New to the site, new to Crohn's.

[ladyrose]

Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed last month with Crohn's. I'm 22 years old.

Just a little about my story -

I've been having issues for the past year and over this past summer it got progressively worse, although being 21 at the time, I thought it might be due to having too much fun! After a trip to the ER, I was beginning to realize it was a bit more serious than I previously thought. But they sent me home with supposedly no results on a CT. A few weeks after that, I was in the hospital for a week and had my first endoscopy and colonscopy. I was extremely ill and honestly thought I was going to meet my maker.

So I was diagnosed with severe Crohn's disease, also being malnourished and anemic. It's not hugely unfamiliar to me; my father and uncle have ulcerative colitis. But as a 22-year-old, this was quite depressing to learn. I've had to withdraw from school this semester. But I think I'm handling it well, considering everything! I figure someone has to have this disease so there's not much I can do about it except deal with it.

I begin treatment of Imuran and Remicade soon. I'm nervous but excited to finally buckle down on this. And I can't wait to get off Prednisone.

I'm happy to have found this forum and I hope to find more insight on the disease and how to handle it.

 

[Emily]

Hi fellow Pittsburgher It can really be tough to have Crohn's take you out of school, it happened to me last fall and I was so upset. It sounds like you are handling everything quite reasonably though and that is great! I'm sure it will be nice to get off the pred and start some good long term treatment. I think the Remicade/Imuran combo is quite good for many people here. Theres a lot to learn about Crohn's and even though I've had it for like 12 years, I learned TONS when I joined this forum, it is invaluable. Hope to see you around a lot! :hug:

 

[glory_h]

Hello ladyrose,

I can sympathize about wanting to get of Prednisone - that stuff is the worst!

I, too, had to take some time off from college to get surgery and recover. But then I went without a flare-up for 10 years, so that was good!

 

[brooklyn23]

*waves* Hey... I was diagnosed at 22 as well... well... I'm still 22 for a few more weeks. Nice to see folks around my age here. I'm new to the site as well.

 

[Crohn's 35]

:welcome: Lady rose! You have come to a place where we all know how you feel, and I agree with the pred, I am on it too but not much longer.. I avoid it because the side effects are nasty. Hope the Remicade works for you, many have and in remission for years. IBD runs in my family too but really bad. We just have to take it one day at a time. You have a good attitude, and lots here your age as you can see.

Good luck and let us know how the Remicade works for ya!