Growing Up with Crohn's Disease

Growing up, I thought my "problem" wasn't really a problem at all. Since I was born with it, I figured that everyone dealt with it, but as I got older I was wrong. I was born with Crohn's Disease, something that a lot of people don't know about. It affects the intestines, causing them not to digest any food. This can be a big problem. I was told by my doctor when I was still a youngster that if I didn't take medication to regulate me, the waste can build up within my intestines and they could eventually explode, poising my body. Scary huh? I was also given the choice to get surgery, when I was a kid, to get it removed or take meds for the rest of my life. The doctors made surgery seem like a walk in the park compared to the meds, but I denied surgery and decided that taking meds was the best route for me.

Crohn's Disease affected my social skills as well as my ability to keep active. I wasn't able to spend the night at my friends' house or even go to summer camp because my parents were afraid something would happen to me. It was hard to explain to my friends what it was, so I just kept it to myself. I was put on a named brand laxative that would help "clean" me out and keep me be as normal as possible. When I got older, however, I thought the problem went away but things only got worse. I started to get severe stomach, back, and side pains all the time. It got to the point when I could barely breath. There were times when I spent the night in the bathroom, because I was so sick to my stomach and all the cold sweats making me flushed. Things like this happened almost everyday! I started taking my meds again, but it was a long time after wards that the pain let up on me, just a little.

My mother said that I had a very painful disease and I didn't doubt her for a minute. When I got into my teens, I was determined to find a cure. After doing some research on the net, I found out that not only there wasn't a cure, but even surgery wouldn't fix it. 80% of patients said that after getting the surgery to fix a problem area in their intestines said that it returned within months! Why would I get surgery just to find out that it'll come back anyway?

Now, I'm 20 years old, but I hardly get terrible cramps or nights in the bathroom anymore. When growing up, I had restrictions on foods I had to stay away from and I still follow it today. I can't say that the inflammations doesn't hurt, because they DO, but there are ways to cope with it. If you have Crohn's Disease or any thing like IBS, make sure to talk with your doctor frequently about your diet and things you can do to help keep away the inflammations. This will help you in the long run.

I can't say I have enjoyed my battle with Crohn's Disease, but it's made me the person I am today. It's helped me appreciate life and those around me. Maybe one day, down the line, there might be a cure, but for now I'll do my best to make sure to take care of myself the best I can!