- Location
- Long Island
Hey there. My name is Matt, I'm 22 years old and was diagnosed with Crohn's since I was 13.
When I was little, I was rather skinny and always had gotten severe rashes and what looked like blisters in the hindquarters. My parents just thought it was normal rashes, and with some ointment and sitz bathes it helped ease the pain, and reduced the bothered area. It wasn't long until I was diagnosed with Asthma, and was put on many steroids to help my breathing. From about 8 years old to 13 years old I had very little stomach problems, and gained weight.
During 7th grade, I was taken off my asthma medicine, for I stopped showing signs of it. After I was taken off the medicine, by the summer of 2004 I lost about 30lbs in the month of august. The beginning of 8th grade was rough for me. I threw up every morning, had extreme pains in my stomach. I could not eat anything and when I tried, I began to feel sick with nausea. It began to take a tole on my attendance, and we finally decided to take action.
I was sent to the hospital in either September or October of 2004 (i forget really). At first, the doctors had no idea what was the matter with me. My Lymph Nodes in my chest were swollen, and they feared I had cancer. I was X-rayed, CAT Scanned, MRI'd, and nothing showed any sign of cancerous activity. My soon-to-be GI decided to run an endoscopy and colonoscopy on me.
I remember not being able to eat in the hospital, and the morning of my colonoscopy, the nurse came in with Corn Flakes and a banana. I took one spoon full, swallowed it, and then the nurses came rushing back in saying "No, NO don't eat anymore! You are going for the colonoscopy now!"
I went under and had the endoscopy and colonoscopy done. It was confirmed: I had severe crohn's disease both upper and lower. I had about 16 ulcers riddled through my stomach and intestines, and my doctor even snapped a photo of one of the ulcers: It had a Corn Flake stuck in it haha.
Basically, I was put on a medicine called Pentasa, and the rest of 8th and 9th grade seemed to go smoothly. By 10th grade i bottomed out again. I began to severely lose weight, and massive pain in my stomach, multiple canker sores in my mouth, and I was taken out of school for home instruction. The Doctor added Entocort to my pill cocktail, but it didn't agree with my body. I would throw it all up after taking the pills.
Things were not looking good for me at all, and my GI decided to put me on prednisone (60mg a day) and 6MP. I had to get daily blood work done, and I gained so much weight over the years I was on the medicine.
The school district I was in at the time were very unhelpful, and did not comply with state laws regarding medical disadvantaged students, so I had to change school districts in my 11th grade year otherwise I would have been held back.
By my senior year in High school I was sick of the medicine, and the weight. My GI took me off of prednisone, and after I graduated and became 18 I decided to stop taking the Pentasa and 6MP. I have been feeling fine since 2008-2009 and have been in remission.
However, I have been lately noticing symptoms returning, and I will be contacting my DR this week to get the number of an adult GI. I need to see whats going on inside, but I am very weary of taking medication again with all the negative side effects it has on the body.
Wellp, that's my story! I'm glad I found this forum so I can help share the pain so-to-speak. It is comforting knowing I'm not alone out there, and I will be looking in the treatment section for sure to see what others are doing! We all gotta stick it out together and help each other through information! Okay, my rambling and lame speech is over haha :lol:
When I was little, I was rather skinny and always had gotten severe rashes and what looked like blisters in the hindquarters. My parents just thought it was normal rashes, and with some ointment and sitz bathes it helped ease the pain, and reduced the bothered area. It wasn't long until I was diagnosed with Asthma, and was put on many steroids to help my breathing. From about 8 years old to 13 years old I had very little stomach problems, and gained weight.
During 7th grade, I was taken off my asthma medicine, for I stopped showing signs of it. After I was taken off the medicine, by the summer of 2004 I lost about 30lbs in the month of august. The beginning of 8th grade was rough for me. I threw up every morning, had extreme pains in my stomach. I could not eat anything and when I tried, I began to feel sick with nausea. It began to take a tole on my attendance, and we finally decided to take action.
I was sent to the hospital in either September or October of 2004 (i forget really). At first, the doctors had no idea what was the matter with me. My Lymph Nodes in my chest were swollen, and they feared I had cancer. I was X-rayed, CAT Scanned, MRI'd, and nothing showed any sign of cancerous activity. My soon-to-be GI decided to run an endoscopy and colonoscopy on me.
I remember not being able to eat in the hospital, and the morning of my colonoscopy, the nurse came in with Corn Flakes and a banana. I took one spoon full, swallowed it, and then the nurses came rushing back in saying "No, NO don't eat anymore! You are going for the colonoscopy now!"
I went under and had the endoscopy and colonoscopy done. It was confirmed: I had severe crohn's disease both upper and lower. I had about 16 ulcers riddled through my stomach and intestines, and my doctor even snapped a photo of one of the ulcers: It had a Corn Flake stuck in it haha.
Basically, I was put on a medicine called Pentasa, and the rest of 8th and 9th grade seemed to go smoothly. By 10th grade i bottomed out again. I began to severely lose weight, and massive pain in my stomach, multiple canker sores in my mouth, and I was taken out of school for home instruction. The Doctor added Entocort to my pill cocktail, but it didn't agree with my body. I would throw it all up after taking the pills.
Things were not looking good for me at all, and my GI decided to put me on prednisone (60mg a day) and 6MP. I had to get daily blood work done, and I gained so much weight over the years I was on the medicine.
The school district I was in at the time were very unhelpful, and did not comply with state laws regarding medical disadvantaged students, so I had to change school districts in my 11th grade year otherwise I would have been held back.
By my senior year in High school I was sick of the medicine, and the weight. My GI took me off of prednisone, and after I graduated and became 18 I decided to stop taking the Pentasa and 6MP. I have been feeling fine since 2008-2009 and have been in remission.
However, I have been lately noticing symptoms returning, and I will be contacting my DR this week to get the number of an adult GI. I need to see whats going on inside, but I am very weary of taking medication again with all the negative side effects it has on the body.
Wellp, that's my story! I'm glad I found this forum so I can help share the pain so-to-speak. It is comforting knowing I'm not alone out there, and I will be looking in the treatment section for sure to see what others are doing! We all gotta stick it out together and help each other through information! Okay, my rambling and lame speech is over haha :lol:
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