My Crohn’s story begins more than 20 years ago when I was a young woman in college. I suffered from intermittent abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation and anal fissures. Visits to various docs led to several interesting theories – I was drinking too much coffee, I was under too much stress, I wasn’t eating enough fibre, and of course the “it could be psychological” cop out.
My diagnosis came in 1990 from unexpected surgery. I finally conceded to the pain and for the first time, paid a visit to the E/R. The E/R docs thought acute appendicitis and off to surgery I went, expecting to come out with a tiny keyhole surgical incision and get on with my life. Instead I woke up with my abdomen cut from one side to the other, 45 cm of ilium and my ascending colon gone and a firm diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease confirmed by biopsy.
I recovered well after the surgery and maintained a fairly normal life for many years, with only occasional flare ups. I graduated from college, got a good job, got married, had 2 beautiful children and at times forgot I even had a “disease”.
About 2 years ago the Crohn’s took a turn for the worse. Pain returned with a vengeance. Horrible heartburn. A merry go round between constipation and diarrhoea with bloody stools. I was constantly fatigued and dropped 35 pounds. My GP referred me to a GI, as I had not been followed for almost 20 years. Results from my colonoscopy and endoscopy shows Crohn’s in a skip pattern all through my digestive tract including my duodenum – which I’m told is fairly unusual. (But explains the heartburn).
I’m currently on Pentasa, Imuran, folic acid and Tridural. Compared to where I was a year ago, I’m doing much, much better. I have had a couple of wonderful stretches where I’ve been pain and symptom free for a couple of weeks at a time – glorious!! I’m hopeful that, in time, the good stretches will outnumber the bad stretches and I’ll once again be able to (almost) forget about the disease.
Your stories here have been an inspiration to me. Knowing that I’m not alone is therapy in itself. I’ve learned more in my visits here over the last 3 months than I’ve learned in the previous 20 years of having Crohn’s. Thank you for your wonderful community, I’m excited to be a part of it.
My diagnosis came in 1990 from unexpected surgery. I finally conceded to the pain and for the first time, paid a visit to the E/R. The E/R docs thought acute appendicitis and off to surgery I went, expecting to come out with a tiny keyhole surgical incision and get on with my life. Instead I woke up with my abdomen cut from one side to the other, 45 cm of ilium and my ascending colon gone and a firm diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease confirmed by biopsy.
I recovered well after the surgery and maintained a fairly normal life for many years, with only occasional flare ups. I graduated from college, got a good job, got married, had 2 beautiful children and at times forgot I even had a “disease”.
About 2 years ago the Crohn’s took a turn for the worse. Pain returned with a vengeance. Horrible heartburn. A merry go round between constipation and diarrhoea with bloody stools. I was constantly fatigued and dropped 35 pounds. My GP referred me to a GI, as I had not been followed for almost 20 years. Results from my colonoscopy and endoscopy shows Crohn’s in a skip pattern all through my digestive tract including my duodenum – which I’m told is fairly unusual. (But explains the heartburn).
I’m currently on Pentasa, Imuran, folic acid and Tridural. Compared to where I was a year ago, I’m doing much, much better. I have had a couple of wonderful stretches where I’ve been pain and symptom free for a couple of weeks at a time – glorious!! I’m hopeful that, in time, the good stretches will outnumber the bad stretches and I’ll once again be able to (almost) forget about the disease.
Your stories here have been an inspiration to me. Knowing that I’m not alone is therapy in itself. I’ve learned more in my visits here over the last 3 months than I’ve learned in the previous 20 years of having Crohn’s. Thank you for your wonderful community, I’m excited to be a part of it.
