Hi everyone,
I have severe crohn's disease. I'm 21 years old and was diagnosed at 13 in 2004. I've never been a part of any kind of support group, but recently have decided to give it a try.
I had an appendectomy and small bowel resection at the time of my diagnosis while on vacation in southern California. I am from Canada so the American medical system was a shock to say the least.
Since then I have been on 5 ASA's, Prednisone, Imuran, Methotrexate, Remicade, and most recently Humira in conjunction with Methotrexate.
I have had 4 surgeries for my crohn's since the initial one where I was diagnosed. Two of these were for placement of a G-tube feeding device, and the other two were small bowel ressections, the most recent just over a month ago where I also had my G-tube removed (finally). I have been told that a resection should aim to give you remission for about 5 years. This is not the case for me and I have chalked it up to the fact that this disease is unpredictable along with being extremely frustrating.
I originally started tube feeding upon my return from the states. I was 5'4 and 61 lbs. Not only did tube feeding help me to put on some much needed weight, it gave my bowel the time it needed to try to recover from the damage done in the years before I was diagnosed. I did tube feeding for 5 years. In that 5th year I had my first bowel resection since my diagnosis, and tube feeding did not prove helpful after that. In the time that I was tube feeding, I was able to gain weight and keep it on, ensure I received nutrition while in a flare (not feeling up to eating), and it helped to put me into remission 3 times. I'm not sure how popular tube feeding is in other places but I can honestly say it's probably the best form of treatment I've ever taken to help reduce the effects of a flare... far more effective and less damaging than Prednisone.
I have been in remission for a grand total of ~3 1/2 years out of the 8 years that I have had this disease. I am going into my 3rd year of university this fall, getting straight A's and have plans to go on to law school. This is a huge accomplishment for me; being able to do what you want with your life is a huge deal for anyone suffering from crohn's.
As I'm sure you all know, it's pretty hard to be "normal" or have any kind of a life when you're in a flare. The past 8 years have been hard but I am lucky (or not, depending how you look at it) to live in an area where crohn's is prevalent. Atlantic Canada has the highest rates of IBD in the world (go figure). I have a few friend's with crohn's here who have found support groups helpful, outside of the support we give each other and so I figured I would try this place out. I am currently on my way, fingers crossed, to remission and hope to be there within 6 months.
I have severe crohn's disease. I'm 21 years old and was diagnosed at 13 in 2004. I've never been a part of any kind of support group, but recently have decided to give it a try.
I had an appendectomy and small bowel resection at the time of my diagnosis while on vacation in southern California. I am from Canada so the American medical system was a shock to say the least.
Since then I have been on 5 ASA's, Prednisone, Imuran, Methotrexate, Remicade, and most recently Humira in conjunction with Methotrexate.
I have had 4 surgeries for my crohn's since the initial one where I was diagnosed. Two of these were for placement of a G-tube feeding device, and the other two were small bowel ressections, the most recent just over a month ago where I also had my G-tube removed (finally). I have been told that a resection should aim to give you remission for about 5 years. This is not the case for me and I have chalked it up to the fact that this disease is unpredictable along with being extremely frustrating.
I originally started tube feeding upon my return from the states. I was 5'4 and 61 lbs. Not only did tube feeding help me to put on some much needed weight, it gave my bowel the time it needed to try to recover from the damage done in the years before I was diagnosed. I did tube feeding for 5 years. In that 5th year I had my first bowel resection since my diagnosis, and tube feeding did not prove helpful after that. In the time that I was tube feeding, I was able to gain weight and keep it on, ensure I received nutrition while in a flare (not feeling up to eating), and it helped to put me into remission 3 times. I'm not sure how popular tube feeding is in other places but I can honestly say it's probably the best form of treatment I've ever taken to help reduce the effects of a flare... far more effective and less damaging than Prednisone.
I have been in remission for a grand total of ~3 1/2 years out of the 8 years that I have had this disease. I am going into my 3rd year of university this fall, getting straight A's and have plans to go on to law school. This is a huge accomplishment for me; being able to do what you want with your life is a huge deal for anyone suffering from crohn's.
As I'm sure you all know, it's pretty hard to be "normal" or have any kind of a life when you're in a flare. The past 8 years have been hard but I am lucky (or not, depending how you look at it) to live in an area where crohn's is prevalent. Atlantic Canada has the highest rates of IBD in the world (go figure). I have a few friend's with crohn's here who have found support groups helpful, outside of the support we give each other and so I figured I would try this place out. I am currently on my way, fingers crossed, to remission and hope to be there within 6 months.
