Say hello---

Hi, I am actually new to the forum.
I am 34 years old and live in Canada. I have two children, a 15 yo daughter and 11 yo son.

I had symptoms in high school but no one knew what it was. Ended up having my gallbladder out when I was 19, then treated for what the GI thought was bile coming into my stomach because of no GB.
After 9 months of puking during my pregnancy of my son, then near dieing from dehydration a few months after he was born they finally figured out I had Crohn's. Spent a month in hospital on TPN and steroids. Couple months later had a resection. I was relatively symptom free for a few years then only had mild flare ups until this past year. Still working at getting this one calmed down. It has been 6 months.... The good thing about a flare?? I lost a much needed 25 pounds. Now if I can get off the pred maybe I can keep it off!

I'm a 46 year old father of three (12 yr old girl & 8 yr twin boys) living in the Boston area...Diagnosed with CD at 28 although clearly had it for a while at that point. Two resections with multiple obstructions and hospitalizations but also many years post surgery in remission w/o any drugs. Also, had kidney cancer which, luckily, was caught early enough (thanks to a CT scan done during one of my flare-ups!). Currenly on 6 MP and considering Humira....

i live in san diego, california. born and raised though an hour north in orange county. unfortunately i'm not from an uber rich so cal family like every one sees on tv. they are a minority. i was diagnosed with cd at 17, between my junior and senior years of high school. my senior year of high school sucked. college was difficult being sick all the time, but then i also had a very demanding and difficult major. i got my bs in environmental engineering and then got a masters in chemical & environmental engineering. sometimes i look back and wonder i made it through school. i'm waiting for my test results in regards to my professional license in civil engineering. i'm totally over engineering, but it pays the bills for now so i'm doing it until i find something better.

i was on basically every drug imaginable to treat cd, but they never really did anything for me. i only noticed a response to prednisone, which i was on for over 6 years straight and developed a host of side effects from it, including osteoporosis. i was 6-mp for almost 13 years (never thought it worked). on remicade for over 6. like most people, i've been through the ringer. had my first surgery in july 2005 and lost 2 inches at the ileum and 8 inches of the sigmoid colon (had a fistula from the colon to the bladder). had the second surgery 6 months later when a biopsy during a colonoscopy perforated the lining of the colon. the scope was in response to my developing colonic inertia - basically the colon stopped working. i became very weak and severely malnourished and very miserable due to it. docs recommended a colectomy cos there is nothing to treat colonic inertia. then i found the makers diet, got my colon to work again, became free of crohn's disease symptoms, and then quit all my meds on halloween 2007. now i'm feeling the best ever!!!!

i have an identical twin brother who does not have the disease. my sister does not either, and so far, neither do her two daughters. my genetic link is via my maternal grandfather, who passed when i was like 5 years old due to short bowel syndrome, if i'm using that term correctly - they had to operate to save his life, but they couldnt remove any more of his intestines cos then he'd die sort of thing.

in my spare time i like to surf (made my own boards for a while), study yang style tai chi, weight lifting, reading, cooking, finding new (organic) foods and eating them, teaching myself the guitar, and i've become a self taught nutritionist in a way - writing a book about it and became a certified health coach. (kinda sounds a bit like a personal ad here - oops, not the angle i was going for).

Great idea!

I am a 35 year old woman, engaged to a wonderful man who has patience and a sense of humor. We just moved into a house and are getting married in October. Unfortunately, I am in the midst of a horrible flare - I had surgery in 2004 which kicked me into remission until now.

At any rate, we live in a great city neighborhood in Chicago and we look forward to having a family.

Hi, I'm just beginning life again in Aberdeen Scotland, which is practically the home of the Crohn's gene. (World capital, supposedly. Around here, everyone local knows someone whose somebody or other has Crohn's. )
I would say I live alone, but I do have numerous houseplants and vegetable seedlings (not to mention the aphids). I always mention the latter when filling in official paperwork, as I find they get me a sympathy vote. Currently dogsitting a pensioner black lab with Willy Prader Syndrome; don't have any other animals but I hope to get that rabbit in the garden, if I can just find the ammo. ( Just kidding Portland, it's mowing the grass for me ! )
Don't have a Significant Other, I think I vegetate too much....
Had gastric issues ever since childhood, in retrospect think it may have been due to unpasteurised milk from a cow with Johne's Disease. After double viral pneumonia (special offer, 2 for 1) I started to suffer from severe fatigue and weight loss, depression etc. Many moons later, the latest official diagnosis is "inflammatory bowel disease of unkown origin", but given the joint pains, kidney stones, asthma, B12 deficiency induced fatigue, gut bleeds and diarrhoea etc, not to mention the sense of humour, I know which forum I want to be on.
Not on any medication, just diet.

Post Edited (snohare) : 6/18/2008 3:47:24 PM (GMT-6)

I am 25 years old recently diagnosed with CD after a 3 year battle.Finally got tired of being sick and pushed for answers.
I am a single mom to 4 beatiful children 2 daughters 3yrs. and 8yrs. and a 4yr. old son and my amazing 8 yr old nephew that Ive been raising for 4 wonderful years.I just went through a rough divorce from my husband of 7 years.
I have found the most amazing man I could ever dream of he has been by my side through the roughest times with my disease and is so amazing with my children.The best thing is no matter what if I turn around hes always there. (even camp out in bm and hold my hair for hours of voming spells)what a man. I also have a beatiful sister that lives with me and helps me with all of my everyday tasks. Some days all I can do is go to work. She helps with everthing. God Bless

I just started treatment today for CD been on meds for IBS since 06' but, was always told it was thought to be crohns they just didnt run the test.
Anxious to get relief, currently going to start 40mg pred in the morn. and very nervous about it.
I struggle with chronic 'D' , constant nausea and vomitng , weight loss, constant pain , headaches,bloating, painful and embarassing gas, fatigue, rectal bleeding, and on and off constipation (sometimes lasting weeks at a time)

Im so thankful I found this sight.

-Jessica

I'm 19... going to be 20.... and I was diagnosed in November 2006, so I haven't had Crohn's for very long... Don't have any children... don't plan to have any children... and I'm single (and not looking)... and I go to college. :)