Hi my name is Eric, I was diagnosed in 2005 and all medications I have tried (and I have tried a lot) have failed. My health is much better then it was when I was first diagnosed, I got there through trial and error with my diet and alternative treatments but I am still unwell. I am unable to go to school and getting a job that meets my unpredictable urgency's is difficult to say the least. As I am sure I don't need to tell anyone on this forum there is a big difference between being alive and living and even though I am alive this is not a life I have. I have avoided surgery because as I am sure like most people I am scared of how it will affect my future romantic relations. I am not quite sure what I plan to accomplish by joining this forum and posting this because it seems that there really is no other answer then "get used to it" but I am hoping talking with people who are in a similar situation as I may help me, any words of advice especially concerning romantic relations would be most appreciated, thank you.
Searching for some words of wisdom
- Thread starter Eric
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Help Support Crohn's Disease Forum:
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Hello Eric 
I can't really offer you any words of wisdom, but I just wanted to offer you words of welcome and empathy. I'm pretty new to the world of the bolshie bowel - been having symptoms for 6 months now - and I can totally identify with the feeling of living a sort of half-life.
Interested to hear that you too have been controlling your symptoms with diet. I haven't got a conclusive diagnosis yet so am not on any meds, but have followed some dietary advice I've been recommended on here and it has made a big difference.
Stick around There's a wealth of variety and experiences ( romantic and otherwise! ) on this board and people who are only to willing to share.
I can't really offer you any words of wisdom, but I just wanted to offer you words of welcome and empathy. I'm pretty new to the world of the bolshie bowel - been having symptoms for 6 months now - and I can totally identify with the feeling of living a sort of half-life.
Interested to hear that you too have been controlling your symptoms with diet. I haven't got a conclusive diagnosis yet so am not on any meds, but have followed some dietary advice I've been recommended on here and it has made a big difference.
Stick around
There's a wealth of variety and experiences ( romantic and otherwise! ) on this board and people who are only to willing to share.Eric,
Romance and Crohn's is possible. The thing, I think, is a partner who tries (and I say try because no one can really know but another IBD'er) to understand and support you. My hubby has been thru a temporary colostomy with me, near death, and months of me doing nothing. He learned to care for my ostomy and he knows the signs that means I need to eat. I battle malnutrition. I finally have the right mix of supplements and I am coming back to life. The care givers role is frustrating. They really want to fix you but they can't. It is a true give and take situation. You have to be aware of their frustration as much as they have to be aware of your health. In my case, I have a tendency to push people away when I feel bad. Stay open and always keep a list of happy thoughts. So, what natural stuff have you had success with?
Hugs!
Wendy
Romance and Crohn's is possible. The thing, I think, is a partner who tries (and I say try because no one can really know but another IBD'er) to understand and support you. My hubby has been thru a temporary colostomy with me, near death, and months of me doing nothing. He learned to care for my ostomy and he knows the signs that means I need to eat. I battle malnutrition. I finally have the right mix of supplements and I am coming back to life. The care givers role is frustrating. They really want to fix you but they can't. It is a true give and take situation. You have to be aware of their frustration as much as they have to be aware of your health. In my case, I have a tendency to push people away when I feel bad. Stay open and always keep a list of happy thoughts. So, what natural stuff have you had success with?
Hugs!
Wendy
xJillx
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Welcome, Eric. I am glad you are feeling better than in the past, but I am sorry you are not where you want to be. I think many of us can relate to how you feel. So, I hope you hang around, because there are many of us here that are in the same boat. And it does help to talk to others who can relate.
ameslouise
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Hi Eric and Welcome!
Even if you don't know what you expect to get out of the forum, you reached out to us all by joining in the first place! There is a lot of info and advice here, but mostly I think you will benefit from reading about and hearing from people who have been there. We know EXACTLY what you are going thru!!! And you really a lot from people who live relatively normal lives even in spite of their disease.
