Hello, my name is Meredith and I'm 31 years old. I was diagnosed with Crohns Disease in 2010. Up until then, I was really healthy. Never any problems what so ever. Then one day- boom. It hit like a ton of bricks. I thought I was dying. I had awful stomach pains, diarrhea, and couldn't keep anything down. I practically lived in the bathroom! At first, I thought it was something I ate or some type of stomach bug. After 3 days I finally went to the doctor. Nothing came out of that, he said a bug was going around so I went back home to be miserable. A couple more days went by, and I was getting worse. It literally felt like a rat was in my stomach clawing it's way out. I knew this was something far worse than a "bug"! I went back to the doc and he sent me to a gastro doc. Boy, was he my savior! It took some time and a lot of tests to diagnose me. I was admitted to the hospital with severe dehydration and Crohns flare up. I stayed about a week and was released. I was taking what seemed like 100 pills a day but nothing was working. I never felt good. I lost 30 lbs and just looked "sickly". Finally my insurance approved me for Remicade infusions. I started out going every 8 weeks but I still had flare ups. My last flare up was last May. Was admitted to the hospital again and acquired pancreatitis from all the prednisone I was receiving. I'm now on Remicade every 6 weeks and have not had any major problems since. I guess I've been lucky so far. This is a nasty disease and I feel for all of you who have to go through this. Its depressing!
My Story
- Thread starter Meredith
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That's the same as me Meredith. I was always healthy and never had any problems with my stomach or anything until early this year. When it all came down on me too and it was damn scary 
. At least you now know what it is. Nothing worse than doctors telling you it's just a bug and you'll be fine, when it's obvious to the person suffering that it's not just as simple as one of those 72 hour gastro bugs. Hope you stay well and symptom free
. At least you now know what it is. Nothing worse than doctors telling you it's just a bug and you'll be fine, when it's obvious to the person suffering that it's not just as simple as one of those 72 hour gastro bugs. Hope you stay well and symptom free 
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Welcome to the Forum, Meredith. We have learned that it effects everyone so differant at every stage of this disease. Some will have a slow time of it and others like gangbusters. Either way its never easy getting diagnosed. It always seems to be "Its just a bug that's going around." If only it were.......
Good luck with everything
Good luck with everything
ameslouise
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Hi Meredith and welcome!
Glad the Remi is doing the trick for you! I hope it keeps you feeling well for a long time.
Also nice to hear you have a good doc who stuck with you till you found a diagnosis. For many people here, one of their biggest frustrations with CD is finding a good doctor!
Lots of good advice and support here. Yes, CD can be very depressing, lonely and isolating. But this is a good place to come to let it all out and we even have some good laughs from time to time!
- Amy
Glad the Remi is doing the trick for you! I hope it keeps you feeling well for a long time.
Also nice to hear you have a good doc who stuck with you till you found a diagnosis. For many people here, one of their biggest frustrations with CD is finding a good doctor!
Lots of good advice and support here. Yes, CD can be very depressing, lonely and isolating. But this is a good place to come to let it all out and we even have some good laughs from time to time!
- Amy
I'm so glad I found this site! I have learned so much just by reading others experiences. I was wondering though, does anybody know anything about pregnancy and Remicade? I've heard it doesn't interfere with the pregnancy but I'm having a hard time conceiving. Any suggestions? Again thanks so much for welcoming me!
