Another new!

[Missy_anne]

Hi everybody. I'm new to the forum since I found it on the internet. I guess I should start with an introduction.

My name is Missy. I'm 18 years old and live in Maine. I have had Crohns disease since I was 10. My mom was also diagnosed with Crohns when she was younger. I am just about to graduate from high school and am getting ready for college. I was first diagnosed with Crohns disease when my mom noticed my frequent bathroom visits (15-20 a day!) I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy right away which was harder then it looked! I was 10 years old and weighed under 80 pounds. After having to fast for one day, I ended up blacking out. A couple days after, my results came in and I was diagnosed with modern-sever Crohns. It is near impossible for me to gain weight, even when I feel okay! I'm extremely active with tennis, horseback riding and I dance. I have has Ovarian Cysts 3 or 4 times and had a few stomach ulcers when I was first diagnosed. My doctor let me keep the images of my colonoscopy and now that I'm old enough to understand them, they're actually really interesting.

I was started on Pentasa. My symptoms started to clear up and for the first time, 3 years ago, I was able to stay at a three night camp and was fine. Since then, my Crohns has turned it's ugly head again. Looking into colleges is very hard! It's hard to find dorms that have private bathrooms in them. I was accepted to Colby-Sawyer College (my dream school) but we recently found the price too high for my mom and I. I will be attending University of Southern Maine.

My Crohns is bad once again but is slowly improving. I now take 6 (200 mL?) Pentasa and 2 acidophilus a day but it doesn't seem to be doing what it used to. I take imodium when I need it (any time I leave the house.) It seems like my imodium doesn't do anything anymore. I usually have to take 4 a day and we're thinking that my body was gotten too used to it. I need to leave myself 2-3 hours after I take it, just to make sure (help!)

Since I have entered my senior year, my Crohn's is effecting me mentally as well! I have missed out of many get togethers and its taking a big toll on me.:depressed:

Sorry for ranting. Looking forward to talking to you all!

Edited to fix: It's actually 6; 500 mL capsules

 

[My Butt Hurts]

Hi Missy - welcome to the forum!
First of all, don't apologize for ranting. That's what we are here for. We ALL need to rant about Crohn's sometimes!
There are several high school/college kids on here - so hopefully a few will chime in and give you some good advice. Maybe if the pentasa isn't working like it used to you could up the dose to 8 pills a day instead of 6? (with doc's permission) I take them at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bed to fit in 4 doses at 2 pills each.
Sorry you can't go to your dream school. It could be for the best though if the one you are going to is closer to home/your doctor.
Welcome again!

 

[mRae85]

hello :welcome: I am only 24 so I guess I am in that age group that MBH was talking about and feel free to contact me anytime, I'm always here or will be soon because I come here everyday.

Never feel bad about ranting, this is a place where you can yell, scream, and cry all you want. We all need to get those emotions out somehow and it is nice to do it here because you will be surrounded by people who always and TRUELY understand. If we cant give any advise (someone always will) then we will will yell, scream, and cry with you!

*hugz* we all know how it feels to miss out on get-togethers, that in itself I think is the hardest part about this. I know it might not seem like alot, but we are all here to get-together with you, make you smile, and make you laugh, and simply understand you. This place has been a life saver for me and many others that are here. I know it won't fill the gap completley but once you get to know us, I'm sure it will ease some of the pain. Life is not over, I promiss that you will be able to still go out with friends, maybe not as often or maybe you just wont want to eat alot of pizza with them, but you will be able to manage the up's and down's more and more.

I have also always had troubble gaining weight, even when I feel good and I eat like a cow... seriously I eat more than most people I know. The Dr's actually checked me for worms before checking me for Crohns and Ive had alot of people swear I had an eating disorder like bulimia or anorexia and yea, it used to really upset me when people would say that to the point of breaking down in tears because I knew it wasn't the case but now since being diagnosed I can let them know what it really is and for the most part even when they dont believe me or simply say things like that I can basically brush it off because I know it is not my fault and I know I have something they can't even imagine (nor would I want them too) I thought I'd add that because if I remember correctly, other peers in school would give me a hard time so I am sure you have maybe ran into that before.

Sorry about not being able to get into your dream school, but I am really happy that you are still going to college, Id love to get more education once I get to feeling better. I sometimes feel like Crohns has taken everything from me since I was 15 then again most of the Drs around here I swear got thier degree from a cracker jack box! Also just wondering, what are you going to college for? (what degree do you want to get hahaha, didn't want that question taken the wrong way :tongue: )

Sorry, I tend to be the talkitive one around here and my post's are usually a mile long... so far no one has complained yet... though I am sure a few are eyeballing the ducktape LMAO :tongue:

 

[jed]

welcome missy, pleased to have you here

 

[fenway1971]

welcome. this is a great forum and i've gotten a lot of great advice and comfort from strangers.

good luck in college.

i think i'm going to change my name to old goat. so many young'uns on here.

