MANLY Vale funnyman Luke Escombe has spoken about his battle with Crohn’s disease at an emotional awareness lunch at Parliament House in Canberra yesterday.

The 33-year-old musician and comedian said the lunch, organised by Crohn’s & Colitis Australia, was an opportunity to speak honestly about living with the little known disease.

“It was quite powerful – I ended up having some MPs coming up to me in tears afterwards and telling me how moved they were with my speech,” he said.

“I was talking about 20 years of living with this illness, so it was powerful stuff. to speak honestly about it was a massive relief.” mr Escombe was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease when he was 14.

He’s had two major flare-ups which left him house-bound for years and even hospitalised him. he said the disease influenced his work and forced him to spend time in isolation. “if I have funny views it’s because my perspective that has been forced on me is that of an outsider,” he said.

His show, Chronic, performed at the Sydney Fringe Festival this year, incorporates aspects of living with the disease to create awareness. mr Escombe said he urged young people not to ignore the symptoms of the disease or suffer in silence.

“many people are diagnosed too late because they feel embarrassed or scared to go to their doctor,” he said. “once you accept the illness, you can learn to live with it and you can achieve amazing things.”

Mr Escombe will perform at Davefest at Mona Vale Hotel tonight. Entry is $15.

KNOW THE FACTS-More than 70,000 Australians have been diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, the collective term for Crohn’s disease and colitis-The disease is more prevalent than MS, epilepsy and rheumatoid arthritis, but awareness is very low

My mom is in the hospital with an e-coli infection. it is in her kidney. The doctors said she has internal bleeding somewhere in her body. I looked up her symptoms on the internet and it sounds like hemorrhagic colitis. Is this very treatable? I'm really scared. please help me.

I have sharp pain my lower right side of my abdomen. is that colitis? it happened after I ate Little Caesars pizza, could it be that cheap food that caused it?

It's not colitis. It's probably gas. this often happens to short kids when eating large amounts of carbohydrates. How tall are you?

I was diagnosed with colitis when I was 11, and now I am 17. I haven't really had symptoms that I can remember since I was that age.

However, in the past month, I've had about 5 bloody stools, and when I spoke a few weeks ago (at that point I had 3) to my doctor, he said it prob. wasn't related to colitis but something blocking that area that was irritating it.

However, I went on vacation, and on Wednesday, I got a bad stomach ache. I assumed it was cramps, but it continued the next day and the next. on Friday, I wasn't able to pass a bowel movement (after thinking I had to) and when I wiped I came away with dark red blood.

I feel completely bloated now (and look it – I look pregnant or something), my stomach hurts, and I wish I could pass a bowel movement but can't.

I read that drinking carrot juice would help, so about an hour ago I drank a glass and a half, but nothing has happened.

I ate very lightly today – some pieces of fruit, a few raisins, airplane pretzels, airplane Wheat Thins, and now carrot juice.

Last few days before that I was eating normally (a few junk food items), though.

What can I do and how long will this last?? I'll be meeting with a doctor next week.

Extra info: I take 8 pills of Asacol a day.

I'm starting a new school on Tuesday, so I hate the fact that this came at a horrible time. How long does this last, and do you think it's related to colitis?

Don't listen to the guy talking about gluten. Gluten aggravates people with Celiac Disease, not colitis. my best friend has Celiac and is gluten free. I have tried it and it has not helped me, and my doctor tells me that Colitis is an autoimmune disorder and that foods don't cause it.

I have Colitis as well, and this definitely sounds like a flare up. Try eating soft foods, and stay away from spicy stuff because it can feel painful on the damaged part of your colon. When I have a flare up, I drink fruit smoothies a lot (not like ice cream, actual fruit or veggies). this keeps you full, but no hard particles are going into your system so it feels a lot less uncomfortable.

If you're feeling terribly constipated, you can use Colace or any other generic brand stool softener. The generic is 4 dollars for 100 pills at walmart (or any other similar store) and it will make it easier and a lot less painful to go.

Unfortunately, this will probably last until you can get in to see your GI doc. Hope you feel better soon.

i want to know details about ischemic colitis&clinical features of Pseudomembranous colitis.

I just started university, and I've had colitis for most of my life.. though with the stress of university I have been flaring up and getting negative symptoms..

If you have some form of IBS please respond and leave your tips on dealing with flare-ups induced by stress.
What foods help you? What stress relieving techniques help you?

All feedback is appriciated!!!!!

yes i do i had the diaharrea and stomache pain for 5 months and just recently got control of it my protein level was down so i ate alot of foods with protein in them and took immodium everyday try that hope it helps i also bought ibs pills at cvs and took them that cured the pain in my stomache