Hello!
My name is Jenna, and I am 20 years old. Last April (exactly one month before my birthday!) I was diagnosed with a severe case of Crohn's disease. On a weekend conference trip with my school's honor society, I had gotten some serious stomach pains and frequent trips to the bathroom following breakfast...assuming I had just eaten some bad sausage, I sat out the day's activities but thought nothing of it. However, when I got home, these symptoms didn't go away.
Since debilitating stomach pains and diarrhea 6 or 7 times a day is not an issue many people are comfortable sharing openly, I avoided saying anything about it to anyone for several weeks. I finally decided to visit my general physician about the issue. He asked about my symptoms and if I had lost any weight; I hadn't noticed a difference, but I was very wrong. Assuming that I had caught salmonella from my two pet turtles (I was offended, my turtles are harmless!) he ordered me for stool and urine samples (ew). These tests though came out negative for all the infections my doctor had tested me for, I was referred to a gastroenterologist.
In the meantime, I was still running to the bathroom, and consumed with stomach cramping. I was terrified! It was totally not normal, and who could I vent to without being completely embarrassed?
After meeting with my GI, a woman who I am SO grateful for today, she suspected Celiac disease. That also terrified me, as I am more than dependent on my gluten-y carbs. Unfortunately, I was off to California for another Honor Society conference and my tests were pushed until after the trip. It was in San Jose that my symptoms grew unbearable. I was uncomfortable at the least and paralyzed in pain at the most, I hadn't slept through an entire night the whole trip and exhaustion was an understatement. Following my return from the trip, I was so overwhelmed, exhausted, and sick that I couldn't return to either of my two jobs for nearly 3 weeks.
The first of my tests was an upper endoscopy, which ruled out the Celiac. But my Dr. found granulomas in my stomach which she said were actually signs of Crohn's. That partnered with my blood work, which showed alarmingly 'markers of inflammation' my doctor was almost convinced of my Crohn's diagnosis. I was then subjected to the UBER unpleasant barium swallow test. When looking at my X ray results from my test, I described the images to my parents as "it looked like someone shredded my intestines." Little did I know the test was illustrating the severe inflammation of my colon. A colonoscopy (the most miserable experience of my life to date; NOTHING went right!) my Crohn's was confirmed.
After my diagnosis, I had a really hard time recovering. I had lost over 20 pounds in just 6 weeks (I'm small to begin with, but at that point I weighed less than a hundred lbs), was highly anemic to the point where a blood transfusion didn't even provide relief, and was completely malnourished. I had a very difficult time gaining back my weight, and once I started I found that I didn't want it and struggled with a slight eating disorder. I was still somewhat depressed a month later, that I cried hysterically after our silent dinner on my 20th birthday and forced my boyfriend to take me home before 7:30.
But, despite all of this, I am not complaining. Almost a year after my diagnosis, I am feeling better than ever! I completed a dose of entocort/budesonide to treat my flare, and am currently receiving remicade infusions every 8 weeks. My symptoms have decreased dramatically, though not entirely-I'm not sure that will ever happen. I've transferred to four year university and just completed my first semester with a 3.9 GPA...I am so thankful for my family and friends who stuck by me, cared for me, and made me laugh even on my darkest days. I'm hoping that if you are newly diagnose, you made it to the bottom of this endless story, and realize that it does get better! Just hang in there!
My name is Jenna, and I am 20 years old. Last April (exactly one month before my birthday!) I was diagnosed with a severe case of Crohn's disease. On a weekend conference trip with my school's honor society, I had gotten some serious stomach pains and frequent trips to the bathroom following breakfast...assuming I had just eaten some bad sausage, I sat out the day's activities but thought nothing of it. However, when I got home, these symptoms didn't go away.
Since debilitating stomach pains and diarrhea 6 or 7 times a day is not an issue many people are comfortable sharing openly, I avoided saying anything about it to anyone for several weeks. I finally decided to visit my general physician about the issue. He asked about my symptoms and if I had lost any weight; I hadn't noticed a difference, but I was very wrong. Assuming that I had caught salmonella from my two pet turtles (I was offended, my turtles are harmless!) he ordered me for stool and urine samples (ew). These tests though came out negative for all the infections my doctor had tested me for, I was referred to a gastroenterologist.
In the meantime, I was still running to the bathroom, and consumed with stomach cramping. I was terrified! It was totally not normal, and who could I vent to without being completely embarrassed?
After meeting with my GI, a woman who I am SO grateful for today, she suspected Celiac disease. That also terrified me, as I am more than dependent on my gluten-y carbs. Unfortunately, I was off to California for another Honor Society conference and my tests were pushed until after the trip. It was in San Jose that my symptoms grew unbearable. I was uncomfortable at the least and paralyzed in pain at the most, I hadn't slept through an entire night the whole trip and exhaustion was an understatement. Following my return from the trip, I was so overwhelmed, exhausted, and sick that I couldn't return to either of my two jobs for nearly 3 weeks.
The first of my tests was an upper endoscopy, which ruled out the Celiac. But my Dr. found granulomas in my stomach which she said were actually signs of Crohn's. That partnered with my blood work, which showed alarmingly 'markers of inflammation' my doctor was almost convinced of my Crohn's diagnosis. I was then subjected to the UBER unpleasant barium swallow test. When looking at my X ray results from my test, I described the images to my parents as "it looked like someone shredded my intestines." Little did I know the test was illustrating the severe inflammation of my colon. A colonoscopy (the most miserable experience of my life to date; NOTHING went right!) my Crohn's was confirmed.
After my diagnosis, I had a really hard time recovering. I had lost over 20 pounds in just 6 weeks (I'm small to begin with, but at that point I weighed less than a hundred lbs), was highly anemic to the point where a blood transfusion didn't even provide relief, and was completely malnourished. I had a very difficult time gaining back my weight, and once I started I found that I didn't want it and struggled with a slight eating disorder. I was still somewhat depressed a month later, that I cried hysterically after our silent dinner on my 20th birthday and forced my boyfriend to take me home before 7:30.
But, despite all of this, I am not complaining. Almost a year after my diagnosis, I am feeling better than ever! I completed a dose of entocort/budesonide to treat my flare, and am currently receiving remicade infusions every 8 weeks. My symptoms have decreased dramatically, though not entirely-I'm not sure that will ever happen. I've transferred to four year university and just completed my first semester with a 3.9 GPA...I am so thankful for my family and friends who stuck by me, cared for me, and made me laugh even on my darkest days. I'm hoping that if you are newly diagnose, you made it to the bottom of this endless story, and realize that it does get better! Just hang in there!
