Crohn’s & Green Living: It’s The Little Things, Done Consistently, That Add Up

I cannot actually say that I considered getting rid of my Toyota Camry for a “greener” vehicle because I have Crohn’s disease.

Being a patient with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), however, creates some special challenges as far as consumables. Here are a few of them:

Fluids and more fluids: Any individual with Crohn’s disease needs to drink tons of fluids each day to ward off dehydration. Ideally, all of them should be free of caffeine, since caffeine increases diarrhea. If you’re relying mainly on water and juices for daily liquids, you have lots of choices as far as drink containers. Are you willing to refill a large water bottle, or are you going to pop into the 7-Eleven twice each day to buy pre-packed cranberry juice?

My solution to this problem is two-fold. First, I have a very large reusable water bottle. I have no problem refilling it from a tap. During the summer months, I stick it in the freezer overnight and let it thaw throughout the following day, assuring me of always having cold water. I do reuse disposable water bottles for our indoor cats by filling them with tap water and chilling them in the refrigerator.

When drinking juices, I buy large containers – glass that can be recycled if possible – and decant the juice into cups or smaller bottles at home. Our county has required recycling for years, so all plastic and glass goes into the appropriate bins for weekly pickup.

All that paper: Like most Crohn’s patients, I read a lot about medical conditions and research to improve my life. In a given week, I read The Washington Post daily, along with at least three specialized newsletters printed on recyclable paper. All newspapers go into the weekly county-mandated recycling pickup. The other publications – along with monthly magazines such as Good Housekeeping and

Kiplinger’s – travel with me to my almost-monthly doctor’s appointments. I recycle them so that others will have a chance to read them. When I print out medical information from the Internet, it goes on both sides of a recycled sheet of paper. And did you know we can purchase eco-friendly bathroom tissue?

Medications: I wish I could tell you that I have the power to cause both the local and the mail-order pharmacy that handle all our prescriptions to use biodegradable containers. I don’t. Since all their bottles look plastic to me, I recycle them two ways. The smaller containers go directly into the recycling bin. The larger ones are washed, after which the kid-proof caps go back on and the bottles become favorite toys for the cat version of soccer.

Walking benefits: Most of the time, I’m not feeling well enough for heavy-duty exercise. Instead, I walk short distances. This helps my Crohn’s-afflicted gut to work more efficiently and lifts my spirits. I always carry a bag with me to pick up stray cans or bottles, all of which go directly into the appropriate recycling bin as soon as I get home.

Hospitals: The idea of choosing a hospital for surgery or other treatment versus reporting as ordered to your doctor’s first choice is a novelty for most patients with Crohn’s disease. However, due to living in a major metropolitan area with many options for medical treatment, that’s exactly what I do. Most of my physicians are in practices that service at least two area hospitals, sometimes three. Although I certainly don’t have time to quibble at 2 AM when in the midst of an intestinal obstruction, the rest of the time, I choose the hospital where I want testing done or where I want to be treated.

I make it a point to check out their respective websites periodically so that I know which ones are making major attempts to head toward “green”. If the website doesn’t really say too much, I just pick up the telephone and dial the administrator’s office. I want to know whether the facility sterilizes and reuses certain equipment, or just gives it the old heave-ho toward the trash pile. What happens, for example, to the empty plastic bag of steroids you just got via IV? The IV line itself? I also consider whether a hospital insists on pushing their own pills on me while I’m admitted, or whether they’ll permit me to bring my own prescriptions.

It’s also important to check out the hospital laundry and its practices. Everything from the cleaning products used in the laundry to the floor of your room is a major indicator of how “green” the facility really is. Kitchen practices reveal a lot as well.