Add 10 to 12 ice cubes and 1 tablespoon (16.5 g) of salt to the bag. It's important to use solid ice cubes instead of crushed ice or cubes that have hollow centers. The salt will lower the freezing point of the ice in the bag, which will make it even colder. This will help the slurpee mix faster. Put 1 cup (240 ml) of Coca-Cola into a sandwich-sized sealable bag and seal it shut. Try to remove all of the air before you seal it. Check the seal of the bag to ensure no soda is leaking. You don't need to remove the air from the bag with the ice before you close it. This will give the Coca-Cola bag some room to move as you shake it. The ice should be able to move easily around the bag of soda. Keep shaking until you see the Coca-Cola freeze and then break up into a slushy mixture. If your hands get too cold while you're shaking the bag, wrap a kitchen towel around the bag. Open the bag with the ice and lift out the smaller bag of Coca-Cola slurpee. Open the slurpee bag and pour it into a small serving glass. Stick a straw in the slurpee and drink it before it begins to melt. If you'd like to make a larger serving, make them in batches instead of doubling the amount of liquid in the bag. This will ensure that they freeze quickly.
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One-sentence summary -- Put ice cubes and salt into a 1 US quart (0.95 l) sized sealable bag. Pour the Coca-Cola into a smaller sealable bag. Place the Coca-Cola bag into the bag with ice and seal it shut. Shake the bag for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve the Coca-Cola slurpee.


There are several types of medications that are used to help control IBD.  Aminosalicylates target colon inflammation, but are less effective at treating the small intestine. These drugs are usually used to treat mild to moderate colitis. Sulfasalazine is effective, but side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, and headache. Corticosteroids fight inflammation, but suppress all immune response instead of focusing on the colon. These drugs (prednisone, methylprednisolone) are used for moderate to severe colitis. Side effects include weight gain, excessive facial hair growth, mood swings, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, bone fractures, cataracts, glaucoma, and an increased risk of infection. Azathioprine and mercaptopurine act slowly, so they're usually prescribed alongside a corticosteroid. Immunomodulators, like corticosteroids, suppress immune response to calm inflammation. They're usually used only when aminosalicylates and corticosteroids have failed. Cyclosporine is a very strong medication that begins to work within one or two weeks. Since it is so strong and comes with a range of severe side effects, it is generally only prescribed until less toxic medications can take effect. Infliximab and adalimumab fight intestinal inflammation specifically.  Infliximab can cause problems in people with cancer or a history of heart disease. Antibiotics don't treat the colitis itself. If intestinal ulcers cause infection though, antibiotics will prevent further complications.  Antibiotics can treat abscesses of fistulas (abnormal connections between organs or vessels) seen in Crohn's Disease and usually occurring in the small intestine.  Tell your doctor if you develop a fever, which could indicate infection. Though it may sound "natural" or "herbal," biologic therapies take their name from the fact that they're developed from biological material — usually protein. This treatment targets the chemicals responsible for inflammation. These fairly new medications are used for moderate to severe colitis if other treatments have failed.  They're also known as anti-TNF agents. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a naturally produced chemical responsible for inflammation. Biologic therapies produce antibodies that attach themselves to the TNF, so that it can be destroyed by the body. Your doctor must test you for tuberculosis before you can begin TNF. If your colitis is so severe that no medication, home cure, or alternative treatment can keep it in check, you might need to have a colectomy. During this surgery, part or all of your colon will be removed. Removal of your colon will lead to lifestyle changes. Although most people will be able to do most of the routine activities they did before, you have to live with a stoma (a hole in your abdomen from which waste is expelled).  The only way to cure colitis completely is to have a total colectomy performed. Since a total colectomy can come with adverse side effects (like small bowel obstruction), though, a partial colectomy is sometimes done instead. The surgeon may also opt to perform a procedure that links the small intestine to the anus, thereby producing more normal bowel function.
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One-sentence summary -- Consult your healthcare provider about medicinal treatments. Consider antibiotic use. Talk to your doctor about biologic therapies. Be prepared for surgery if necessary.


Line the room from corner to corner with the streamers, or hang them over the entryway to welcome your guests to the party. Use the free-floating balloons to fill in the adjoining ceiling space. If you’re decorating a larger venue, consider hanging up a banner.  You could also mix-and-match your green decorations with orange and white ones to pay homage to the Irish flag, or deck out the room in rainbow colors as a callback to the leprechaun legend. If you’ve got a lot of balloons to inflate, renting a helium tank can save you valuable time (and give your lungs a break). Cover your dining or refreshment table with a green tablecloth and pick out white plates for your guests to eat on. Tie it all together with orange napkins or plastic cups. Color-coordinating your dinnerware is a simple, inexpensive way to make sure that all the colors of the flag are represented. Scatter a handful of green sequins or paper shamrocks over the tabletop to provide the finishing touches. Cover the walls with stick-on decals, or look for garlands with the signature three-leaf shape.  Some stores even sell novelty shamrock string lights and other party supplies that are a cinch to throw up around the room.  Get creative with your use of shamrock decorations. For instance, you could cut out and laminate your own shamrock coasters, or use shamrock-shaped signs to serve as guides for guests visiting your home for the first time.  The shamrock is one of the unofficial symbols of Ireland, which means it can go anywhere and everywhere on the holiday devoted to the country’s patron saint. Fill a plastic pot with candy coins wrapped in shiny gold leaf. You can use your edible arrangement as a centerpiece for the dining table, or assemble a few of them and place them on various surfaces throughout the room. Stick a rainbow made from pipe cleaners or papier-mâché in each pot to lead the way.  A prop cauldron leftover from Halloween can make the perfect base for your pot of gold. If you’re having trouble finding a suitable container, try painting a few small flower pots black and embellishing them with gold or silver glitter. St. Patrick's Day is an informal occasion for most people. If you'd rather not go to the trouble of giving your home a green and gold makeover, just call up a few of your closest friends and invite them over for some food, drinks, and laughs. The true spirit of the holiday lies in the joy of coming together in celebration. Colorful decorations and accessories may be better suited for workplace festivities and parties aimed at younger kids.
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One-sentence summary --
Put up green streamers and balloons. Set the table in the national colors of Ireland. Display the shamrock proudly. Create a pot of gold using chocolate coins. Keep things casual.