I suppose I'll start my story with a bit with a precursor to my life prior to my relationship with crohn's.
From about the age of 16, I had drank heavily and regularly, smoked until I was 20 and picked it back up from the age of 22 through my 25th year, and ate almost anything I could get my hands on healthy or not. By the time I was 25, I was unhappy with my life and self-conscious about not being as fit as I wanted to be. I had decided about 4 months prior to my system experiencing symptoms to become a health nut. I began to lift weights regularly, jogged at least 3-4 times a week, and began to adhere to a healthy diet.
Then the symptoms began to emerge...
Because of my change in lifestyle, I didn't take much consideration in my weight loss and increase in bowel movements. I thought it was one part stress from my personal life (I was taking my last year of courses at a local university and going through a breakup with a former girlfriend at the time) and the other the change in my lifestyle that my body was reacting to.
I was in denial that anything serious was wrong with me. I tried alternative and homeopathic diets after getting advice from a family member that I probably had a bacterial imbalance.
I stuck to a yeast-free diet for months with limited results. I still was losing weight, my energy levels decreased, and I gave up with my exercise routine as it was only agitating my symptoms. Eventually, I as too scared to go to a doctor, I was afraid I was dying of cancer or some other terminal illness.
Eventually, I gave in to my family and friends pleas to get examined. At that time I had lost almost 80 pounds and was a shadow of myself. My Colonoscopy and Endoscopy confirmed my diagnosis, Crohn's which was present from my colon to my stomach.
I began a regimen of treatment, Omeprazole, Azathioprene, and Asacol. This appeared to help my symptoms. I gained weight, and regained some normalcy. Four months later, my health dipped again and I developed a perirectal fistula.
I spent five days in the hospital due to the infection that caused it. I was then placed on Humira. Since then, I have lived with a fistula, which has either branched off or formed two other perirectal fistula sites. I haven't ever fully recovered to a level of normalcy in my health. My health has improved and declined to varying degrees.
I recently started seeing a different GI doctor at the University of Iowa. Because of relocation due to advancement with my employer, I feel this change has been beneficial. My medication has been adjusted to Metronidizole from Asacol and my Azathioprene has been increased. I haven't felt as good as I currently do in a long time. I'm not quite 100%, but some days I feel as close as I can be!
I still am uncertain of what foods I can or can't eat with certainty and my fistulas are a constant cause of concern with me as they have not shown much, if any, sign of remission. I cannot eat raw foods such as nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
So, that's me in a nutshell. I am so much more than my illness, even though it consumes my daily life at times and is something that will always be a part of me. Whether I like it or not.
From about the age of 16, I had drank heavily and regularly, smoked until I was 20 and picked it back up from the age of 22 through my 25th year, and ate almost anything I could get my hands on healthy or not. By the time I was 25, I was unhappy with my life and self-conscious about not being as fit as I wanted to be. I had decided about 4 months prior to my system experiencing symptoms to become a health nut. I began to lift weights regularly, jogged at least 3-4 times a week, and began to adhere to a healthy diet.
Then the symptoms began to emerge...
Because of my change in lifestyle, I didn't take much consideration in my weight loss and increase in bowel movements. I thought it was one part stress from my personal life (I was taking my last year of courses at a local university and going through a breakup with a former girlfriend at the time) and the other the change in my lifestyle that my body was reacting to.
I was in denial that anything serious was wrong with me. I tried alternative and homeopathic diets after getting advice from a family member that I probably had a bacterial imbalance.
I stuck to a yeast-free diet for months with limited results. I still was losing weight, my energy levels decreased, and I gave up with my exercise routine as it was only agitating my symptoms. Eventually, I as too scared to go to a doctor, I was afraid I was dying of cancer or some other terminal illness.
Eventually, I gave in to my family and friends pleas to get examined. At that time I had lost almost 80 pounds and was a shadow of myself. My Colonoscopy and Endoscopy confirmed my diagnosis, Crohn's which was present from my colon to my stomach.
I began a regimen of treatment, Omeprazole, Azathioprene, and Asacol. This appeared to help my symptoms. I gained weight, and regained some normalcy. Four months later, my health dipped again and I developed a perirectal fistula.
I spent five days in the hospital due to the infection that caused it. I was then placed on Humira. Since then, I have lived with a fistula, which has either branched off or formed two other perirectal fistula sites. I haven't ever fully recovered to a level of normalcy in my health. My health has improved and declined to varying degrees.
I recently started seeing a different GI doctor at the University of Iowa. Because of relocation due to advancement with my employer, I feel this change has been beneficial. My medication has been adjusted to Metronidizole from Asacol and my Azathioprene has been increased. I haven't felt as good as I currently do in a long time. I'm not quite 100%, but some days I feel as close as I can be!
I still am uncertain of what foods I can or can't eat with certainty and my fistulas are a constant cause of concern with me as they have not shown much, if any, sign of remission. I cannot eat raw foods such as nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
So, that's me in a nutshell. I am so much more than my illness, even though it consumes my daily life at times and is something that will always be a part of me. Whether I like it or not.
