The Vast and Varied Complications of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In 2018, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada released a report on the impact of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Canada, the first wide-ranging look at IBD and its impact on Canada since 2012. Considering that Canada has one of the highest rates of IBD in the world, the report was invaluable. Unfortunately, few people in the general population actually know what IBD is, let alone Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. It’s estimated that approximately 270,000 Canadians live with IBD, and that number is only expected to rise. By 2030, the report suggests that the number of...

Does My Anxiety Qualify for Long-Term Disability?

At some point, nearly everyone experiences symptoms of anxiety. In fact, a small amount of anxiety can be a normal, healthy response to a frightening or stressful situation, like giving a big speech or driving through a blizzard. Anxiety rises to the level of disability when it begins to have a detrimental impact on your day-to-day life. In those cases, an individual will have debilitating feelings of apprehension, terror, or uneasiness, even in everyday situations without any obvious threat or trigger. The condition itself can take many different forms. Canada’s...

Occupational Therapist Denied Disability With Crohn’s Diagnosis

As an occupational therapist, Ken believed in helping others through physical activity and learning to connect with their bodies in new and unique ways. When he was 35, he decided to try and push himself by putting his money where his mouth was and adding to his exercise regime. He started running more and working out more regularly. He started to notice a change in his body and attributed it to the exercise. Unfortunately, there was another reason. He started to lose weight. Slowly at first, and then progressively more quickly. He noticed more abdominal pain than usual,...

Ostomy 101

The diagnosis of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis is a life-changing one. With a few short words, nothing is ever the same. Your dietary restrictions go through the roof, flare-ups can knock you out of commission for weeks at a time, and the symptoms can be painful and profoundly debilitating. There are some treatments, but no known cures. These can include medications and even surgery, of which one of the results is an ostomy. But what is an ostomy and how does it work? Ostomy surgery is a life-saving procedure whereby bodily waste is allowed to pass through “a...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Impacts...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can be difficult to talk about. Many people with IBS are unlikely to advertise their status, and the silence can mask the prevalence of the condition. That’s why it’s helpful to have statistics. In truth, Canada has one of the highest rates of IBS in the world, affecting 18% of the national population (the global rate is closer to 11%). That puts a significant strain on the Canadian healthcare system. It can take up to four years to make a positive IBS diagnosis, and those tests are expensive. The annual medical bill for an IBS patient is,...

[VIDEO] Ask A Lawyer: What If I’m Being Forced Back To Work?

https://www.sharelawyers.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Alison-2.mp4 Knowing when to go back to work after an injury or disability can be tricky. Often people will be cautious about returning too quickly but also eager to get back to life as normal (or at least as normal as possible). In some instances, the insurance company may try to “force” a client back to work before they feel they’re ready, claiming that they seem well enough. So what can you do in these situations? According to Alison Gilmour, one of our associate lawyers, the insurance company cannot legally...

The Unpredictable Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease Leads to a Claim Denial

For Everett, stomach pain was nothing new. He was first diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when he was 14. By the time he was 39, he had been through several surgeries and countless doctor’s appointments. He felt like he had spent half of his life in a waiting room or a recovery bed but for the most part, he was able to manage well enough to go about his business as a Fund Manager with a firm downtown. Unfortunately, some days were worse than others. When his symptoms flared, the pain could be debilitating, and the diarrhea only added to his embarrassment. He often called in...

‘Gutsy’ Short Documentary Sheds The Stigma About Crohn’s

“Honestly,” says Ryan Nesbitt, “Crohn’s is, like, the most inconsistent thing.” This sentiment comes at about the six-minute mark in Nesbitt’s short documentary, Gutsy. The short focuses on Nesbitt and Jessica Grossman’s experiences with Crohn’s disease, from their diagnoses in childhood to the present day. For those who live with Crohn’s disease, this sentiment will be very familiar. For the rest of the unaffected population, however, the details Nesbitt and Grossman share may come as a shock. It’s estimated that approximately 270,000 Canadians are living with...