Reocurring Crohns

Hi everyone. I'm Joseph. I'm 18 yrs. old and have had crohns for almost two years now. My docs (both medical and nature path) told me I had one of the most aggressive forms of crohns. To say the least, I was very discouraged and scared. I didn't have the diarrhea but I did have a major blockage. It hurt so terribly. I was in bed for at least three days a week in intense pain. My stomach would swell on the right side and I would throw up occasionally. I was typically 140lbs. but that inside of about eight months dropped to about 110. It really hit the last three months. None of the ct scans showed up that I was also dealing with chronic appendicitis at the time as well. Crohns had started then infected the appendix. NASTY. My transverse colon had grown into my ascending colon causing the blockage. There is not one area of my bowls that is not infected. I had to have surgery. I was in Overlake Hospital in Redmond, Wa for about six days fighting infection. The docs said no amount of steroid or diet would have helped my condition. Since the surgery, I've been on a really strict diet and have gotten my weight up to 150! I'm starting to feel it again. It's a sickening and deep pain that is so distinctive. For as long as I live, I will never forget that pain. I'm on Remecade and that seems to be keeping it under control for the most part. I've been living off the diet books, "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" and "The Makers Diet". Both great books.

I first started getting sick when I lost my girlfriend. My doctor said that most guys 16-18 are getting it and the main cause is the loss of a friend or relationship. That sucked! And the worst part of it is... I still struggle with that loss. It still hurts. So, I guess my main question is: If anyone is going through a similar attack from a lost relationship, what is the best thing to do? I simply haven't figured it out. I see this girl every week and it just gets harder and harder. I hurt when I'm around her. HELP PLEASE!!!

Thanks!

Hey Joseph! I agree 100% with EMom. The stress of losing your girlfriend did NOT cause Crohn's. People are usually teens/mid-20s when they are diagnosed with CD.

To get more info on the disease and how to deal, go to CrohnsAndMe.com. It's a really cool site. Also, try to deal with the emotional stress of your ex-gf. That will just make the pain (emotionally/physically) worse. And you have more important things to worry about right now--like your health!

Just put one foot in front of the other. Things will get better.

Hey, thanks! Umm... I haven't been anywhere where they haven't said that. Weird. I've talked to a lot of people and they guarantee that that's the cause! So, I'm wondering what it could be. Have they found any other thing that is the "head" of causing crohns? Actually, that is really nice to hear. That is a lot of weight and baggage. I know. I was heavily involved with martial arts for five years. I HAD to get out of that. When I started hurting...that didn't do me any good. I did tons of sparring and took sometimes rather harsh blows to the gastro area leaving me not able to breathe normally for a long time. I got used to it after a while and just moved one but maybe that's something. Maybe?

Hi Joe,

I was told that most times a gastro bug or virus starts it, but that it IS going to come if you have that defective gene.  Mine started when I got some intestinal bug and it just seemed to never go away.  After 3 months i finally went in for a colonoscopy and they found it.  I was VERY lucky, they found it early.

GOOD LUCK!