First off all I hope the title doesn't depress anyone in any way, and instead reinforces are positive message. Also I can't believe I didn't go and find emotional support throughout my journey, as I believe it would have helped me so much. Nevertheless here I am... and here goes...
My Crohns battle began late in 2002, when I was 11 years old. I don't remember most of the details since it was quite awhile ago, but I believe it began with me feeling abdominal cramps and suffering from constipation. It was such a shock for my family back then, as we had no history of IBD in my family, and they were of course worried of my future.
My high school life began shortly after, and what a shocker it was...Toilet related humor was at an all time high... I was like a living skeleton throughout all of it, unable to put on any weight, severe cramps all throughout the day, yet still I was able to make a number of great friends, who I was able to tell of my condition (Its tough, but so worth it). I constantly had days off school due to checkups with the doctor, which involved me traveling to the city to visit my gastroentologist with my mum/dad, who in turn had to take time off work to come with me. If there was a positive in any of this, I guess I was able to mature very quickly
Over the years the disease had been getting progressively worse with the doctors reluctant to have an operation and instead had numerous colonoscopies, and moving from one medication to another, to control the symptoms. You name it, I've had it - Salazopyrin, Prednisolone, Flagyl, and even the upper class drugs such as Infliximab and Humira each giving me relief from cramps, only for them to emerge again weeks later. Skin tags and hemorrhoids came into the equation three or so years into my disease, and it was here in my life that I was down the most. I was rarely socializing and my grades were also suffering. I didn't give a shit about anything, and I was constantly questioning life and religion in general. I'm not too sure how I got through it all, but I'm sure it was due to the undying support of my familiy who were with me till the very end.
It was shortly into early 2010 that I was on Himura when all of sudden I had an extreme flareup, and was rushed to hospital via ambulance. I was put on morphine, till I had a colonoscopy and CT scans were done to identify the problem. Turns out I had an 'obstruction' meaning inflammation was rampant in an area of my bowel, and had therefore narrowed the lining of my bowel, and food was being 'obstructed' causing the severe, severe pain. Again, doctors were still reluctant to do an operation, instead bumping up my Prednisolone levels to 50mg a day,taking me off Himura, and giving me a diet to follow. I continued this for a few months, where the doctors were advising me to try out a new trial medication. During the screening process, I had another intense flareup and this time the doctors basically said Screw the trial, you're going in for an operation.
It happened this year on June 16th, I was (and am currently) 19 years old. Luckily for me, they explained that my crohns disease was strictly in one area only and I believe was part of the small and large bowel, about 30-40cm all up. They intended to cut the lot (and they did) and told me I could be having a bag, depending on the severity of inflammation in the small bowel. The operation however went smoothly, and I woke up to intense inner pain, a scar through my belly button (I don't have one anymore
), yet thankfully no stoma.
It has been now a good three months, and I can't tell you how much off an impact this operation has made. Months ago, I couldn't remember what it felt like to be 'healthy' and let me tell you it is the greatest thing ever! I'm just so thankful to the doctors, who have helped me over the years, just being healthy was all I ever wanted for such a long time as I have had this awful, awful disease for almost half my life.
During my time in hostipal during recovery, that I met 26 year old patient with crohns about to undertake his second operation. It was such an eye-opener for me, and we discussed for hours how the disease has affected our lives in general. After leaving the hostipal free off chrons, I just couldnt stop thinking off all the people such as yourselves who are going to through what I have been through, or even worse. It has made me want to do something such as fundraising to raise funding and awareness for this crappy disease, and has made me even want to change my career path from commerce to medicine/nursing field.
So yeah I'm glad you took the time too read this fellow Chronies, I for one advise anyone going through what I went through, to discuss a potential operation with your Gastroentologist, and also to never forget the undying love and support of you're family that will most often and not, get you through the toughest of times!
I hope to visiting these forums on a weekly basis in case I can help in any way, and also to serve as a reminder for myself, on what I have been through.
