"Crohn's Disease: A Memoir From the Toilet" is a funny and candid look at the author's journey through Crohn's Disease. A must-read for anyone suffering from Crohn's, colitis or any form of inflammatory bowel disease, it is also a revealing and emotional read for any audience. The author, a self-described "Chronie," recounts his journey from pre-diagnosis to his current life, telling stories that can alternate from hilarious to heart-wrenching. After moving away from his hometown shortly after college, the author begins suffering severe symptoms related to Crohn's Disease. Unfortunately, three different doctors misdiagnose his ailments as being "nervous stomach." One doctor even tells him to "stop being a baby." From there, his condition worsens, and the retelling goes into deep detail about the path he took to diagnosis, from clinical tests to exploratory surgery. The journey then hits a downward slope, as post-operative complications become draining and even life-threatening, before a bounce-back recovery and ultimate victory over a serious infection related to Crohn's Disease. Along the way, the reader will join the author on the emotional and physical roller coaster ride that is involved with inflammatory bowel disease. From hilarious scenes in clinical settings - the author at one point, under anesthetic, randomly asks a nurse to marry him - to emotional insights that will bring tears, the book engages from the outset and doesn't let go.
