Hi- I am new. I am so thankful that I have found this site. I don't personally know anyone with Crohn's disease and I could really use someplace to discuss my problems and questions. In my lurking I have already found so much valuable information and have seen many different perspectives.
I am 28 years old. I was diagnosed with CD about 14 years ago. I had a resection 9 years ago, at a time when I was extremely ill and in a really bad place physically. I can report that after I recovered from this surgery I went into remission for about 8 years and I had never been healthier. During this time, I felt so well that I foolishy went off all medication. I was so naive that I thought I was done with Crohn's disease forever. I knew it could come back back but I didn't think that would happen to me. I had grown into adulthood and was having a great time living my life and I never worried about it all.
Well, one year ago completely out of the blue- after having zero symptoms for year- I suddenly was hit by extreme and serious pain. I went to the ER by ambulance with no idea what could be going on. When they did a CT they found an obstruction and you could have knocked me over with a feather. I was shocked that out of the blue it had come back, and come back with a vengence.
In the past year I have been hospitalized 6 times with 6 small bowl obstructions. I have been on Humira for 3 months, but it doesn't seem to be doing enough. I am also on Pentasa, protonix, zofran, celebrex, entercort, and ambian and tramadol as needed. My doctor has said that he thinks the time has come for a second resection. I do not want to do this at all, but obviously hospitalizations every 2 months are not ideal. I need to do something, I am out of control. I am currently taking a medical leave from my high stress job (unpaid) because I simply can not handle it right now. How do you all handle this, if you are in a similar position? I simply and physically unable to work right now, and I am really taking a hit financially. I do have insurance but I have racked up thousands in hospital bills. I'm sure I am not the only one in this position either! Also, the emotional toll of feeling sick all the time and all the medication side effects are just too much to handle sometimes. I appreciate the support of all of you in advance. It will be good to have other people to talk to who understand what I am going through.