G
Gypsy
Guest
I was diagnosed with Crohn's at 20 (that was 9 years ago, please no almost 30 jokes). I was hospitalized after losing about 30-40lbs and no longer being able to eat solid foods.
My diagnosis process in a word was horrid. For weeks in the hospital my white coated parade of specialists were confused and befuddled by me. Some wavered towards the notion that I had HIV. One insisted it was some extremely odd fungal infection caused by cat scratches (I'm not sure where that particular doctor got his medical degree).
The most gruesome memories I have are of the Inquisition like torture devices that were used on me while hospitalized. I remember lying on a cold medical bed with a tube stuck in my nose meandering all the way down to my small intestine. As I lay there and felt violated by my tubular nasal invasion I wondered deeply, "Where are the f*%@ing Discovery Channel lasers!" I thought at that time approaching the 21st century all this stuff had been figured out. Doctors push a few buttons, a laser light show cascades over my body to the tune of various Pink Floyd songs and blamo they get a diagnosis emailed to their robot nurse5000. This being my first major medical problem I had complete faith in the medical system. I think I lost more weight fasting and living on a diet of Barium milk shakes then I did from not eating because of abdominal pain. By the way, can't they flavor those radioactive cocktails for the upper GI X-ray. I mean just toss in a hint of mint, a strawberry or two or something. We should start a petition.
Well, after that whole diagnosis thing I got released from the hospital and got some meds. The usual stuff, prednisone steroid, asacol ( later pentasa) and much later purinethol. Personally, I always like the prednisone. Yes, I know it erodes your hip bones or something like that but when I took that pretty white pill I barely needed sleep, felt like I could work out harder, wrote some of the best poetry of my life, experienced a very odd clarity of mind and had no pain! No I do not take it anymore. I tapered off and haven't had it in years. I never liked the asacol or the pentasa much, they are the same thing I think, so I just stopped taking them. Sometimes they made me puke. When they went down I often saw them in the toilet in the same solid state as I put them in the mouth end. So I figured if these things can't at least change color on the magical ride through my gastorintestinal tract then what the heck good could they be doing anyway. I now take that purinethol once a day and it does me all good if I watch my diet, keep stress levels low, exercise and get enough sleep.
I realize that my Crohn's isn't quite as serious as most. I have had one operation since the initial hospital visit to fix up some skin tags around the holy of holies of wholes. My butt doctor's name was Dr. Brown...I always thought that was funny. He did not. I mean how does one narrow down the entire field of medical science to solely operate on the back-door? Is it a conscious decision or do they draw lots one day in med-school? Furthermore, I'd like to say that I hate when nurses give you an enema and tell you to relax. The biggest thing in the world that makes me feel un-relaxed is an object being inserted into my rectum. No offense meant to be given to anyone who enjoys this situation but it is not personally my cup-o-tea.
Right now I'm good oddly enough. I usually have a few mild pains most days. But if it pains it roars when I have a flare up. I can usually bring it under control in a few days with diet and being good to myself.
My main reason for joining this forum is that I want to try and conquer my disease.
I just got a cool new job and I am moving from Phoenix to Hollywood in less than a week. My job entails life coaching men to help them realize their inner potential. Much of that coaching revolves around dating advice. One of my main tenants that I always tell guys is that they have to clear their life obstacles to become better and more desireable men. Well, this damn disease is my life obstacle. Don't get me wrong it has seldom stopped me. I have two degrees (three if you count my massage therapy certification), have extensively traveled the world, I stay active in my daily life and date often.
I know they say there is no cure for us genetic unfortunate but I refuse to believe it. I think that there is a correct combination of living right that makes it possible to cause permanent remission. I want to find it. I feel like communicating with others that are afflicted is a strong step in the right direction.
Through my new job I have discovered how helpful these Vbulletin forums can be. I actually help moderate one just like this. I look forward to becoming a member of this community and want to aid others as much as possible.
