- Joined
- Oct 20, 2009
- Messages
- 3
Hi guys, my name is Evan. Dang, that sounds like the entrance to an AA meeting. Anyway, I'm glad I found this forum so that I can tell my story, it feels good to know people will be able to understand. I was diagnosed with Crohn's when I was sixteen (I'm now nearly 21) and have been dealing with it ever since. It started with small pains, and it was only when I got cold. As time went on the pain became more persistant and not just when it was cold out. I remember telling my parents about it, they though it was just bad gas. But when the "bad gas" lasted for three months they decided to take me to the doctor. After a colonoscopy and an endoscopy I was diagnosed with Crohn's. I was immediately put on prednisone, moon face anybody?, and started to regain some of my energy and all of my weight. I was put on some more medicine and slowly taken off the prednisone and for about two years all was pretty good. I had started being myself again and was regularly visiting the doctor, I was happy. But a little after I turned eighteen my dad quit his job. It bears saying that I was happy for him, he was miserable and I wanted him to be happy in his work. I just wish he had given me the chance to buy my own insurance. Because his job was my only line of insurance. When he quit, I lost it all. I could no longer afford to see my GI, and Pentasa is very expensive without insurance. I couldn't have my remicade treatments and if I was ever hospitalized I would have been in more debt than I ever would have been able to repay. So, for the past three years I have been dealing with the disease as best I could. Honestly, I was alright for the first year. But after that it started to flair up and I had to go see a general practitioner for some medicine. Now she is the sweetest doctor one could ask for, but her knowledge about my disease is limited, and so was my wallet. So basically I've been living off of chlordiazepoxide, prilosec, very old pentasa, and of course the occasional round of prednizone, when the pain began to interfere with my life. The pain, at first, was nearly unbearable; but after a while I learned to deal with it and bulldozed on. I worked remodeling houses for about two years until about three months ago. I finally had to get a desk job because of my lack of energy and the fact that at 5'7" I only weighed 115 pounds. I have been covered by insurance for the past year and four months, but not my disease. I'm sure plenty of you are well aware of what a pre-existing condition waiting period is. I was finally able to get insurance through my Mom's job last year. Starting next year I'll finally be completely covered. It is hard, the pain can sometimes bring me down to the ground; and I am worried about what they'll find when I go in for a colonoscopy next year. But, I'm still happy, because God has blessed me with a great family and wonderful friends who all care for me greatly. I'm still alive and I'm in school, ( going to be a nurse). I hope that at least one person can read this and get some hope out of it, God will bless those who ask it of him. And no matter what, there is always something to smile about. 
Evan
Evan
