Hi everyone,
I'm new here to the forum and thought I would participate by telling a little bit of my story. I'm a 33 yr old male and have always been that guy who was always healthy no matter what. It was extremely rare for me to even catch a cold/flu/etc. I worked out daily for years and ate as healthy as possible.
About two years ago I was away from home on work and was staying in the provided lodging for the trip. The room always seemed kind of moldy and stale, but I never really thought much of it. I started to get a terrible cough for a couple months during my stay, but again, didn't think much of it and didn't want to see a doctor. I worried about it interfering with work instead of just getting checked out. About a week before I was to return home, the cough was so violent that it would cause cramps in my abdomin. I started to become constipated as well. I decided to see a doctor.
First, a lung infection was found. Easy enough. I was given antibiotics and they helped almost immediately. I was good in about a weeks time. However, the cramping and constipation where still there. I was referred to a GI specialist who upon listening to my description, decided to give me a colonoscopy. I didn't think he'd find anything and I would just need a good laxative or something to clear me out and I'd be on my way. (I've never had issues like this ever.) He finds inflamation in my terminal illium. He says I have Crohns. I of course am stubborn and find it hard to believe when he says I'll be on meds the rest of my life. I start out on a prednisone taper and then pentasa. This went on for a few months and he scoped me again. Yep, still inflamation. I insist on a second opinion as this is still hard for me to grasp.
I see a second opinion specialist at another location and going off the data, he pretty much concurs with the first doc. He decides to adjust the medication though as I'm not feeling 100% on the current load. This time, azathioprine is added to the mix and I go on for a few more months. This seems to be helping a bit and I'm able to function normally day to day with a little fatigue and stomach discomfort every once in awhile. Bowel movements are somewhat regular, but I'd get some constipation from time to time. Never any diarrhea or bleeding.
Months later I'm off the prednisone taper but still on pentasa and azathioprene. During this time, I have to relocate out of state for my job. I pick up the family and move and get myself another doctor in my new state. While here, I start getting cramps in my middle abdomin and a lot of constipation. Again, never any diarrhea or bleeding.
Eventually I hit the wall and suddenly I'm throwing up a couple times a week, hardly any bowel movements and just a lot of stomach pain. It doesn't matter what I eat or drink, I immediatly feel awful after consuming anything. The doc scopes me and says he doesn't find anything. I'm clean as a whistle and he can't figure out why. We both think maybe the drugs are making me ill since whatever I had going on is now cleared up. Maybe it's not Crohn's disease at all? He decides to stop me cold turkey on everything and within two weeks I feel like my old healthy self again.
I go on for about a year feeling great with no issue, no drugs, and I'm having more regular bowel movements. I can eat or drink anything with no issue, but still make smart choices. However, this February, I started feeling constipated again and the midsection cramping. This time it came out of nowhere very quickly. It was also much worse than I ever felt a year earlier. When I started throwing up, that's when my wife said it's time to hit the ER. They managed the pain for me, but found some inflamation and admitted me for six days at the hospital. During this time, they ran blood work, CT scans, etc and gave me another colonsocopy. The inflamation was back in the terminal illium but I was clean everywhere else. Doctors decide to call it Crohn's disease again and start me on a prednisone taper and mesalamine (Asacol). Fast forward to this month of April, I was feeling pretty good until about two weeks ago when cramping and constipation came back. My GI thinks it's time for the next level and go to Humira once every two weeks.
Big picture, over the last two years I just haven't done the research I should have to educate myself on this disease and other conditions like it. It wasn't until a couple weeks ago that I finally starting realizing that I do have something wrong inside me. I've never wanted to listen to the docs advice or believe what they were saying. I realize I'm no good to my family and friends always depressed and in a funk feeling sorry for myself and what I'm going through. I need to take action but now the idea of taking Humira scares me, especially because of the possible side effects. The doctor insists that the benefit of quality of life on the drug far outweighs any potential risks, but I'm still weary. Humira has been in my refrigerator for a couple weeks now and I haven't started it yet. I don't know what I'm waiting for.
I hope to find lots of information and advice here. My wife has been amazing in her support doing lots of research about this on her own. I need to take ownership though and tackle this head on myself once and for all.
I could get more detailed in my history here, but what I've described is the overall picture for now. Thanks for reading!