My name is Gypsy. I have Crohn's, I don't want it anymore, and damn it I am going to do something about it.
My diagnosis process in a word was horrid. For weeks in the hospital my white coated parade of specialists were confused and befuddled by me. Some wavered towards the notion that I had HIV. One insisted it was some extremely odd fungal infection caused by cat scratches (I'm not sure where that particular doctor got his medical degree).
The most gruesome memories I have are of the Inquisition like torture devices that were used on me while hospitalized. I remember lying on a cold medical bed with a tube stuck in my nose meandering all the way down to my small intestine. As I lay there and felt violated by my tubular nasal invasion I wondered deeply, "Where are the f*%@ing Discovery Channel lasers!" I thought at that time approaching the 21st century all this stuff had been figured out. Doctors push a few buttons, a laser light show cascades over my body to the tune of various Pink Floyd songs and blamo they get a diagnosis emailed to their robot nurse5000. This being my first major medical problem I had complete faith in the medical system. I think I lost more weight fasting and living on a diet of Barium milk shakes then I did from not eating because of abdominal pain. By the way, can't they flavor those radioactive cocktails for the upper GI X-ray. I mean just toss in a hint of mint, a strawberry or two or something. We should start a petition.
Well, after that whole diagnosis thing I got released from the hospital and got some meds. The usual stuff, prednisone steroid, asacol ( later pentasa) and much later purinethol. Personally, I always like the prednisone. Yes, I know it erodes your hip bones or something like that but when I took that pretty white pill I barely needed sleep, felt like I could work out harder, wrote some of the best poetry of my life, experienced a very odd clarity of mind and had no pain! No I do not take it anymore. I tapered off and haven't had it in years. I never liked the asacol or the pentasa much, they are the same thing I think, so I just stopped taking them. Sometimes they made me puke. When they went down I often saw them in the toilet in the same solid state as I put them in the mouth end. So I figured if these things can't at least change color on the magical ride through my gastorintestinal tract then what the heck good could they be doing anyway. I now take that purinethol once a day and it does me all good if I watch my diet, keep stress levels low, exercise and get enough sleep.
I realize that my Crohn's isn't quite as serious as most. I have had one operation since the initial hospital visit to fix up some skin tags around the holy of holies of wholes. My butt doctor's name was Dr. Brown...I always thought that was funny. He did not. I mean how does one narrow down the entire field of medical science to solely operate on the back-door? Is it a conscious decision or do they draw lots one day in med-school? Furthermore, I'd like to say that I hate when nurses give you an enema and tell you to relax. The biggest thing in the world that makes me feel un-relaxed is an object being inserted into my rectum. No offense meant to be given to anyone who enjoys this situation but it is not personally my cup-o-tea.
Right now I'm good oddly enough. I usually have a few mild pains most days. But if it pains it roars when I have a flare up. I can usually bring it under control in a few days with diet and being good to myself.
My main reason for joining this forum is that I want to try and conquer my disease.
I just got a cool new job and I am moving from Phoenix to Hollywood in less than a week. My job entails life coaching men to help them realize their inner potential. Much of that coaching revolves around dating advice. One of my main tenants that I always tell guys is that they have to clear their life obstacles to become better and more desireable men. Well, this damn disease is my life obstacle. Don't get me wrong it has seldom stopped me. I have two degrees (three if you count my massage therapy certification), have extensively traveled the world, I stay active in my daily life and date often.
I know they say there is no cure for us genetic unfortunate but I refuse to believe it. I think that there is a correct combination of living right that makes it possible to cause permanent remission. I want to find it. I feel like communicating with others that are afflicted is a strong step in the right direction.
Through my new job I have discovered how helpful these Vbulletin forums can be. I actually help moderate one just like this. I look forward to becoming a member of this community and want to aid others as much as possible.
My name is Gypsy. I have Crohn's, I don't want it anymore, and damn it I am going to do something about it.
