My good friend, Jeffrey Roberts, president and founder of the IBS Self Help and Support Group issued the following press statement today "Disparaging IBS remarks on Senate floor by Senator John McCain furthers misunderstanding of the value of IBS research":
"During marathon sessions to debate Health Reform, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) on Saturday December 12, 2009 and Sunday December 13, 2009 identified IBS as an illness unworthy of receiving funds for research. Senator McCain's December 12, 2009 comment, "$665,000 for, I'm not making this one up, for the Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles California for equipment and supplies for the institute for Irritable Bowel Syndrome research.
Now, I have a lot of comments on them on that issue, but I'll just pass so not to violate the rules of the Senate.", demonstrates contempt for the real pain and suffering felt by the millions of IBS sufferers across the nation. On December 13, 2009 Senator McCain repeated, "Another one that I have been unable to describe adequately without violating the rules of the Senate. $665,000 for Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles California for equipment and supplies for the Institute for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Research. The only thing I can say is that problem will not be reduced when people read this legislation, so there may be a need for it. The list goes on and on, it is crazy stuff."
I love Jeffrey's perspective: "IBS isn't an illness that deserves potshots on the Senate floor to make a point with respect to Health Reform. It just perpetuates the myth that IBS is not a serious issue for millions of people who are desperately looking towards research and drug development to ease their suffering." I couldn't agree more. Why pick on IBS? Obviously Senator McCain is ignorant about the level of suffering that IBS patients experience. I have my IBS Hall of Fame - Senator John McCain is now an inductee into my IBS Hall of Shame.
What do you think about Senator McCain's comments? What would you like him to know about what life is like when you have IBS? Please leave a comment below or on the IBS discussion forum.
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This is an excellent advocacy opportunity, especially for Senator McCain’s Arizona constituents with IBS or who have supportive relatives or friends in the state.
Shame on Senator John McCain. IBS can be one of the most miserable and debilitating illnesses there is. It affects millions of people in varying degrees across the world. It accounts for numerous sums of money in doctor’s visits and loss of days worked. However, despite this, because it is non-life threatening it attracts hardly any monies for much needed research. Senator McCain illustrates an ignorance beyond belief. If he knew how many voters this horrible disease affected he would soon change his tune.
Wonder how he would like looking and feeling like he was 9 months pregnant all the time, with constant pain! He never had my vote and never will!
And how would constant gas go over during one of those speeches? Or having to run to the restroom in the middle? True, not life threatening, but very lifeSTYLE threatening.
This just shows the ignorance that is out there about IBS. I may not die, but I have lost jobs from not being able to wait 2 hours until my next break to use the bathroom. I have spent $$$ on Dr. visits and test with no added help. I am afraid to eat much of the time, or to go out into public regularly. I am dismissed as a cronic complainer or a hypocondriac by “friends” who don’t understand just how painful it is and it have been for so long. Yes Mcclain needs to do his research… and especially the IBS research is much needed.
This man should not be making these sorts of comments – if only he knew how many people (potential voters) have IBS … IBS people must unite
Well all I can say is lets hope he gets what we have, then he would know how it affects our lives.
That is the problem with peoples attitudes that do not know how debiletating it can be.