Living with Crohn’s and Managing Pain

I was diagnosed with UC about 2.5 years ago and then it eventually led to Crohn’s. How it became Crohn’s is when I had very painful fistula form. I couldn’t sit for more than two minutes, I couldn’t stand for more than five minutes. The only position that felt ok was when I was lying down, but how long can you live your life like that? Had an MRI and the doc just gave me antibiotics.

Excruciating pain and trips to the ER

Well that lasted one day since I woke up the next day in excruciating pain and ended up going to the ER. There the doctors said I’m going into surgery for a fistful and they were putting drains in me. After 10 days of recovery and losing 20 pounds I was back at work. Then about a month later I had an infection with a 103.4 temperature. Back to the ER I went and spent another three days in the hospital with yet another surgery.

The worst year of my life

Fast forward three months later, another fistula surgery. It was the worst year of my life. I missed so many things such as family outings, baseball games and concerts. For the events that I went to it was tough and I was in agony. Couldn’t enjoy it. The Crohn’s was under control for a few months while taking Entyvio but then the symptoms came back and just two weeks ago and you guessed it, had my fourth procedure for the same problem.

Trying to manage the chronic pain of Crohn's

As everyone with Crohn’s knows, it is very painful. Through all this time I was trying different things to deal with the pain. They gave me OxyContin. I took a couple over time and I can see how it can be addicted. I wanted to stop taking that. Then I tried a small dose of CBD and it worked for a bit. Then a family member gave me marijuana in a vape form. It’s felt great but I needed something that would help me and let me function at work.

Managing pain with CBD

I went back to CBD and never turned back. CBD as with any supplement is not FDA approved so I can’t say it will help you and there is no endorsement of it anywhere. I was skeptical at first but now I’m hooked. Pain still comes and goes with Crohn’s and UC but for myself I found something that I can control it with. Onwards!