I'm new here to the forum and thought I would participate by telling a little bit of my story. I'm a 33 yr old male and have always been that guy who was always healthy no matter what. It was extremely rare for me to even catch a cold/flu/etc. I worked out daily for years and ate as healthy as possible.
About two years ago I was away from home on work and was staying in the provided lodging for the trip. The room always seemed kind of moldy and stale, but I never really thought much of it. I started to get a terrible cough for a couple months during my stay, but again, didn't think much of it and didn't want to see a doctor. I worried about it interfering with work instead of just getting checked out. About a week before I was to return home, the cough was so violent that it would cause cramps in my abdomin. I started to become constipated as well. I decided to see a doctor.
First, a lung infection was found. Easy enough. I was given antibiotics and they helped almost immediately. I was good in about a weeks time. However, the cramping and constipation where still there. I was referred to a GI specialist who upon listening to my description, decided to give me a colonoscopy. I didn't think he'd find anything and I would just need a good laxative or something to clear me out and I'd be on my way. (I've never had issues like this ever.) He finds inflamation in my terminal illium. He says I have Crohns. I of course am stubborn and find it hard to believe when he says I'll be on meds the rest of my life. I start out on a prednisone taper and then pentasa. This went on for a few months and he scoped me again. Yep, still inflamation. I insist on a second opinion as this is still hard for me to grasp.
I see a second opinion specialist at another location and going off the data, he pretty much concurs with the first doc. He decides to adjust the medication though as I'm not feeling 100% on the current load. This time, azathioprine is added to the mix and I go on for a few more months. This seems to be helping a bit and I'm able to function normally day to day with a little fatigue and stomach discomfort every once in awhile. Bowel movements are somewhat regular, but I'd get some constipation from time to time. Never any diarrhea or bleeding.
Months later I'm off the prednisone taper but still on pentasa and azathioprene. During this time, I have to relocate out of state for my job. I pick up the family and move and get myself another doctor in my new state. While here, I start getting cramps in my middle abdomin and a lot of constipation. Again, never any diarrhea or bleeding.
Eventually I hit the wall and suddenly I'm throwing up a couple times a week, hardly any bowel movements and just a lot of stomach pain. It doesn't matter what I eat or drink, I immediatly feel awful after consuming anything. The doc scopes me and says he doesn't find anything. I'm clean as a whistle and he can't figure out why. We both think maybe the drugs are making me ill since whatever I had going on is now cleared up. Maybe it's not Crohn's disease at all? He decides to stop me cold turkey on everything and within two weeks I feel like my old healthy self again.
I go on for about a year feeling great with no issue, no drugs, and I'm having more regular bowel movements. I can eat or drink anything with no issue, but still make smart choices. However, this February, I started feeling constipated again and the midsection cramping. This time it came out of nowhere very quickly. It was also much worse than I ever felt a year earlier. When I started throwing up, that's when my wife said it's time to hit the ER. They managed the pain for me, but found some inflamation and admitted me for six days at the hospital. During this time, they ran blood work, CT scans, etc and gave me another colonsocopy. The inflamation was back in the terminal illium but I was clean everywhere else. Doctors decide to call it Crohn's disease again and start me on a prednisone taper and mesalamine (Asacol). Fast forward to this month of April, I was feeling pretty good until about two weeks ago when cramping and constipation came back. My GI thinks it's time for the next level and go to Humira once every two weeks.
Big picture, over the last two years I just haven't done the research I should have to educate myself on this disease and other conditions like it. It wasn't until a couple weeks ago that I finally starting realizing that I do have something wrong inside me. I've never wanted to listen to the docs advice or believe what they were saying. I realize I'm no good to my family and friends always depressed and in a funk feeling sorry for myself and what I'm going through. I need to take action but now the idea of taking Humira scares me, especially because of the possible side effects. The doctor insists that the benefit of quality of life on the drug far outweighs any potential risks, but I'm still weary. Humira has been in my refrigerator for a couple weeks now and I haven't started it yet. I don't know what I'm waiting for.
I hope to find lots of information and advice here. My wife has been amazing in her support doing lots of research about this on her own. I need to take ownership though and tackle this head on myself once and for all.
I could get more detailed in my history here, but what I've described is the overall picture for now. Thanks for reading!