I am about to have surgery and a permanent ostomy. Even with my really bad situation and having to get so much disease removed, i still have been able to live a good life.
As for romance, I can't help you there because I have been married thru my whole disease. But there are lots of singles here that can help offer you their experiences and advice.
Hope you start feeling better and living your life once again!
Hang in there! - Amy
Thank you every one, its nice to hear from people in a similar situation to my own. I forgot to ask in my last post how this disease has affected you mentally. When I was first diagnosed I didn't think much of it just due to lack of experience, but as time went on and I got sicker I fell in to a very dark place. But as time went on I learned to deal with the stress that came with the disease. But now that I have graduated the pressure of having to make a decision on what to do with my life has brought back the stress. I think I went through the time period of bliss because I was in high school, it was okay if I was home schooled and just stayed in bed all day, but you cant do that for the rest of your life. It has gotten to the point where I hate hanging out with my friends because of anger and jealousy because I want what they have, there health. Now I know this is not there fault that it is in my head but it doesn't make it any easier. I am trying to convince my doctor to try me on this medication naltrexone, study's have been done that on a low dose it can help people with crohns disease, if any one has tried this I would love to hear how it worked for you, thanks.
p.s. thanks for all your reply's, getting all this off my chest is very therapeutic
p.s. thanks for all your reply's, getting all this off my chest is very therapeutic
Astra
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Hi Eric
and welcome
You can find all the info on LDN on the LDN sub forum here on the forum
I'm living proof that you can find love and romance with this disease! I never thought in a million years that after my divorce and at my age (48 this year) that I would find love.
I'm very up front and honest about this disease, and tell the world and his wife about it!
Of course, that's up to you whether you declare it to a new relationship, but if that person doesn't run for the hills, then you'll know they're a keeper.
Stick with us, yes it's very therapeutic!
lotsa luv
Joan xxx
and welcome
You can find all the info on LDN on the LDN sub forum here on the forum
I'm living proof that you can find love and romance with this disease! I never thought in a million years that after my divorce and at my age (48 this year) that I would find love.
I'm very up front and honest about this disease, and tell the world and his wife about it!
Of course, that's up to you whether you declare it to a new relationship, but if that person doesn't run for the hills, then you'll know they're a keeper.
Stick with us, yes it's very therapeutic!
lotsa luv
Joan xxx
did you mention that you are having trouble finding a job? one direction to think about would be a job that you can perform at home, giving you maximum freedom. there are a number of freelance jobs that you can do at home; mostly artistic jobs like writing, graphic design, 3d/2d painting, astronomy, programming.
ameslouise
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Hi Eric - We all go through bouts of depression and feeling low at some point. The mental aspect of this disease is something others cannot understand. I think doctors need to be more aware of how emotionally debilitating it can be.
You will likely go thru many stages of dealing with this disease emotionally. For me, being here on the forum has been AMAZING. Better than any session with a shrink I have had. As a matter of fact, I gave up going to the shrink! We offer much better therapy here on the CF, and we take all forms of insurance! No copay!
- Amy
You will likely go thru many stages of dealing with this disease emotionally. For me, being here on the forum has been AMAZING. Better than any session with a shrink I have had. As a matter of fact, I gave up going to the shrink! We offer much better therapy here on the CF, and we take all forms of insurance! No copay!
- Amy
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Hey Eric i was diagnosed at 21 and although i am single at the mo i have managed to have a few good relationship that have finished due to other reason it is possible. i am always open and upfront about my crohns even if i do barely eat for the first month of a new relationship lol but u will be surprised how understanding most people are x and things do get better
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People I've found are really ok with this disease, I've not found anyone who gets really freaked out. I have a cousin with Crohn's as well and she has a colostomy bag and in the last couple years has been able to find someone and even had a baby in the last couple months. It's really just a self-confidence issue when you get down to it. If your confident enough, I don't think anyone will be bothered by it.
