HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

23 Year Old Female recently diagnosed with Chron's

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/10/2017 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,

I am so happy i found this forum. I have recently been diagnosed with chron's after years and years worth of stomach issues. I have had pancreatitis twice. The first time was at 17, and the second time at 20. I ended up having a stent put in via ERCP and I have also had my gallbladder removed. I had appendicitis this past January which took awhile to recover from as well.

A couple of weeks ago i went to the hospital with severe reflux, throwing up, and awful diarrhea and bleeding aftewards (this has been going on/off for about 5 years). After performing a colonoscopy and endoscopy the GI suspected chrons. The biopsy results confirmed this. I am scared for what may come ahead, but am glad i finally have an answer for all the pain i have been going through.

I mainly have it in the terminal ilieum, which is where they found ulcers and thickening of the wall, as well as noncaseating granulomas.

Currently I am on mesalamine and hydro cortisol to ge the swelling down. The GI mentioned Remicade or Humira as well for medication, but I will find out later today.

Anyone else diagnosed with this disease earlier in their 20's?
Posted 7/10/2017 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Floathereins & welcome to Healing Well. Yes, getting the dx of crohns can be scary. The main thing you can do is educate yourself as much as possible, same with any medications your dr suggests. When I first joined HW back in 2004, I was a mess. I learned more about crohns from this forum than any dr could possibly ever tell me. In fact my dr suggested that I find a group. Some local hospitals have group meetings once a month, so check with your local hospitals if you are interested. Had an emergency resection & appendix taken out while on vacation out of the country. Saw 5 gi drs before finding one that had a clue what was going on. Finally, the 5th one was wonderful. I immediately went on Remicade & that was my saving grace. There are some young ones here in the forum so keep checking back. Things can be a little slower in the summer around here.

Take care.
Posted 7/10/2017 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
I am 22 and while I haven't been diagnosed with Crohn's yet,I suspect I may have it. I had an endoscopy and have a few duodenal ulcers. I hope you feel somewhat better soon and take some solace in the fact that you aren't the only young person dealing with this. If you need someone to talk to feel free to PM me as I am going through something similar.
Posted 7/10/2017 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Floathereins, I agree with Straydog's advice. I was diagnosed around age 21 or 22 but had had misdiagnosed issues as far back as 16 if not longer. Remicade and humira have the potential to really increase your quality of life. Im currently on Remicade and previously was on humira. feel free to ask questions! welcome to the forum!
Posted 7/10/2017 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome! I was diagnosed at 25, but looking back I had some symptoms that are part of Crohn's but weren't typical. I'd had strictures in my esophagus from reflux that literally closed my esophagus to the point I couldn't swallow, and I had fissure that was chalked up to constipation as a college student eating too much pizza. Now I see what it is, but I never had stomach pain or diarrhea, so it would have been almost impossible to link them back then.

I've also had pancreatitis, but it was a result of taking Imuran and Mesalamine (a rare side effect for each). I'm kind of surprised that your GI has you on a 5-ASA. Not only are they no better than a placebo for Crohn's, but with your history of pancreatitis, you shouldn't risk it.

I've been on Remicade for five years and it's a wonder drug for me.
Posted 7/11/2017 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum! My son was diagnosed at age 20 with Crohn's and it was primarily in his TI (and a spot not the sigmoid colon). He ended up having surgery about 8 months after diagnosis (due to an obstruction) and his TI was removed and approximately 10 inches of his small intestine AND his appendix. However before and after surgery he was / is on remicade and has done GREAT. His last colonoscopy showed no active chron's. Best to you as you start various treatments. It can take a while to achieve remission but there is so many options available! Again... WELCOME!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply