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Evading Crohn's

Sun, March 15, 2009 10:36 PM

I can't get my symptoms under control so I've started pretending I don't have Crohn's. I just go through the motions of being sick and then pretend it all does not exist. I know I am only hurting myself, and I want to stop lying and actually do something to help myself.
I am 22 y/o, and I was diagnosed with Crohn's when I was 19. Until recently, I have always been pretty hopeful of my situation. I have been hospitalized three times. The first two were for a under a week and a few weeks after being discharged I had my symptoms under control and was able to live a fairly normal student life.
About 6 months ago, I was hospitalized for 3 weeks and have yet to get those symptoms under control. I have lost my grip on the illness and have become functionally evasive to myself. I have gone through dozens and dozens of treatment plans (Prednisone, Remicade, numerous biologics, Asacol, Llialda etc.) and things seem to work for only a few days and then my body stops working with those medications.
I feel like I keep switching meds and hoping something will help me. Now, I have stopped thinking about things and just live my life as if none of this exists. I don’t think about what I eat, I have trouble talking about my illness to people who care about me, I simply say everything is fine and they know I am lying.
I graduated college in May and have been trying to figure my life out, and Crohn’s has become a roadblock. I see my friends taking risks + challenging themselves in ways that I was sure I would be doing after school. I just can’t do those things and it is killing me.
I am sorry for being all over the place, but I just don’t know what to do. I feel like I am being very inconsistent. I am not looking into alternative treatment options, I am not taking my diet seriously-I am not taking my situation as seriously as I would like.
Has anybody neglected their condition and then grabbed a hold of it? How did you do it? Thank you for hearing me out! I really appreciate it. - Mark

kizel
Joined Dec 9, 2008

Mon, March 23, 2009 3:08 PM

Reply posted for nickrystal.

I had no other choice but to deal with it, that or die. My insides were all inflammed and I was so sick and could hardly walk, the alternative was six feet under.

Only you can control this. You have to want it. And if you want it bad enough, it will happen.

Take the first step, change your diet. You'll be amazed how everything else falls into place.

My 2 cents.

aca11
Joined Mar 3, 2009

Mon, March 23, 2009 12:25 PM

Reply posted for kizel.

I've been there, believe me, many times. Sounds like you've already realized that denial is not a healthy way to go - so you're halfway to making a definite decision to change. Put a date on the calendar and sit down with your doc to decide exactly what route to take, medication-wise. Crohns will always be a part of your life but it doesn't have to dictate what happens (or doesn't happen) to you. If you let it limit your choices in life, you'll only regret it later. Please take care of yourself and get back on track! You should be in charge of your life, not the Crohns!

nickrystal
Joined Nov 7, 2008

Sat, March 21, 2009 12:00 AM

Reply posted for kizel.

I don't know if this will help but my son has had a lot of good luck with controlling his diet. No gluten, dairy or soy. He sees a nutritionist that really understands the disease. He also gets his stool tested when he gets a slight stomach upset. Usually we find something that can be treated with an antibiotic.

Lastly, I really thinks it's not good to hold in your feelings, thoughts and what's happening physically to you. The stress of that alone can cause a flare up. My son holds a lot of things in and I think it hurts him.

take care

mpace
Joined Apr 8, 2008

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