Concerns About Aging With Crohn’s

By Shawn

2 min read

As I enter the last year of being in my 20s, I honestly feel as if I’m entering my 40s most days. My body does not move as fast. The aches are more prevalent throughout my days.

I'm at a point in my life where I'm beginning to realize I am not the young and vibrant person I once was. And it hurts. Aging with IBD can be mind-boggling. As if getting older wasn't hard enough, I have the stress of an entire autoimmune disease wreaking more havoc on my body than age ever could.

Does Crohn's get worse with age?

My symptoms seem to worsen, even on the days when I feel my best. Along with aging comes a world of concerns. I am reminded of the unspoken deadline of becoming a mother. I am reminded of the bills (and debt) I've seemed to pile from hospital and doctor visits.

I try not to dwell on the negatives in life. Especially when it comes to my condition, but during times like these, I just can't help it. It seems like the world is up in flames and it's really hard to keep a positive outlook when everything around me seems to be going wrong.

Recent hospital stays for Crohn's

Since the pandemic, I've had to go to the hospital quite a few times. More times than what I'm actually comfortable with. Each time, more terrifying than the last.

Not every occurrence was directly because of Crohn's disease, but all were related. Meaning, it was another organ or body part impacted by my condition. My last visit possibly hurt the worse.

Feeling broken

When the doctor sat in the room, telling me what was wrong, I couldn't help but cry. All I could think about was how broken I am at 28 years old. How broken could I possibly be at what I once saw at such a young age? How broken was I going to be 5 or 10 years from now?

The doctor did her best to comfort me, thinking I was scared about what was going on. Truthfully, I just felt broken. I always feel broken and I'm pretty tired of it.

Embracing the aging journey

On the other hand, aging is certainly a blessing. More years, more lessons, more experience. I am certainly not one to take my time on this earth for granted, I just wish I’d age more gracefully instead of like a broken record.

Being surrounded by healthy friends also puts more pressure on me. While they are looking good and feeling better, I am slowly breaking apart. In front of my own eyes and theirs.

Regardless of what is going on with my body, I will try to remain in good spirits. When I lose control over everything else, I know I can at least control my mindset and outlook on the situation.