Keep fighting guys, there is always light at the end of the tunnel!
Thanks again guys,
Nilan
My Crohns battle began late in 2002, when I was 11 years old. I don't remember most of the details since it was quite awhile ago, but I believe it began with me feeling abdominal cramps and suffering from constipation. It was such a shock for my family back then, as we had no history of IBD in my family, and they were of course worried of my future.
My high school life began shortly after, and what a shocker it was...Toilet related humor was at an all time high... I was like a living skeleton throughout all of it, unable to put on any weight, severe cramps all throughout the day, yet still I was able to make a number of great friends, who I was able to tell of my condition (Its tough, but so worth it). I constantly had days off school due to checkups with the doctor, which involved me traveling to the city to visit my gastroentologist with my mum/dad, who in turn had to take time off work to come with me. If there was a positive in any of this, I guess I was able to mature very quickly
Over the years the disease had been getting progressively worse with the doctors reluctant to have an operation and instead had numerous colonoscopies, and moving from one medication to another, to control the symptoms. You name it, I've had it - Salazopyrin, Prednisolone, Flagyl, and even the upper class drugs such as Infliximab and Humira each giving me relief from cramps, only for them to emerge again weeks later. Skin tags and hemorrhoids came into the equation three or so years into my disease, and it was here in my life that I was down the most. I was rarely socializing and my grades were also suffering. I didn't give a shit about anything, and I was constantly questioning life and religion in general. I'm not too sure how I got through it all, but I'm sure it was due to the undying support of my familiy who were with me till the very end.
It was shortly into early 2010 that I was on Himura when all of sudden I had an extreme flareup, and was rushed to hospital via ambulance. I was put on morphine, till I had a colonoscopy and CT scans were done to identify the problem. Turns out I had an 'obstruction' meaning inflammation was rampant in an area of my bowel, and had therefore narrowed the lining of my bowel, and food was being 'obstructed' causing the severe, severe pain. Again, doctors were still reluctant to do an operation, instead bumping up my Prednisolone levels to 50mg a day,taking me off Himura, and giving me a diet to follow. I continued this for a few months, where the doctors were advising me to try out a new trial medication. During the screening process, I had another intense flareup and this time the doctors basically said Screw the trial, you're going in for an operation.
It happened this year on June 16th, I was (and am currently) 19 years old. Luckily for me, they explained that my crohns disease was strictly in one area only and I believe was part of the small and large bowel, about 30-40cm all up. They intended to cut the lot (and they did) and told me I could be having a bag, depending on the severity of inflammation in the small bowel. The operation however went smoothly, and I woke up to intense inner pain, a scar through my belly button (I don't have one anymore
), yet thankfully no stoma.It has been now a good three months, and I can't tell you how much off an impact this operation has made. Months ago, I couldn't remember what it felt like to be 'healthy' and let me tell you it is the greatest thing ever! I'm just so thankful to the doctors, who have helped me over the years, just being healthy was all I ever wanted for such a long time as I have had this awful, awful disease for almost half my life.
During my time in hostipal during recovery, that I met 26 year old patient with crohns about to undertake his second operation. It was such an eye-opener for me, and we discussed for hours how the disease has affected our lives in general. After leaving the hostipal free off chrons, I just couldnt stop thinking off all the people such as yourselves who are going to through what I have been through, or even worse. It has made me want to do something such as fundraising to raise funding and awareness for this crappy disease, and has made me even want to change my career path from commerce to medicine/nursing field.
So yeah I'm glad you took the time too read this fellow Chronies, I for one advise anyone going through what I went through, to discuss a potential operation with your Gastroentologist, and also to never forget the undying love and support of you're family that will most often and not, get you through the toughest of times!
I hope to visiting these forums on a weekly basis in case I can help in any way, and also to serve as a reminder for myself, on what I have been through.
Keep fighting guys, there is always light at the end of the tunnel!
Thanks again guys,
Nilan
