My crohn's story

[Dave M]

Hi Everyone,

I just recently found this website and thought it might be nice to be able to talk with some people who have either experienced or are currently struggling with some of the not-so-fun things associated with Crohn's disease. So my name is Dave. I'm 22 years old and I'm from Glenview, IL (suburb of Chicago). I was diagnosed with crohn's in May of 2009 during my junior of college. Around the middle of March 2009 I started having an annoying pain in the lower right part of my abdomen. I figured it was just a bump or bruise from lacrosse practice and didn't think much of it. Well it didn't go away and I started losing weight and sleeping all day, everyday. After about another month I decided it must have been my appendix so I went to the emergency room and got the CT scan which showed nothing wrong with my appendix, but it did show some inflammation in my small intestine. Being a dumb college student I basically ignored this and thought it would go away on its own. Another month later it was only getting worse. I couldn't really stand up straight or eat anything without getting some shooting pains in my gut. So i finally drove home and saw my primary care physician who suspected crohns and got me into a gastroenterologists office that same day. She also thought it was probably crohns and wanted to do a colonoscopy to confirm it. Luckily, I was able to have the colonoscopy the next day and it was decided that I definitely did have crohns.

I would consider my case a mild to moderate one and I'm very thankful that it's not worse but it has been difficult to adjust to living with this annoying illness. I have been taking Pentasa for about the last year but will be coming off that in a couple days. I started 150 mg azathioprine a month ago and the game plan is to stay on that basically forever I guess. I think the most difficult thing I have had to deal with so far since being diagnosed is the feeling of being all alone and I'm hoping maybe this community can help with that.

So that's kind of my little story. Thanks guys!

-Dave M

 

[TMos]

Welcome Dave and thanks for sharing your story. There's lots of great people on here. I can understand the feeling of being all alone. CD is definitely something that most people don't understand.

 

[boomstickdog]

Hey Dave I ‘am Scott new here too just wanted to say I know the feeling of being alone with CD. But this Forum is a great place to shake the feeling off. So see ya latter and hope everything goes good for you.

 

[Crohn's 35]

:welcome: Dave... It is great that you found our community.. you are not alone in not looking after yourself or being in Denial. But now you know that you have to watch what you eat and try to remain stress free, which is hard enough. Being male is a double whammy at your age because guys don't do "poop" talk.:lol: We talk about everything and help any one who needs answers that they are embarrassed to ask your mother, father, friends and even doctors! We have heard it all. You have a good attitude and that will help you down the road. Yes it gets lonely at times because telling any one all that we go through wears them out, so we learn to keep it inside, which is not good either. We are here 24-7, many people your age here, someone is bound to relate to you and help what questions you may have.

:bigwave: welcome aboard!!

 

[kildare crohnie]

keep the head up...jus joined up myself da other day... there a friendly bunch!!!!

 

[rottengut91]

:bigwave: Hey Dave....I'm from Danville, IL, about 35 miles east of Champaign/Urbana. Good thing you found this place, you'll never feel too alone again. We all have either been through it or heard it all before, so no need to hold back. It's a safe place to come and feel how ever you feel, good, bad, or gassy. :bigwave:Glad you found the forum. Stick around, you're bound to make a few friends. :welcome:

 

[DustyKat]

Hi Dave and :welcome:

I'm glad you found your way here 'cause this is a fab place with loads of info and support, plus heaps of members around your age so no feeling alone again with your Crohns!

I hope the Imuran does the trick for you and keeps your Crohns in the background for a very, very long time. Good luck and welcome aboard!

Take care,
Dusty

 

[Dexky]

Hey Dave, welcome!! Are you supposed to stop pentasa cold turkey or wean off it? I ask because, we recently tried to stop my son's asacol and it did not go well!! I wonder if we had gradually reduced it, would it have been better? Anyway good luck and stick around!!

 

[lynx]

Hi Dave ! I love chi-town in the summer and spring and fall...you can keep the winters LOL! i travel there almost every month for business and have clients in Glenview too..nice area! I too just wanted to say, like the other people, I know how that 'alone' feeling is ...it sucks..even your closest friends and family members will empathize but be clueless as to what you are going through.

This place is a great place to come and it has a lot of good information and great people sharing their experiences...I am amazed at how much stuff is here! Welcome!

 

[Astra]

Hi Dave
and welcome

I've been on Pentasa for 5 years, and you don't have to come off it, it works as a prophylactic, a preventative to ward off future flares, it has anti inflammatory properties and works like aspirin, so it's ok to keep taking it with your Aza, to maintain.
glad you found us, lots of friends here for you the same age.
lotsa luv
Joan xxx

 

[lseibert]

:welcomeave,

Nice to have you in the forum, thank your for sharing you story. I stayed in remission for almost 8 years on Pentasa, hope it keeps working for you. It does help you know that you are not alone, and this is a great forum.

Good luck with everything, see you around.

:rosette2:

 

[Sophia]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forum! Hope you'll find lots of information and support here!

 

[Nancy Lee]

Hello Dave and welcome to the Crohn's Forum!
I'm sure you will find a ton of information here...
any questions just ask away.

All the best~Nancy