What does everyone like about the Crohn's disease support group?

This forum has given me more support than I could ever imagined, but more than that it's given me very
close friendships that I would never had. We've become family. We can and do talk about everything, some
subjects are serious, but on occasion they make us laugh and for just a little while we forget our problems.
BTW welcome!!

I've had cd for40 years but very new to biologics, so I've learned a ton about med's. I know my cd very well, so know new their, but the med thing has been great, and knowing people have some of the same symptoms as i do, so I don't feel alone in this world

Of course the support, but I like to see what other doctors are doing in the way of treatment. No matter how much you love your doc, sometimes they can get tunnel vision and knowing what other docs are doing is good. Also, if I have any strange problem, hopefully there's at least one or two other people who have the same thing and can tell me what they did/do about it.

It seems like when most people are diagnosed with Crohn's disease, they are told they have the disease, given some pamphlets, and pat on the head. Then we are given some prescriptions and brief instructions and told to come back in a month or two for a follow-up. From there, we are really on our own to learn about this disease and to educate those around us of our new situation. At first most of us are so grateful to finally have a diagnosis but then reality of forever sinks in and you feel all alone. I had great support from my family and friends but there is only so much that they could understand. As the months and years went on and the surgeries and medications followed, I began searching for others that knew how I was feeling. It seemed like everyone knew someone with Crohn's disease but I never ran into them. Then one night while researching the disease online, I found this website. I could not believe how much I had in common with so many of the people despite living so many miles away from each other. To think that we could come from so many different backgrounds, countries and cultures yet still have the same emotional and physical issues is amazing. I finally could relate to people and ask questions or make comments without any bias or judgment from anyone here. If I was going through a bad period or depression due to the disease, instead of holding it in with a smiley face I could not talk about it. Just when I thought that I was losing my battle with the diease and my life plan, I found others to compare myself too and found that I was on par with where I should be with the disease.
Most people will never have to experience a tenth of the health situations that we experience in a year and can not truly understand what that does to you psychologically and physically. I know when someone here says that I understand or they feel for me, that their statements are coming from the heart and a true understanding. The forum has also prepared me for many situations that have come up with symptoms or complications so that I did not freak out. My poor wife has been an amazing supporter of me and shown nothing but love, but she has had a hard time understanding why I am never bitter about my situation. I actually referred her here to read some posts so that she can see that I may have it bad but there are always 100 people whom have it worse but still have a great attitude. She is now in the nursing program and one of the girls that is doing clinicals with her had very mild Crohn's but little knowledge of the disease. It was refreshing to hear that my wife referred her here to learn.
As for you question about this diease making me into a stressor, I assume that you mean having high anxiety. There are a lot of people that due rightfully so develop anxiety due to the disease and the circumstances but it is in everyone's best interest to change that. As time passes, I find myself actually becoming more calm and less anxious due to the disease. I guess it is because life's troubles just seem so petty or small compared to what I deal with with the disease. I know that stress is only going to make my disease flare and my stressing over the trials is not going to make them better or go away. I can not completely control my disease but I absolutely can control my attitude and how I react to situations. This is not to say that I am perfect or react correctly everytime, but it does mean that I make a hard and conscious effort to make a optimistic solution to everything. Sorry for the novel but to be honest, this is only brief account of my gratitude for this website and group. I still find it funny that the founder and I live only miles apart and I found this out after years of utilizing his gift to us a all. Next to my faith and the love of my wife and family, I consider Healingwell to be the next strongest tool to keeping me sane and motivated to keep up my fight.

I'm also relatively new to this support group. My crohn's was diagnosed 8 yr. ago and treated just in time, so I after going on Pentasa went into remission relatively quickly. My crohn's symptoms have returned now and I'm experiencing things sort of all over again.
I'm also greatful to have found this support group. With all the knowladgable people and their support I don't feel so alone with this disease:)

Nanners said...
I honestly think that everyone is here for the exact same reason. To give and receive support from others suffering with this darn disease.

This ^^

Plus, some people on this forum are really funny.