Before I say anything else I would like to thank everyone on this forum from the bottom of my heart. These forums, posts, and personal stories have become a major help to me in dealing with my Crohn's and I think I would be kind of lost without it, so thank you very much!
Hello, I'm David a 22 year old Univserity Student from Calgary, Alberta and this is my story:
It all started about 9 months ago, I kept getting rather sick which I had all but chalked up to food poisoning but as it kept reoccurring my parents and I were beginning to get concerned about my health. It all came to a head when I rushed out of a University exam with the runs and dry heaving.
I spent the next 6 days in a hospital. After a liquid diet, multiple scans, and what seemed like test after test, the doctors concluded that is must have been a stomach virus or bug and there was no reason for me to stay in the hospital. I was released and was feeling better but the relief was sort lived. 5 days later I found myself back the hospital in a much worse condition then before. After another extensive 7 days of tests they had come to the conclusion that I most likely had Crohn's Disease.
I was immediately assigned a GI doctor and after another battery of tests they confirmed that I did have Crohns. I meet with my GI for the first, where she pour out fact after fact and worst possible scenarios about the disease, I was overwhelmed to say the least and ended up fainting/nervous breakdown in the office. After a number of meetings with my GI and endless internet research (mostly this site
) I was beginning to wrap my head around about everything that was going on.
I was immediately put on Prednisone to help deal with my flare ups. The pred wasn't too bad minus the never ending appetite and acne that came along with it. Given the list of options I thought Imuran would be the best choice for me to take. It took about 3 months for the Imuran to kick in but once it did I could feel a noticeable difference.
Since September I have remained on the Imuran and some Vitamin D pills, which seem to be doing the trick to manage my flares and keep my Crohns in control. I'm trying to find a a proper diet to follow and what foods are a no go and what is safe. I am still having symptoms from time to time and I'm still struggling with the ultimate idea that I am "sick" and have an incurable disease. But with the support of my family, friends, and girlfriend (we started dating two days before I was hospitalized and has stuck with me ever since) I am slowly starting to figure this thing out.
Thank you for letting me share my story!
Hello, I'm David a 22 year old Univserity Student from Calgary, Alberta and this is my story:
It all started about 9 months ago, I kept getting rather sick which I had all but chalked up to food poisoning but as it kept reoccurring my parents and I were beginning to get concerned about my health. It all came to a head when I rushed out of a University exam with the runs and dry heaving.
I spent the next 6 days in a hospital. After a liquid diet, multiple scans, and what seemed like test after test, the doctors concluded that is must have been a stomach virus or bug and there was no reason for me to stay in the hospital. I was released and was feeling better but the relief was sort lived. 5 days later I found myself back the hospital in a much worse condition then before. After another extensive 7 days of tests they had come to the conclusion that I most likely had Crohn's Disease.
I was immediately assigned a GI doctor and after another battery of tests they confirmed that I did have Crohns. I meet with my GI for the first, where she pour out fact after fact and worst possible scenarios about the disease, I was overwhelmed to say the least and ended up fainting/nervous breakdown in the office. After a number of meetings with my GI and endless internet research (mostly this site
) I was beginning to wrap my head around about everything that was going on.I was immediately put on Prednisone to help deal with my flare ups. The pred wasn't too bad minus the never ending appetite and acne that came along with it. Given the list of options I thought Imuran would be the best choice for me to take. It took about 3 months for the Imuran to kick in but once it did I could feel a noticeable difference.
Since September I have remained on the Imuran and some Vitamin D pills, which seem to be doing the trick to manage my flares and keep my Crohns in control. I'm trying to find a a proper diet to follow and what foods are a no go and what is safe. I am still having symptoms from time to time and I'm still struggling with the ultimate idea that I am "sick" and have an incurable disease. But with the support of my family, friends, and girlfriend (we started dating two days before I was hospitalized and has stuck with me ever since) I am slowly starting to figure this thing out.
Thank you for letting me share my story!