On days like this when I'm feeling down, I remind myself of all of my friends and family members who weren't as blessed as I am to live to see the age I have.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The InflammatoryBowelDisease.net team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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ejwithj-pouch Member
Dear Shawn, I wish I could give you a hug, and sit down with you over a nice cup of hot tea! Know that everything you feel is totally, totally legitimate. Don't feel obliged to put a positive spin on these IBD life experiences that are just plain devastating. I do agree with you that staying grateful is important...critical really. I just finished reading Michael J Fox's most recent memoir, No Time Like the Future. Of course, he suffers with a different chronic, incurable disease, but many of the psychological, emotional, spiritual worries, as well as that feeling of physical deterioration, are very familiar. When I go for a massage with a practitioner that has seen me through multiple hospitalizations and surgeries, I say to her, "Hollee, I need you to glue some parts back on. A lot of parts fell off these past few weeks." I suspect you know what I mean!
1. GardenGirl59 Member
 <inline-mention username="ejwithj-pouch" user-id="2241047"/> @ I feel like I could've written some of this too. Learn to accept your fatigue and broken parts. It's not something you can ignore. Not easy with an infant I m guessing( I don't have children) but I worked full time as a nurse for33 yes before calling it quits. I had to apply for disability( approved on first application)but I always felt like I was "giving in" as if the CD finally "won". But that's nonsense! You're NOT broken, you have an unrelenting disease that flares up, makes you hurt and interrupts your life for no good reason. It has a mind of it's own. You are a strong, fierce woman - don't forget that. Take ownership of your body's schedule. Nap if you can, be good to yourself. Stop and take 10 minutes for a nice cup.of tea. Take a walk. Restoring your body after exhaustion is crucial. Mentally and physically. Hang in there. I wish I could hug you too. Tell you it's going to be ok.💜💜💜
2. ejwithj-pouch Member
 <inline-mention username="GardenGirl59" user-id="2260403"/> Thank you GardenGirl59! 33 years as a nurse-God bless you!! Thank you for the encouragement! Eunice
Matt Nagin Moderator
Aging is a part of life, but Crohn's can certainly make it worse. Sorry you're having a tough time. I read somewhere that age is state of mind. Obviously, there is a physical side to it, but a mental as well. I'm 43 and cannot say these issues get easier, unfortunately. Anyway, hang in there and hopefully you'll see better days soon. Also, if ever interested in exploring, healing visualizations can help for something like this, of the type offered in the work of Dr. Gerald Epstein. Best, --Matt (Team Member)
Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford Moderator & Contributor
Sending massive hugs <inline-mention user-id="2280324" username="Shawn Bethea"/> <3 I have days like this, and they are most definitely fine to have, and valid things to feel. Sometimes, I don't think social media helps me. I am in the middle of the IBD and ostomy community wherever I go, and some people are so positive and upbeat all of the time, which is great, but it's so important to share our down days too! ~ Sahara (team member)
Wakenda Member
46 yrs this July is my dealings with Crohns, diagnosed at 17..it was devestating. My last year of HS was 100% horrid, as I had a 20% chance of survival, after 1 yr of misdiagnosis. 3 months in an upscale hospital in NYC and 2 hrs away from family and friends made it harder. I learned major strength from within that year. I dealt with frequent hospital stays, kept working and attending college FT. I also had small children by the time I was 4 yrs into this life disturbance and 2 divorces. Thank God for my caring family. As a nurse, I learned alot about endurance, patience and medicine. Crohn's made me a more sympathetic, knowledgeable and understanding psychiatric and Hospice nurse. I refused surgery which was constantly advised and surgeons were circling like vultures after roadkill. I stood my ground. Surgery just spreads the disease to another spot. There is no cure then( 1970s) to now. Being allergic to Sulphur made it harder to treat me( Sulphur still works wonders for many with Crohns) so I was on many trials of meds. Side effects were bad, from moon face to Steroid Acne to missing work and classes often. As a single mom it was horribly stressful, which only exacerbates flares. There were days when pain was so severe( even on pain meds) that I wanted to end it all, but my children kept me going. Now at 62, Crohn's has taken it's toll on my 46yrs of battle. Scar tissue, stricturing intestines and inability to eat solids often has added to my battles. Biologics have helped, but side effects worse than previous meds, like my DVT that took my leg. Time is not helpful with Crohns, and age just makes the immune system weaker. Many with Crohns have comorbidities and they often are migraines, bipolar, and diabetes, which I have all. I felt as if I was dealt a very bad deal. All I can advise is Do Your Homework. Don't rely on your Dr solely. Research well, here in America, Europe, everywhere. Don't be talked into surgery. Knowledgeable professionals in this field know it's not a fix but a temporary pause. Crohns is malevolent, and doesn't give up. Know your body and know when to go to ER and when to stay home, when it's an obstruction and when it's a flare only. Diet differs and changes as time goes by. There is NO ONE diet that fits all. Our bodies are unique and each responds differently to diet, meds and approaches. As I get older, I wonder how long my body will fight this insideous disease and how long I can. Depression and anxiety are common with Crohns, more relentless as we age. Therapy early on is helpful and needed and best to continue as we age. 30, 40 and 50 were tough years but now 60s is the hardest. I don't give up and won't but not a day goes by where I don't regret having this and all the baggage with it. I know my faith is keeping me strong along with my grown children.My dogs and cat show me daily, I am valuable and loved. I know I am blessed to be loved by them and my adult kids. Count your blessings, make your days worth something and don't swim in your pity pool. I am thankful to still be here 46 yrs in this war, even though some battles Crohn's won, I will win the war. Someday a cure will come. Someday nobody will suffer as we do. Someday doctors will be taught better about Crohn's. Someday.
