- Joined
- Apr 8, 2015
- Messages
- 2
Hello all,
I am new to your forum so I will give you a brief history. I don't know all the medical correct terms for the surgeries so please bear with me.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1970 after a small bowel resection. The doctors figure that I had been suffering with Crohn's for 4 years prior to being diagnosed. I was 14 years old and had the skeletal frame and body of a 10 year old because of the disease. High school was not easy as the disease was very difficult to manage back then.
While I had flare ups off and on through the years, I refused to allow Crohn's to rule my life. I lived as normal of a life as possible!
I gave birth to my daughter in 1988 with a pregnancy free of Crohn's symptoms!
Fast forward to 1995 when I had my second surgery, resection of the colon that almost ended up with a colostomy bag. After this surgery, the doctor put me on Asacol. When the pills refused to dissolve in my intestinal tract the doctor took me off all medication..
Since 1995 I have been in remission and take no medication for the Crohn's. I do have my routine colonoscopy every other year and all has been good.
Whenever I meet another Crohn's patient or a parent of one, I am asked what did I do to be so blessed? My answer has always been a positive attitude and living my life on my terms. I refused to use my disease as an excuse for not taking that trip of a lifetime, etc. I always carried a spare change of underclothes with me and always checked for the nearest bathrooms when in a new place.
So why did I join the Crohn's forum? Two reasons - first, if my story can help anyone to believe that remission is possible, the time that it took to write it is worth every minute. Second - yes, I am in remission today but there is no guarantees for tomorrow. I want to stay up with others who have used the new meds and procedures that are out there.
I am new to your forum so I will give you a brief history. I don't know all the medical correct terms for the surgeries so please bear with me.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1970 after a small bowel resection. The doctors figure that I had been suffering with Crohn's for 4 years prior to being diagnosed. I was 14 years old and had the skeletal frame and body of a 10 year old because of the disease. High school was not easy as the disease was very difficult to manage back then.
While I had flare ups off and on through the years, I refused to allow Crohn's to rule my life. I lived as normal of a life as possible!
I gave birth to my daughter in 1988 with a pregnancy free of Crohn's symptoms!
Fast forward to 1995 when I had my second surgery, resection of the colon that almost ended up with a colostomy bag. After this surgery, the doctor put me on Asacol. When the pills refused to dissolve in my intestinal tract the doctor took me off all medication..
Since 1995 I have been in remission and take no medication for the Crohn's. I do have my routine colonoscopy every other year and all has been good.
Whenever I meet another Crohn's patient or a parent of one, I am asked what did I do to be so blessed? My answer has always been a positive attitude and living my life on my terms. I refused to use my disease as an excuse for not taking that trip of a lifetime, etc. I always carried a spare change of underclothes with me and always checked for the nearest bathrooms when in a new place.
So why did I join the Crohn's forum? Two reasons - first, if my story can help anyone to believe that remission is possible, the time that it took to write it is worth every minute. Second - yes, I am in remission today but there is no guarantees for tomorrow. I want to stay up with others who have used the new meds and procedures that are out there.
