks “How are you” but how many of them really truly want to know??? Your family and really good friends, oh and your doctor really want to know but everyone else….I don’t think so. It has been my experience that all those other people use the phrase “How are you” as often as hello. After all it is expected. You see someone you know and you say “Hello, how are you” or “Hi, how have you been” and you reply “I’m fine” even when you’re not. I ask people all the time “how are you” and I would be happy to hear the truth. I’ve tried it though. People have asked and I have answered truthfully…..well I’m having a lot of pain today or this fatigue is really hard to deal with… Sometimes they are polite and ask what is causing the pain/fatigue and I start to tell them about my Crohns and I always know the exact moment where I’ve said too much. Their face starts to contort into this odd, eww, too much information expression. Their eyes glass over and you can almost hear them thinking “I really didn’t want to know this much about you”. So like a good little crohnie I quickly change the subject to something more comfortable to the “ask but don’t really want to hear it people”. So are you a liar too? Well tell me the truth because I really want to know…. How are you? :)

Love, laugh, and always know where the nearest bathroom is