 

[teeny5]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[bigtruck]

Welcome nopefully you find the site usefull and feel free to ask anything there should be someone who can help.

 

[Missy_anne]

hello :welcome: I am only 24 so I guess I am in that age group that MBH was talking about and feel free to contact me anytime, I'm always here or will be soon because I come here everyday.

Never feel bad about ranting, this is a place where you can yell, scream, and cry all you want. We all need to get those emotions out somehow and it is nice to do it here because you will be surrounded by people who always and TRUELY understand. If we cant give any advise (someone always will) then we will will yell, scream, and cry with you!

*hugz* we all know how it feels to miss out on get-togethers, that in itself I think is the hardest part about this. I know it might not seem like alot, but we are all here to get-together with you, make you smile, and make you laugh, and simply understand you. This place has been a life saver for me and many others that are here. I know it won't fill the gap completley but once you get to know us, I'm sure it will ease some of the pain. Life is not over, I promiss that you will be able to still go out with friends, maybe not as often or maybe you just wont want to eat alot of pizza with them, but you will be able to manage the up's and down's more and more.

I have also always had troubble gaining weight, even when I feel good and I eat like a cow... seriously I eat more than most people I know. The Dr's actually checked me for worms before checking me for Crohns and Ive had alot of people swear I had an eating disorder like bulimia or anorexia and yea, it used to really upset me when people would say that to the point of breaking down in tears because I knew it wasn't the case but now since being diagnosed I can let them know what it really is and for the most part even when they dont believe me or simply say things like that I can basically brush it off because I know it is not my fault and I know I have something they can't even imagine (nor would I want them too) I thought I'd add that because if I remember correctly, other peers in school would give me a hard time so I am sure you have maybe ran into that before.

Sorry about not being able to get into your dream school, but I am really happy that you are still going to college, Id love to get more education once I get to feeling better. I sometimes feel like Crohns has taken everything from me since I was 15 then again most of the Drs around here I swear got thier degree from a cracker jack box! Also just wondering, what are you going to college for? (what degree do you want to get hahaha, didn't want that question taken the wrong way :tongue: )

Sorry, I tend to be the talkitive one around here and my post's are usually a mile long... so far no one has complained yet... though I am sure a few are eyeballing the ducktape LMAO :tongue:

I'm going to major in Communications-is my plan right now!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your reply!

 

[Missy_anne]

Hi Missy, sorry your odds were so great with your mom having Crohn's too, the incidence is supposed to be very low. All my sibs have a from of CD or UC or IBS...my mother ...nothing. Pentasa is for milder cases, I am surprised your doc didnt try another drug for mod to Severe. Entocort is like Prednisone but way milder and less side effects, also there are biologics, like Humira, Remicade and Cimzia. I would think Humira being the mildest would help. This disease is hard to control and everyone is different and every GI has their own opinion of the drug of choice. Just letting you know what is out there, and educating yourself how to help you is important. College is pressing enough without worrying about your disease, many people have gone through college here, they will help you along the way. Good luck and keep us informed how you are doing ok?

Thank you!
I was on Prednisone right after I was diagnosed but they slowly weened me off of it. Which wasn't exactly a heart-break, I felt like crap while I was on it with all the symptoms. It was actually the second time I was on it. I was on it for my Bercitus(sp?) In my shoulder. Wow--I'm falling apart at 18!

I have a doctors appointment in a couple days and i'm hoping he can do something about it!

 

[Missy_anne]

Thank you everyone! Such a warm welcome!:emot-dance:

 

[RHOV]

Hi missy!

I am also a senior in high school and I definitely know what you mean about Crohn's affecting you mentally. My grades always plummet when I am sick and my social life has suffered too. there are several other people our age on the forum, so there is a ton of good advice about how to balance crohn's and school.

 

[DanM]

Hi Missy Anne!

I'm sorry to hear about the diagnosis. As you can see, there are many great people around here that will give you support through this. I was diagnosed during my freshman year of college. It made that first year much less fun, but gave me more time to study given my desire to stay in my dorm room.

Take care!! Here is something funny to help with the depression!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecRJJJC_2ec

Dan

 

[mRae85]

Communications, that is what I'd call a safe choice. Once you get out of school, the work field in general shouldn't be too hard on you. I have always looked for adventure and with this illness , that usually is not a good thing to try to look for on a daily basis for the rest of your life. I'd love to get into criminal psychology though, at least it wont be the same thing day in and day out, at the same time I could take that and branch out into profiling or something a little less active to secure myself better for future troubbles. I always wanted to become an archeologist but that is a job that would require alot more out of me than I might have to offer at times. I still might go for that one depends how soon I get a treatment plan that looks like it will work out for me in the long run. One thing I believe strongly in, a person can never get enough education. I love to learn, if I could do just that for a job, I would! :tongue: