Hello, my name is Ian. I'm currently 19, and have been diagnosed with Crohns for a little over two years now. To be honest, I have never really given too much thought and effort into the disease until recently. I've come to realize that I'm really not taking care of the disease as much as I should be. It's been difficult, and I haven't had too much help and support, admittedly because of my own choices. The first year of having the disease, I more or less kept it to myself; my mother had been diagnosed terminal and I felt the last thing she needed was to be constantly worrying about me. After her death, it's been more or less the same with some more complications. It's quite difficult to have the proper diet with/on a student's budget and lifestyle.
I have actually never taken an medication or anything for the disease/pain, but rather just drudged through it as it comes. I've always used a piece of advice my mother gave me in her last few weeks: "Just keep laughing". Keeping a positive attitude and humorous demeanor has aided me quite well these past years. Crohns hasn't been too much of a problem, and hasn't brought me down enough to effect my school or work, but it's been a chore to say the least. Recently some of the more cumbersome symptoms have been springing up, and it's made me realize that I can't continue pretending like it'll all just eventually go away and disappear. In an attempt to become better informed and involved I decided to join this forum. I have actually never talked to anyone with the same disease, so it'll be helpful and informative to just have that chance. So...Here I am!
That's enough of my little, oh so fun, rant. I swear, I'm not usually this open/ depressing! I'm a generally fun guy, I swear! Anyways, I hope to utilize this support system as much as I can, and I look forward to posting and such.
I have actually never taken an medication or anything for the disease/pain, but rather just drudged through it as it comes. I've always used a piece of advice my mother gave me in her last few weeks: "Just keep laughing". Keeping a positive attitude and humorous demeanor has aided me quite well these past years. Crohns hasn't been too much of a problem, and hasn't brought me down enough to effect my school or work, but it's been a chore to say the least. Recently some of the more cumbersome symptoms have been springing up, and it's made me realize that I can't continue pretending like it'll all just eventually go away and disappear. In an attempt to become better informed and involved I decided to join this forum. I have actually never talked to anyone with the same disease, so it'll be helpful and informative to just have that chance. So...Here I am!
That's enough of my little, oh so fun, rant. I swear, I'm not usually this open/ depressing! I'm a generally fun guy, I swear! Anyways, I hope to utilize this support system as much as I can, and I look forward to posting and such.
