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Comment by covercash | Hacker News Reader

As a mod for r/CrohnsDisease, it really sucks that this is how most people are first hearing about the disease. Those with IBD already have a difficult time with people not believing they’re sick or that symptoms aren’t that bad since they’re not visible. Now Crohn’s will be associated with this fool using it as an excuse to steal a bunch of money... such a huge disappointment.

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I really doubt that this is how most people are first hearing of Crohn's disease.

Most people think it’s just a stomach ache or diarrhea. They don’t realize how severe and debilitating it can actually be because most people who have it don’t like to broadcast to the world that they’re shitting blood and mucus 30x a day.

> Those with IBD already have a difficult time with people not believing they’re sick or that symptoms aren’t that bad

That's surprising and sad to hear. I have a close friend with Crohn's who is always very stoic even when he's obviously feeling miserable. But I can't imagine people downplaying such a dreadful disease.

For rare diseases there is no such thing as bad publicity. This might even lead to someone with IBD being curious enough to get checked out.

It's not that rare, especially when viewed as a subtype of overall IBD. All in all Autoimmune diseases affect between 20 and 50 million people in the US alone

Anyone who knows anyone with Crohn's or Colitis won't. This guy used an excuse. He could have used any excuse. The shit people with Crohn's and Colitis have to deal with is terrible. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

TIL that IBD can mean Inflammatory Bowel Diseases as well as Initial Block Download.

I can empathise with this. I dated someone with IBD and had many sleepless nights when I found out the ambulance was on its way.

Invisible illness is terrible.

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