Hi everyone,
I recently joined the forum and have made a few posts about my recent struggles with a current flare up but i thought i'd take a moment to introduce myself properly and tell you a little about my life with crohns.
I was first diagnosed in 2003 i had been suffering for about 6 months but i'm stubborn and hate drs so i continued to struggle. I was in my first year doing a post graduate diploma in social work in Cardiff. I was under a huge amount of pressure to do exams essays and a work placement and i would not let a bit of pain and bloody bowel movements slow me down!
Anyway i kept this problem a secret from my family untill i went home for the easter break and when my mum opened the door to me she looked at me blankly and then realised it was her daughter stood at the door. I have always been on the chubby side and i had lost about 4 stone in that time. I spent a week at my mums untill finally she dragged me to the hospital where i was taken in as an in patient and diagnosed.
I was put on a heavy dose of steroids which calmed things down but in the process put on about 5 stone.....so the crohns was no longer making me miserable but i was fat and i lost all confidence in myself. So much so that i only left the house to go to work. I became isolated and loney and very very depressed. My mum would say 'i'm so proud of what you've achieved, you got through your course you have your own home/car a good job and you've done it all by yourself whilst being very poorly' i'd say 'but mum i have nothing for my soul'
Anyway i hit my 30th birthday having lost most of my 20's to ill health and depression and something inside me snapped my health was better but i wasn't living something had to change.
I went on a strict diet and started losing weight, when my confidence improved i started online dating and met my current partner...amazing wonderful partner. He was everything i wanted, he knew from the offset about my depression and illness and it didnt put him off.
We dated for a year then set up home together and in July this year we're getting married. He's so supportive brings me hot water bottles when my tummy is bad picks up my meds sits in on my appointments encourages me to eat he makes me laugh everyday no matter how poorly i feel.
Through all the illness and emptyness i never thought i'd end up here despite the illness and bad times i feel very very lucky.
So dont give up hope we have IBD and it sucks big time but it doesnt have to define us live life the best you can and really treasure the good things in your life and dont ever think no one will ever put up with you because of ill health...there are good people out there who will love you for you
Andie x
I recently joined the forum and have made a few posts about my recent struggles with a current flare up but i thought i'd take a moment to introduce myself properly and tell you a little about my life with crohns.
I was first diagnosed in 2003 i had been suffering for about 6 months but i'm stubborn and hate drs so i continued to struggle. I was in my first year doing a post graduate diploma in social work in Cardiff. I was under a huge amount of pressure to do exams essays and a work placement and i would not let a bit of pain and bloody bowel movements slow me down!
Anyway i kept this problem a secret from my family untill i went home for the easter break and when my mum opened the door to me she looked at me blankly and then realised it was her daughter stood at the door. I have always been on the chubby side and i had lost about 4 stone in that time. I spent a week at my mums untill finally she dragged me to the hospital where i was taken in as an in patient and diagnosed.
I was put on a heavy dose of steroids which calmed things down but in the process put on about 5 stone.....so the crohns was no longer making me miserable but i was fat and i lost all confidence in myself. So much so that i only left the house to go to work. I became isolated and loney and very very depressed. My mum would say 'i'm so proud of what you've achieved, you got through your course you have your own home/car a good job and you've done it all by yourself whilst being very poorly' i'd say 'but mum i have nothing for my soul'
Anyway i hit my 30th birthday having lost most of my 20's to ill health and depression and something inside me snapped my health was better but i wasn't living something had to change.
I went on a strict diet and started losing weight, when my confidence improved i started online dating and met my current partner...amazing wonderful partner. He was everything i wanted, he knew from the offset about my depression and illness and it didnt put him off.
We dated for a year then set up home together and in July this year we're getting married. He's so supportive brings me hot water bottles when my tummy is bad picks up my meds sits in on my appointments encourages me to eat he makes me laugh everyday no matter how poorly i feel.
Through all the illness and emptyness i never thought i'd end up here despite the illness and bad times i feel very very lucky.
So dont give up hope we have IBD and it sucks big time but it doesnt have to define us live life the best you can and really treasure the good things in your life and dont ever think no one will ever put up with you because of ill health...there are good people out there who will love you for you
Andie x