Thanks, NoGutsNoGlory, for inviting me to join this group.
I am a lesbian who came out in college back in the mid 1970s (yup, I'm that old). I was diagnosed with Crohns in 1982, this after about three years of symptoms and misdiagnoses. I was really sick and almost died during a two-week hospital stay, but survived (obviously!) thanks to an amazing doctor who had just happened to be on duty when I dragged my ass into the hospital.
I did really well on Sulfa drugs for about 20 years. Sulfa kept my Crohns mostly in remission, except for joint pain and lethargy which has been a constant for me. Then I developed an allergy to Sulfa, and spent a few years trying other drugs like Pentasa and Asacol which would work for awhile and then I would develop an allergy to each one. For about five years I was on nothing and was able to stay in remission, which was great. Then I flared and was put on Prednisone, Imuran, and, most recently, Cimzia. I am currently on all three but am tapering Prednisone as the Cimzia starts to take effect (hopefully).
I may be the only person on this Board who loves Prednisone. It's the only drug I've ever taken that makes me feel like my pre-Crohns self. If I could take it long-term I would.
In terms of the gay thing, I've been out a long time, as I mentioned, longer than I have had Crohns. I've had ups and downs in the relationship part of life, but now have a great partner of twelve years who totally gets me and is a great support.
I've always been out to my doctors. It's something I've never really thought about with a gastroenterologist, although I have with gynecologists because they ask all those nosy questions about sexual activity that make me say, Can't you just out on my record that I am a lesbian so we can skip the bit about birth control? But I would imagine it might be a real issue for gay men and some gastro docs. (This might actually be a good discussion for a separate thread, if there isn't already one going.) I confess that as a lesbian, I don't know a whole lot about gay men but am always open to learning.
My nephew is also gay and also has Crohns. (Don't think he is on this forum, but if he is, Hi, T!) We live far apart but when we are together, we talk much more about Crohns -- our treatments, what we're eating, insurance issues, etc. -- than being gay. I think having Crohns has brought the two of us much closer together than being gay. We are both lucky to live in an open, supportive extended family.