In February 2009, at the age of 28, I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Prior to my diagnosis I had struggled with "stomach issues" and chopped it up to everything from stress to my diet. So when I got sick with what I thought was the flu I didn't think anything about it. I stayed home from work for a week running to and from the bathroom, in extreme amount of pain and wanting to curl up and die! I finally made a trip to the emergancy room thinking that maybe my appendix ruptured. After a series of CT's and blood draws a resident doctor came in and told me that my small intestine was swollen and that I either had Crohn's Disease or an infection... what??!! Crohn's Disease??!! That couldn't be right, I just have an infection, there is nothing to worry about, give me antibiotics and send me home! Instead they gave me a referal to a GI and some medication for the pain... they didn't want to upset anything with meds "just in case."
Within a few days I was off to the GI and about to experience my first series of tests! First came the colonoscopy, then the lower bowel follow thru and the numerous different lab tests. By the time I was done I was worn out, stressed, and scared! My GI doc scheduled an early morning appointment to discuss the results with me, I in fact had this Crohn's Disease thing... I remember thinking for a long time that the tests and doctors were wrong! I don't have an incurable disease, I am way too young. So what do I do?? How do I make this all better?? My GI, who is wonderful, gave me some information and told me that we would slowly take this one day at a time and not to get too overwhelmed. He had a plan, good cause I was a mess and didn't know what to do!
I went home with my information, on prednisone and pentasa, and pretended like I wasn't sick! I went with the flow, told my close friends and family that the doctors think I have a disease, but don't worry, he put me on meds and I will be better in no time! For the next couple weeks I took my meds, ate better, worked on quiting smoking, started to exercise and was actually feeling the best I had in years! See I didn't have a disease that was going to affect me for the rest of my life!
And this is the mind set I was in when I lost my job, lost my insurance coverage and stopped going to the GI doctor...
I went thru the next year with no medications, few flare ups and a healthier life style. And up until September 14th 2010 didn't think about my disease very often and didn't take it very seriously at all, yeah I have crohn's disease, but its not a big deal! Heck on August 27th I joined my sister and 8 others to walk a 127 mile relay race... and that is when the problems began! During the race I ate power bars and bananas like they were goin outta style! When I got home I was stopped up, I took to drinking lots of water and taking stool softeners. I felt a little better, then came the night sweats, joint pain, fevers and stomach pain like I had NEVER felt before! For the next few weeks I took tylenol, ate very little and pretended like nothing major was wrong... all the while knowing deep down something was very wrong. On September 14th my fiance, thinking that my appendix had ruptured, rushed me to the ER. We spent the day waiting for the results of yet another round of CT's and blood work, then the doctor came in and informed me I wouldn't be going home... I was being admitted to the surgery floor. My colon and small intestine were inflamed and I had an abcess. I went to long thinking I was ok and my disease wasn't serious, now I was in the hospital facing surgery. Why hadn't I taken this disease seriously?! What had I done to myslef and my family?! These were only a few of the questions that ran thru my mind as I cried into my fiances shoulder. Because I didn't take things seriously I was leaving him and our 5 kids for an unknown length of time...
The doctors put me on bowel rest for 3 days, nothing but water, ice and meds. I was on a constant cycle of antibiotics, pain meds, steroids, and fluids. On Saturday (day 4 in the hospital) they took another CT and it showed the swelling in my colon had come down a small amount and the abcess was no longer there, yeah! I was then allowed to start clear liquids... jello, chicken broth, apple juice here I come! Nope, I couldn't stomach it, so back to sips and chips. The surgeons didn't want to do surgery unless they had to, it would be my first and they didn't want to have to start the cycle so soon. My GI doc came to see me everyday and was also hesitant to give the surgery a go, we will try everything we can first. I was thankful for this, I didn't want to have surgery! This back and forth went on for a week! Finally they inserted a pic line so they could give me the nutrients that my body was starving for. I started to feel better and the doctor gave the ok to start on a full liquid diet. I stayed away from everything that upset me before. I was able to eat cream of wheat, cream of chicken soup, and strawberry boost milkshakes! Because of the progress I was making they decided to see how I handled oral meds. I took my meds like a pro! The sergeons decided that they were not going to operate and the ball for me going home started bouncing! I spent 11 days in the hospital I was released a week ago to my very happy family!
I appologize for the long length of this post, I have never taken this disease seriously until the day I was admitted to the hospital. I am now slowly coming to terms with the idea of having Crohn's. I have been taking all meds that I am supposed to, I am still recovering and not able to eat many solid foods, but I am taking it one day at a time. I am not outta the woods yet though, I will eventually have to have the surgery to remove my strictured small intestine, but I am hoping it can be more planned out!
