Hi everyone!
I'm new to the forum, and I'm truly excited to have found a support system!
I had surgery in 1987 to remove a grapefruit sized abscess along with my appendix. I suffered until 2000 when I was FINALLY diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Between 1987 & 2000 I bounced around to doctors and was diagnosed with everything from depression (really? maybe because of the unending pain, fatigue and lack of sleep? Ya think? lol...) to chronic fatigue, with sinus infections, anemia and hemorrhoids thrown in for good measure. I've been in the hospital many times, previously took Pentasa, and am currently on azathioprine/Imuran and pantoprazole. And of course, TPN and prednisone... who says diamonds are a girls best friend?!?!
When I was finally diagnosed, I felt relief. I wasn't crazy, or depressed, or imagining things. I was sick! Whew! Now that's something I can work with... wait... what? No cure?! Relief quickly turned to anger. And somewhere along the line, anger turned to acceptance. I deal with my disease, get frustrated sometimes because my body defies me, and I try to eat my safe foods. I'm grateful that my CD is not worse, and that I have friends and family that support me. I sometimes struggle with the embarrassment that comes with this disease, and people trying, but not understanding, the emotional toll.
I joined this forum to learn from others and to both get & give support. I'm looking forward to interacting with my Crohnies!!! (I know, it's terrible, but I do love a bad pun!) =)
I'm new to the forum, and I'm truly excited to have found a support system!
I had surgery in 1987 to remove a grapefruit sized abscess along with my appendix. I suffered until 2000 when I was FINALLY diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Between 1987 & 2000 I bounced around to doctors and was diagnosed with everything from depression (really? maybe because of the unending pain, fatigue and lack of sleep? Ya think? lol...) to chronic fatigue, with sinus infections, anemia and hemorrhoids thrown in for good measure. I've been in the hospital many times, previously took Pentasa, and am currently on azathioprine/Imuran and pantoprazole. And of course, TPN and prednisone... who says diamonds are a girls best friend?!?!
When I was finally diagnosed, I felt relief. I wasn't crazy, or depressed, or imagining things. I was sick! Whew! Now that's something I can work with... wait... what? No cure?! Relief quickly turned to anger. And somewhere along the line, anger turned to acceptance. I deal with my disease, get frustrated sometimes because my body defies me, and I try to eat my safe foods. I'm grateful that my CD is not worse, and that I have friends and family that support me. I sometimes struggle with the embarrassment that comes with this disease, and people trying, but not understanding, the emotional toll.
I joined this forum to learn from others and to both get & give support. I'm looking forward to interacting with my Crohnies!!! (I know, it's terrible, but I do love a bad pun!) =)