Being recently diagnosed with Crohn’s has led me to read lots but most of it has been so gloomy I decided to stop. And then I remembered Ben Watt’s intestinal illness. I’m no EBTG fan but I enjoyed ‘Romany and Tom’, his recent memoir of his parents.
It might be 19 years since publication, but ‘Patient – the true story of a rare illness’ is still well worth a read. There’s always someone worse off than you, in this case that someone is Ben Watt, but he comes across as stoical, pragmatic and full of humour. At less than 180 pages, a quick read and well worth a few quid.
There’s definitely light at the end of my tunnel.
I might go and give his album another listen.
I’ve just read Ben Watt’s ‘Patient’
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Yes it’s a really good book. Actually I’m struggling with “Romany and Tom” – brilliantly written but I find it a bit depressing so a read 50 pages then have a break. His album is excellent I think. But then I love EBTG.
All my best FSteve and as someone who spent far too long in hospital last year, it’s no that bad. Is it?
It’s a really, really good book although the first section had me hyperventilating a bit with anxiety (I can’t imagine what it must have been like for him).
What I really like about him (and I think I’ve touched on this before with Twang) is in both this and ‘Romany and Tom’ he doesn’t try and sugar-coat his own personality- he’s (understandably) a difficult patient, and generally a difficult person, and doesn’t baulk from exploring that. There’s no ‘triumph over tragedy’ or ‘how I got this Really Bad Thing but became a better person!’ or other such cliches.
Good luck with the treatment. My Mum has Crohn’s so I know a little of how painful it can be.
Haven’t read “Patient”, but have been meaning to for ages.
Read “Romany and Tom” a couple of months ago. One of the best biographies I’ve ever read. Superb.
You have my utmost sympathy, I was diagnosed 17 yrs ago (some doctor’s say Crohn’s others colitis) and it has been a bumpy ride. I am probably only in the last 18 months getting the right attention and treatment for this awful disease after a medical emergency where I needed blood transfusions (caused by Crohn’s medication). I have recently started injecting Humira, which isn’t fun, but it’s only once every 2 weeks, but for the foreseeable future. This will hopefully save me from surgery.
I will read that book. Regarding being “stoic”, I was once told I was too much that way. Don’t put up with pain, blood and the other symptoms, be pro-active and force your doctor/specialist to look into other options.
Good luck.
Ta, all. After 30 years of misdiagnosis I’m finally under Cambridge’s best consultant and a consultant dietician. 6 months, and two colonoscopies, later and I feel almost normal about two days a week. That’s progress, believe me. Hopefully surgery can be avoided, or delayed indefinitely at least.
It’s a good book, whether or not you have IBD.