It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... and truly, the phrase's use was no cliche!
It was the summer of 2010. My life was coming together rapidly. I had recently graduated from the University of Texas and was searching diligently for a teaching job. I was engaged to the love of my life, with a wedding coming in late July.
And... I was bedridden! With severe diarrhea and mouth sores and high fever, I languished in bed mere weeks before our wedding. My condition was attributed to the significant stress of job searching while preparing for a wedding (one REALLY desires to be employed before one gets married!)
Thankfully, I was able to rally through the use of an antibiotic. I accepted a math position exactly one week before the wedding. My wife and I were able to experience the greatest wedding known to mankind, and enjoy a wonderful honeymoon in San Francisco!
The school year soon approached, and my wife and I made the move to our new hometown. Tragically, the stress of the move and the stress of embarking upon the first year of teaching (my fellow teachers understand) returned me to the condition I thought I had conquered a mere month ago!
Not wanting to deal with the problem, I "grinned and bore it" and began upon my teaching career. However, the symptoms did not go away. Diarrhea was frequent. Mouth sores were painful. Fever was intermittent. I lost 20 lbs (and I was already a bit of a beanpole!)
We began to suspect a deeper cause. A visit to a GP brought out his concerns, and I was referred to a GI doc. His concerns mirrored those of the GP, and he immediately scheduled a EGD and a colonoscopy. (Colonoscopy prep = cruel and unusual punishment.) The EGD showed healthy intestine, but the colonoscopy showed blood, ulcers and inflammation. The GI uttered his assumption: "Crohn's Disease." (It's not really a diagnosis, I suppose.)
Those surgeries? Happened last week. I've been started on some Sulfasalazine, and recently discovered what a suppository is. :eek2: (Canasa.) It's a bit of a bummer being "diagnosed" with an incurable disease in the prime of my life, but eh - life could be worse.
Looking forward to leaning on the support and wisdom of my fellow Crohnies!
- Desperado Dan
It was the summer of 2010. My life was coming together rapidly. I had recently graduated from the University of Texas and was searching diligently for a teaching job. I was engaged to the love of my life, with a wedding coming in late July.
And... I was bedridden! With severe diarrhea and mouth sores and high fever, I languished in bed mere weeks before our wedding. My condition was attributed to the significant stress of job searching while preparing for a wedding (one REALLY desires to be employed before one gets married!)
Thankfully, I was able to rally through the use of an antibiotic. I accepted a math position exactly one week before the wedding. My wife and I were able to experience the greatest wedding known to mankind, and enjoy a wonderful honeymoon in San Francisco!
The school year soon approached, and my wife and I made the move to our new hometown. Tragically, the stress of the move and the stress of embarking upon the first year of teaching (my fellow teachers understand) returned me to the condition I thought I had conquered a mere month ago!
Not wanting to deal with the problem, I "grinned and bore it" and began upon my teaching career. However, the symptoms did not go away. Diarrhea was frequent. Mouth sores were painful. Fever was intermittent. I lost 20 lbs (and I was already a bit of a beanpole!)
We began to suspect a deeper cause. A visit to a GP brought out his concerns, and I was referred to a GI doc. His concerns mirrored those of the GP, and he immediately scheduled a EGD and a colonoscopy. (Colonoscopy prep = cruel and unusual punishment.) The EGD showed healthy intestine, but the colonoscopy showed blood, ulcers and inflammation. The GI uttered his assumption: "Crohn's Disease." (It's not really a diagnosis, I suppose.)
Those surgeries? Happened last week. I've been started on some Sulfasalazine, and recently discovered what a suppository is. :eek2: (Canasa.) It's a bit of a bummer being "diagnosed" with an incurable disease in the prime of my life, but eh - life could be worse.
Looking forward to leaning on the support and wisdom of my fellow Crohnies!
- Desperado Dan
