Posted 6/30/2013 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
When I was first diagnosed with Crohn's, I spent a lot of time on the internet--and it scared me almost to death, too! That's probably because many of the people who post of the internet are desperate, with their disease spinning out of control and nobody to talk to about it. I eventually recognized (as you will) that what you're seeing are worst-case scenarios--and that many people have mild forms of the disease or are able to achieve remission through medication and diet. Gumby's right that you should try to see this diagnosis as a relief--at least your doctor(s) now understand what you're going through and can prescribe meds to try to treat you. And don't worry if finding the right medication takes some trial and error.
Whenever you have questions or concerns or fears, come to this forum. This is a place where you don't have to be embarrassed to ask about anything, no matter how gross or trivial it may seem to you. Everyone here has been there, done that, and we can talk you down from the ledge and give you advice and encouragement.
I was diagnosed, after years of misery, 14 years ago. I've been in remission since 2004 (although I still have unpleasant symptoms, every day, left over from the removal of a chunk of my intestines, my ileocecal valve, my appendix, and my gall bladder). There are a lot of success stories here, to give you hope when things seem pretty bleak. Crohn's isn't a death sentence, and it doesn't mean that you'll spend your life as an invalid. It just takes a while to figure out how to deal with it. Visit us here when you need some help and support. Good luck!