I've never really sat down and chronicled my thoughts and experiences of my journey with Crohn's Disease. As a young kid, I was always pretty healthy and active. I played numerous sports, along with other after school activities. Everything was going well until my Junior year of High School. That year, I started using the restroom numerous times during the day and my appetite decreased. I wasn't eating like I was used to and was still going 10 plus times a day. I figured it was nerves or stress and kept going. The symptoms kept on going and as I started to lose weight, my parents got me into the doctors and went through many tests. Thanks to my Mother's persistent nature, we were able to get a diagnosis fairly quickly (around 10 months). The doctors got me on a good regimen of medicines that helped for a bit but soon, those medicines stopped working.
This is when I started Remicade and it was just what I needed. My Crohn's symptoms got better and college courses went easier because of it. For the next 5-6 years, Remicade worked, although we had to tweek things along the way to make sure it was working to its full extent.
After I found out Remicade stopped working, my GI and I focused on getting me on a new med to help, but unfortunately it failed and I had my first major surgery, a Small Bowel Resection. After this surgery, and getting me on a new medication, things were fine for a couple of years, until, you guessed it, I needed another surgery, this time an emergency Small Bowel Resection and my second major surgery because of Crohn's. Things did not go well after that. We are not sure what exactly happened, but I did not heal correctly, my small intestine healed very narrow and on the other side, blew up too big, making it look like a water bottle. After finding this out, after like 2 years, I had my third Small Bowel Resection to fix these problems.
After my third surgery, my GI and I agreed on another new medicine and thankfully, this new medication was the best thing and has put me into remission.
Even though my Crohn's has been in remission, I have developed Adrenal Insufficiency and have been having many problems because of this, but with my new Complex Care Specialist, we are seeing a great improvement in my overall health.
Through many ups and downs, medication changes, surgeries, Emergency Room visits, hospital stays and navigating through the health care system in general, I am still standing and still going. Never stop moving forward, even if it's just one small step.
In the words of one of my best friends told me, "There is no one stronger that I have met..." (I'm sure I paraphrased). I took his quote and made it my motto and what I try to tell myself everyday, "No 1 Stronger".
Coping with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease or IBD) can be extremely challenging and isolating. That’s why I’m participating in Take Steps, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s largest nationwide fundraising campaign — to raise awareness and funds to accelerate the progress of breakthrough research and to support critical patient programs. Will you support me with a donation or join me in fundraising for Take Steps?
Please help me reach my personal goal — because no one should face the challenge and uncertainty of IBD alone. Your donation to my fundraising efforts will help the Foundation invest in cures for the future, while providing support to patients today.
