No that's fine TJ Mom,I was diagnosed when I was nearly 19 years old after 18 months of being desperately ill,I think all my family convinced I had the dreaded C,I could not walk,I dropped down to around 85 pounds in weight,and for someone is 5'8" tall,you can imagine,I did not look good,my hair started falling out,every joint in my body hurt and swelled up,When I was eventually diagnosed with Crohns it was such a relief,that they could help me,although then it was steroids Prednisolone and Sulfazaline in which today I can not take the latter as it caused serious Liver problems for me along with Pentasa,which are are closely related drug wise.
Ihave had 3bowel ops number 4op possible just around the corner,as I have a stricture again at Terminal Ileium,I have also endured years of Seron Negative Polyarthralgia which presents itself with crohns most often than not,it is joint related,mainly affecting Feet,ankles,Knees (big style)Buttocks,fingers ,wrists,shoulders,and scapula muscles in your back,also your sacrioilium joint at the bottom of our back
I also have the pleasure of having to put up with Uvietus/Irituswhich is a condition that affects the eyes (again regarding steroid drops etc)
Because I am on azathioprine 100 mg an immuno suppressant drug,Ihave unfortunatley picked up Herpes Simplex virus in my left eye,am having to have ridiculous amounts of drugs to take and administer every few hours to try to prevent scarring,so that I do to lose my sight!!!!!!All fun and games this!!!
I am 58 now and to be honest it has not been easy,I have had my gallbladder removed,because of Crohns,had a Fundiplasty op (serious gullet problems due to Acid Reflux)again caused through the Crohns.
It makes me wonder sometimes when is it all going to end,The problem I have at present along with the eye probs is that my Diet is very restricted due to stricture at Terminal Ileium,althoughsayingthat I have just starting juicing,and finding I am able to tolerate Fruit and veg that way,also making lots of Veg Soups andfreezing them,so I can eat one each day,am purée ing fruit and having it with Rice Krispies in the morning,As long as I purée stuff it can get through Mind you I question myself,is thisa way to live,or should I just say dm it and go and have another op,it has been offered to me,It's just that awful pain when they bring you back from the theatre,I can't seem to get it out of my mind.
So that's me and all my prob,ems I carry around with me,just grateful,Ihave a fabulous caring husband and two great adult children.