1. KimZ Member
 <inline-mention username="Wakenda" user-id="4162197"/> ...you are so inspiring! Everything you've said are in my thoughts daily. I am so fearful of the 60's which is right around the corner for me. Thanks for reminding me to keep my faith, family and friends near me at all times. 💜
2. Eshani Agrawal Moderator & Contributor
 You can do this @kimmy! I know aging can feel frightening, especially with this disease, but it sounds like you're cultivating exactly the right attitude. <3 -Eshani (IBD Team Member)
kerman Member
FYI, I am 75 years old. I was diagnosed with Crohn's when I was 24, three months after giving birth to my daughter. Since then Ulcerative Colitis has been added to my diagnosis. In the past 10 or 12 years, Humira has helped a great deal.- I still have the usual symptoms, but I've been pretty much free of my previous excruciatingly painful flares. I have to say, during my 51 years of livIng with this, the saddest thing has been how very many things, how many experiences, I've missed because of Crohn's/UC. That's been what I hate about it, more than anything. I've always tried go tell myself "there are people with cancer, and with so many worse conditions". But it's not easy when all my friends and family are normal healthy people. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but it's hard not to be envious of others. 
1. Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="kerman" user-id="2252268"/> I can relate to that. I feel like I've had to put my life on pause so many times, that if I discounted what I'd missed, I'd be ten years younger! Sending hugs! ~ Sahara (team member)
Wakenda Member
I read 5his and started to laugh. Not being mean but I would kill to be 28 again. I'm 63 now and remember 28 vividly. I was a psychiatric nurse 4 yrs in, had 2 children and moved 3000 miles across country from NY to CA for a new life. Crohns was a constant in my life. A constant hurdle that stopped my life in hard pauses that I thought I could never press play again. But I did. Over and over again Hospital stays over and over. New meds, so many I barely remember them all. Moving from town to town, trying to afford rent as a single mom with 3 failed marriages under my belt and now 5 children total. I worked 2 jobs most of my 30s, 40s and 50s while attending college to finish my BA degree. Meanwhile people I loved died and I was still alive. My joint pain, stomach pain and mental pain grew worse. Bipolar ll my new diagnosis and my migraines grew worse. I wanted to quit daily , but loved my careers and my persons with developmentally delays that I enjoyed seeing each day. They taught me joy and love and life goes on. My pain and my depression seemed to melt away as I entered my office and was greeted with, Good Morning, You're Here! Yes, I was. Being here is what's vital. It all winds up to that. Through all the hard work of survival, the pain, the meds, the hospitals, the mental tactics to keep on, we are still here. Working Hospice, I realized just how blessed that statement was. So many weren't here anymore. Who was * to complain. I was seeing another day, laughing another day, crying and dreaming another day, and so many weren't Recently a dear sweet girl, 22, was murdered and her joy and light touched me deeply the short time I knew her. I realized I was so here and she wasn't anymore. But her light and joy infused a lot of people. She was still here. And I chose to be here like her. Infusing that light to the people I was around, through the pain and depression and Crohn's, I was still here. At 28 I had no clue how hard 63 would be. But although it is hard, each year harder, I'm making every minute count. Yes, I'm still here!
1. Beth Huffman Member
 @Wakenda Thank you for sharing your words with us. My heart goes out to you - it sounds like you have been through so much during your journey. You are so on point with living your life, making every minute count. It may not always be easy but you can definitely continue to carry on your friends joy and light but infusing it in those around you. It sounds like you carry a lot of wisdom and can brighten everyones day! Heck, you certainly brightened mine. Sending you big hugs and positive vibes. -Beth (Team Member)
2. Sahara Fleetwood-Beresford Moderator & Contributor
 <inline-mention username="Wakenda" user-id="4162197"/> an inspiring lady. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I truly appreciate it. Tough times definitely create tough people! ~ Sahara (Team member)
klemos Member
60 years old, 45 go Crohn's too much time in hospitals too many things happened even an ileostomy to live with forever Crohn's ageing is like to enter in the black side of the moon, you know little, and doctors and medicine too Fighting every hour Waiting not for miracles
1. Pam.Jajko Community Admin
 Hi <inline-mention username="klemos" user-id="5460502"/>, thank you for being here and sharing with us. I'm so sorry to hear how you've struggled over the years. Please know this community is here for you and thinking of you. Please come back anytime and share, or just to vent! Sending hugs <3 -Pam (team member)