I am so glad I stumbled along this forum, my family and friend support is great, but to be able to "vent" to a community of people who understand where I am coming from is great!
That is my story, as short as I could make it! I was diagnosed a little under 2 years ago and I am finally coming to terms and taking this new life very seriously!
Within a few days I was off to the GI and about to experience my first series of tests! First came the colonoscopy, then the lower bowel follow thru and the numerous different lab tests. By the time I was done I was worn out, stressed, and scared! My GI doc scheduled an early morning appointment to discuss the results with me, I in fact had this Crohn's Disease thing... I remember thinking for a long time that the tests and doctors were wrong! I don't have an incurable disease, I am way too young. So what do I do?? How do I make this all better?? My GI, who is wonderful, gave me some information and told me that we would slowly take this one day at a time and not to get too overwhelmed. He had a plan, good cause I was a mess and didn't know what to do!
I went home with my information, on prednisone and pentasa, and pretended like I wasn't sick! I went with the flow, told my close friends and family that the doctors think I have a disease, but don't worry, he put me on meds and I will be better in no time! For the next couple weeks I took my meds, ate better, worked on quiting smoking, started to exercise and was actually feeling the best I had in years! See I didn't have a disease that was going to affect me for the rest of my life!
And this is the mind set I was in when I lost my job, lost my insurance coverage and stopped going to the GI doctor...
I went thru the next year with no medications, few flare ups and a healthier life style. And up until September 14th 2010 didn't think about my disease very often and didn't take it very seriously at all, yeah I have crohn's disease, but its not a big deal! Heck on August 27th I joined my sister and 8 others to walk a 127 mile relay race... and that is when the problems began! During the race I ate power bars and bananas like they were goin outta style! When I got home I was stopped up, I took to drinking lots of water and taking stool softeners. I felt a little better, then came the night sweats, joint pain, fevers and stomach pain like I had NEVER felt before! For the next few weeks I took tylenol, ate very little and pretended like nothing major was wrong... all the while knowing deep down something was very wrong. On September 14th my fiance, thinking that my appendix had ruptured, rushed me to the ER. We spent the day waiting for the results of yet another round of CT's and blood work, then the doctor came in and informed me I wouldn't be going home... I was being admitted to the surgery floor. My colon and small intestine were inflamed and I had an abcess. I went to long thinking I was ok and my disease wasn't serious, now I was in the hospital facing surgery. Why hadn't I taken this disease seriously?! What had I done to myslef and my family?! These were only a few of the questions that ran thru my mind as I cried into my fiances shoulder. Because I didn't take things seriously I was leaving him and our 5 kids for an unknown length of time...
The doctors put me on bowel rest for 3 days, nothing but water, ice and meds. I was on a constant cycle of antibiotics, pain meds, steroids, and fluids. On Saturday (day 4 in the hospital) they took another CT and it showed the swelling in my colon had come down a small amount and the abcess was no longer there, yeah! I was then allowed to start clear liquids... jello, chicken broth, apple juice here I come! Nope, I couldn't stomach it, so back to sips and chips. The surgeons didn't want to do surgery unless they had to, it would be my first and they didn't want to have to start the cycle so soon. My GI doc came to see me everyday and was also hesitant to give the surgery a go, we will try everything we can first. I was thankful for this, I didn't want to have surgery! This back and forth went on for a week! Finally they inserted a pic line so they could give me the nutrients that my body was starving for. I started to feel better and the doctor gave the ok to start on a full liquid diet. I stayed away from everything that upset me before. I was able to eat cream of wheat, cream of chicken soup, and strawberry boost milkshakes! Because of the progress I was making they decided to see how I handled oral meds. I took my meds like a pro! The sergeons decided that they were not going to operate and the ball for me going home started bouncing! I spent 11 days in the hospital I was released a week ago to my very happy family!
I appologize for the long length of this post, I have never taken this disease seriously until the day I was admitted to the hospital. I am now slowly coming to terms with the idea of having Crohn's. I have been taking all meds that I am supposed to, I am still recovering and not able to eat many solid foods, but I am taking it one day at a time. I am not outta the woods yet though, I will eventually have to have the surgery to remove my strictured small intestine, but I am hoping it can be more planned out!
I am so glad I stumbled along this forum, my family and friend support is great, but to be able to "vent" to a community of people who understand where I am coming from is great!
That is my story, as short as I could make it! I was diagnosed a little under 2 years ago and I am finally coming to terms and taking this new life very seriously!
