I became an adult, 3 months later, Crohns !

I was in the prime of my life ! On my own at 18, & renting my first apt. Started up my own business at 19 ... Guys 'n' Gals hair and skin care. 3 months later I had planned a trip to Canada for a week for advanced hair styling course, & it began !! In a hotel ... All night long, no sleep bc I was going to the bthrm every 10 min. I couldn't stand up to work in classes every day or I'd have to go !! What a disaster! Went home to the USA hoping it was the water in Canada ... Nope! Here I was a brand new biz & I'm deathly ill !! No sleep but I went to work every day bc this was my dream .. I couldn't give up. I had to find out what was wrong?!

I started going to Dr's, 12 to be exact in 2 1/2 yrs ! They all tested, they all said nothing I can find it must be yer 19 & running your biz is doing this ! It is my therapy I said, not what's causing this ! One told me to take a vacation & watch yer symptoms go away ! They got worse! I was 76lbs & so weak but I went to work, & kept hoping 1 Dr will know so I kept putting myself through more agonizing tests, & prayed to God bc he knew something was there too ! Are you ready ? One night I just couldn't take the pain anymore, it was Soooo Baaad ! I went to the ER & in front of the Dr & nurses, I puked poop out of my mouth !! Tasted it for a month too ! The Dr told me ... It isn't your biz, it's something more serious, you need to see your Boston Dr & figure it out. I went to my Dr at Lahey clinic who told me it was my nerves, & biz, with the most recent episode. He got together with another Dr & said, we think it might be Crohn's disease, & we're going to put u on Prednisone. I asked the side effects, & he handed me a book it seemed of all the side effects, none impressed me but rather scared me! He said if it works, we can assume it's Crohn's. I said .. No ! There has to be another way! He said we can operate, & do an exploratory. Then we should know for sure I said, & he said yes, most likely.

They had to build me up for 5 days in the hospital with supplemental feedings since I was only 76lbs. They found it alright, 5 areas! They decided since there was so much it'd be best to treat it, not remove it fear of recurring & at such a young age it'll set me up for a possible bad future. Well steroids never worked, they made me go 11yrs sick every day. I had constant obstructions in & out of the hospital Every 4-6wks until my 1st surgery to remove it all ... Oh, bc they thought I had developed sml bowel cancer but, it was just the worst case of Crohn's the surgeon ever saw. I went 2yrs & it was back. I've never responded to any treatment. I've had 7 resections, 1perforated bowel surgery, the pill camera got stuck, & had to have surgery to remove it. I have had AVN in both hips & knees from steroids. I've been living with CD 41yrs now. I've had 30 surgeries most related to the Crohns, & AVN, & I now live with short bowel syndrome also. Not an easy road but I'm still fighting !!

Currently I'm 92lbs live in constant pain, I see Drs 3-4 days a week. I have chronic anemia from GI bleeding, & active disease in both Lg & Sml intestines .. even tho I have had the right side of my colon & illeocecal valve removed, & so much of Sml bowel that we're now fighting the problems with so many vitamin, & mineral deficiencies. It's a horrible disease but I still try my best to get up and make the best of every day, no matter how hard it may be. We have to stay positive, & find a reason to smile, & laugh !! 😅