Casey Abrams became a fan-favorite on season 10 of “American Idol” with his smooth, bluesy voice. When he was hospitalized briefly during the show with complications of ulcerative colitis, his health condition made national headlines.
Having to “come out” on national television with irritable bowel disease (IBD) would be an emotional challenge for many, but for 19 year-old Abrams, it was an opportunity to raise awareness about his condition.
Abrams is taking awareness to the next level. The singer has joined forces with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) for a campaign called “IBD Icons,” where people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis are asked to share personal stories about pursuing their dreams despite their disease. Readers can vote for their favorites at the “IBD Icons” Web site, and winners will be announced November 1st.
Casey Abrams recently talked to Healthline about coping with IBD, the importance of humor, a kind gesture from Tyler and much more…
Casey Abrams
You were diagnosed with IBD when you were attending college. Can you describe what your symptoms were?
Do you mind if I get graphic?
Feel free to give as much information as possible—it will help people.
Ok. One day when I was in college, I went to the bathroom and I noticed there was blood in the toilet. I didn’t do anything about it. The same thing happened the next day and by day three, I was in the bathroom about 14 times. I knew that was way too much and that something was wrong. I thought it was the stomach flu. I walked with my bass [guitar] from class to class, and I remember it was getting harder and harder to breathe. Ironically enough, I sang a song called “Harder to Breathe” on “American Idol.”
I ended up basically waiting way too long to see a doctor, and when I finally did, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), which is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic digestive disease with no cure. I’m telling you, I had no idea what it was or what I was going through.
Was it difficult for you to find the right doctor to diagnose you with IBD?
Finding a doctor was definitely a challenge for me. At first I had a regular doctor, and then I had to switch to a gastroenterologist.
You know who helped me a lot in terms of getting the right doctor? “American Idol.” They were so incredibly helpful and they got me a great doctor – his name is Dr. Edelstein and he’s been helping me out. That was a tough journey, but I found the right people and now I’m getting the right treatment.
Speaking of “American Idol.” You “came out” with IBD in a very public way – it was in front of millions of TV viewers. Was that an easy choice for you? Were there people advising you against it?
Nobody advised me not to do it; it’s just that I really didn’t want to be “that guy.” I think [fellow “Idol” contestant] James Durbin and I had different outlooks on things. I mean, he put it right out there that he had Tourette and Asperger's syndromes in his very first audition. And that’s cool.
But for me, I just wanted to be the “jazz, bass guy,” you know? I didn’t want to known as the “ulcerative colitis guy.” But that said, I think it was a blessing in disguise when I got hospitalized on the show, because it really gave me a kick in the butt to actually start talking about IBD, and to raise awareness about the disease. Like I said, I didn’t want to be “that guy,” but now I am “that guy” and I’m proud to be him so I can raise awareness. It all turned out for the best and I’m proud.
Stress can cause a flare up of IBD, and you’d gotten your diagnosis before “American Idol.” Was there any hesitation on your part about going on the show, knowing it could potentially cause so much stress?
See, I knew there’d be stress doing the show, but I also knew it would be fun. And it was definitely stressful, but it was also a load of fun! And when you’re doing something you love, how can it really be that stressful? You can’t let the fear of something control you.
You mentioned the “Idol” producers were great at helping you get a doctor. Did Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, or Randy Jackson ever talk to you about your condition?
Steven TylerWe don’t really get to see the judges all that much, but there was one awesome thing that happened. I remember there was this one show and I’d just gotten back from the hospital. I was sitting on a chair during my performance, and I looked over at Steven Tyler. Steven kind of pointed at me, rubbed his stomach and mouthed, “Are you ok?” I gave him a thumbs-up and I can’t tell you how much that meant to me. That one small gesture was enough for me to know that he cared. It was pretty cool…
You seem really happy and confident. Is there any one thing that helps you cope with your condition on a day-to-day basis?
Yes. Humor! I mean, think about it—it’s a disease about pooping! [Laughs] You have to have a sense of humor about it. You just have to make as many poop jokes as you can and that’s what my friends and I have been doing. James Durbin and I just make fun of each other! Whenever I’m late for a concert, James will say, ‘Hey Casey, you been poopin’ or something?’ And you know what? I appreciate that! I think it lightens the load. No pun intended.
What would be your advice to someone who was just diagnosed with IBD?
The first thing I’d tell them would for them to talk to their doctor—that’s the biggest thing. Your doctor will know what to do and will know what’s best for you. Even just having my doctor guiding me on what to eat was something I could never have figured out on my own.
I would also want to tell anyone recently diagnosed with IBD that it’s so not the end of the world. Not by a long shot. It’s something you can definitely manage. And I have to be honest. When I was first diagnosed, I was definitely worried about it for a short time. But then I realized that there were so many people in this world who have things going on in their lives that are way worse than what’s going on in mine. And even in terms of this condition—there are so many other people who have IBD way worse than me, which is why I’m so excited to raise awareness.