Hi my name is Patrick and I live in northern virginia with my wonderful wife who I've been married to for 3 years. I am 35 years old.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 1998 and its been a battle ever since. Despite the pain, embarrassment, energy, money and hospital visits and surgeries I was able to graduate from Virginia Tech with a degree in History and find the love of my life 5 years ago. However, holding down a job for more than 2 years has been quite a challenge. I'm currently on Cobra and unemployment. Luckily, I have a very supportive family.
The past few months have been very hard. I have switched from Humira to Methotrexate and I am hoping and praying this will work. Not only for myself but for those around me that are very close to me, beginning with my wife of course. I didn't realize how great a toll the disease can take on your loved ones as well until I got married. Getting back to remission and returning to full time work would definitely take a lot of stress off a lot of my close relatives. I am sure my wife, parents, and in-laws are worried that when the kids come, I will be out of commission on those "bad Crohns days", hence unable to handle the responsibilities of a father until I get back on my feet. Anyone have fear or a reality of this? I know I will be a great father, in a way, having this disease had made me a lot more empathetic, generous, and wise. I look at the world where my priorities are, which are family, faith, taking care of my health, and enjoying life. I don't have so much expectation on myself to get that job or that promotion, because that just stresses me out and I get a flare up.
Also, I have had to take a lot of medicine which of course is hard on the liver. The pain has been bad that sometimes I have to take hydrocodone (vicodin), for my abdominal and joint pain. If its not that bad but I still cannot get out of the house I have Utram (tramadol). I think my family worries that these also will lead to addiciton or be really hard on the liver. But I feel like I would rather take them and experience life, rather than not taking the "narcotic" pain killers and being in bed rolling around in pain all day. So I wish people would understand why I need to take it sometimes. I think they are worried because of all the negative press opiates/opiods have recieved in the past few years.
So I'm very glad to be on my first forum for crohn's (it only took me 15 years lol), and if anyone has comments or advice on being able to be a good parents, and taking medication for pain please help. Thank you and I hope you all are keeping hope alive even in your painful days. -Patrick
I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 1998 and its been a battle ever since. Despite the pain, embarrassment, energy, money and hospital visits and surgeries I was able to graduate from Virginia Tech with a degree in History and find the love of my life 5 years ago. However, holding down a job for more than 2 years has been quite a challenge. I'm currently on Cobra and unemployment. Luckily, I have a very supportive family.
The past few months have been very hard. I have switched from Humira to Methotrexate and I am hoping and praying this will work. Not only for myself but for those around me that are very close to me, beginning with my wife of course. I didn't realize how great a toll the disease can take on your loved ones as well until I got married. Getting back to remission and returning to full time work would definitely take a lot of stress off a lot of my close relatives. I am sure my wife, parents, and in-laws are worried that when the kids come, I will be out of commission on those "bad Crohns days", hence unable to handle the responsibilities of a father until I get back on my feet. Anyone have fear or a reality of this? I know I will be a great father, in a way, having this disease had made me a lot more empathetic, generous, and wise. I look at the world where my priorities are, which are family, faith, taking care of my health, and enjoying life. I don't have so much expectation on myself to get that job or that promotion, because that just stresses me out and I get a flare up.
Also, I have had to take a lot of medicine which of course is hard on the liver. The pain has been bad that sometimes I have to take hydrocodone (vicodin), for my abdominal and joint pain. If its not that bad but I still cannot get out of the house I have Utram (tramadol). I think my family worries that these also will lead to addiciton or be really hard on the liver. But I feel like I would rather take them and experience life, rather than not taking the "narcotic" pain killers and being in bed rolling around in pain all day. So I wish people would understand why I need to take it sometimes. I think they are worried because of all the negative press opiates/opiods have recieved in the past few years.
So I'm very glad to be on my first forum for crohn's (it only took me 15 years lol), and if anyone has comments or advice on being able to be a good parents, and taking medication for pain please help. Thank you and I hope you all are keeping hope alive even in your painful days. -Patrick