Hows it going guys. My name is David. I am 23 years old, and have been living with Crohn's Disease for 7 years now, and I have to say, I LOVE it! I like to tell my story on how I found out I had Crohn's, because to me, the beginning is funny.
I was 16 years old at the time, and I remember I was at baseball practice. We were taking fly balls out in the outfield, and I was not feeling well at all. I remember looking to some of the guys on my team and telling them I was seeing double, and just was not feeling well at all. We were supposed to take three fly balls for our turns. It was finally my turn, and even though I was not feeling great, and seeing two baseballs come at me, I was able to catch the first two fly balls no problem. My third time up, though, I went after the wrong ball, and the real ball hit me in the head. Needless to say, my ego was damaged. Even to this day, I hear about that every now and then.
But, after that, I went to the doctor, and he said I have the stomach flu. Said the pain will go away soon. Never did. Went back to the doctor, and he said I was just constipated. Pain was even worse a couple days later, and went back to the doctor. And after a day full of tests, in which I felt like I lost my manhood getting an ultrasound on my stomach, and watching soap operas all day, the doctor finally figured out what was wrong! My appendix had ruptured, and I needed to be rushed to the hospital for surgery right that second. The doctor cut me open, only to find out there was nothing wrong with my appendix. But, since they were already there, they figured it was just best to take it anyways. (My old baseball teammates love to tease me about not having an appendix, too.) Doctors thought that still may have been the problem still, and just thought nothing of it. While I was on all the pain meds after surgery, I was finally pain free, for two weeks. Pain came back, and after another full day of blood tests and drinking everyone's favorite drink: liquid barium, they finally told me I had Crohn's Disease!
My first two years was really hard on me. In and out of the hospital all the time. Missing a lot of school, missing a lot of baseball (played my final 2 games during a flare in which I had not had anything to eat or drink for two days) and I was also alone. I knew no one with the disease. My doctor was also awful. He would refuse to see me when I had a flare, and I still do not talk about him to this day.
But, everything is great for me right now. I have not had a flare up since 2008 (got released 3 days before my 18th birthday, and the next week, my parents took me to Disney World!) I have spent the past four summers in the most amazing place in the world, Camp Oasis, and I also run the support group where I live. And now I am here, to meet some new people who have IBD, because I just love talking about poop. I am also here to just go freakin crazy, because that's just awesome!
Oh yea, forgot to mention something I know everyone would love. Took my senior pictures during the height of my prednisone! That was just an amazing experience!
I was 16 years old at the time, and I remember I was at baseball practice. We were taking fly balls out in the outfield, and I was not feeling well at all. I remember looking to some of the guys on my team and telling them I was seeing double, and just was not feeling well at all. We were supposed to take three fly balls for our turns. It was finally my turn, and even though I was not feeling great, and seeing two baseballs come at me, I was able to catch the first two fly balls no problem. My third time up, though, I went after the wrong ball, and the real ball hit me in the head. Needless to say, my ego was damaged. Even to this day, I hear about that every now and then.
But, after that, I went to the doctor, and he said I have the stomach flu. Said the pain will go away soon. Never did. Went back to the doctor, and he said I was just constipated. Pain was even worse a couple days later, and went back to the doctor. And after a day full of tests, in which I felt like I lost my manhood getting an ultrasound on my stomach, and watching soap operas all day, the doctor finally figured out what was wrong! My appendix had ruptured, and I needed to be rushed to the hospital for surgery right that second. The doctor cut me open, only to find out there was nothing wrong with my appendix. But, since they were already there, they figured it was just best to take it anyways. (My old baseball teammates love to tease me about not having an appendix, too.) Doctors thought that still may have been the problem still, and just thought nothing of it. While I was on all the pain meds after surgery, I was finally pain free, for two weeks. Pain came back, and after another full day of blood tests and drinking everyone's favorite drink: liquid barium, they finally told me I had Crohn's Disease!
My first two years was really hard on me. In and out of the hospital all the time. Missing a lot of school, missing a lot of baseball (played my final 2 games during a flare in which I had not had anything to eat or drink for two days) and I was also alone. I knew no one with the disease. My doctor was also awful. He would refuse to see me when I had a flare, and I still do not talk about him to this day.
But, everything is great for me right now. I have not had a flare up since 2008 (got released 3 days before my 18th birthday, and the next week, my parents took me to Disney World!) I have spent the past four summers in the most amazing place in the world, Camp Oasis, and I also run the support group where I live. And now I am here, to meet some new people who have IBD, because I just love talking about poop. I am also here to just go freakin crazy, because that's just awesome!
Oh yea, forgot to mention something I know everyone would love. Took my senior pictures during the height of my prednisone! That was just an amazing experience!
