Crohn's Disease for 35 years

I was diagnosed with Chrohn's when I was 15 years old (I'm now 50) and for the first 5 years went through the whole gamut of hospitalization, fissures, medication until I entered a period where I learned to deal with the symptoms and would consider myself to have a mild case of Crohn's Disease.
For the next 10 years I was medicine free (well, a little Imodium now and then and always B12 shots), worked a high pressure, high stress job and then got pregnant.
I never felt better during my pregnancy but had to be watched very carefully. The one thing my Dr. demanded was that I NOT work - so I didn't.
In 2003 I had a flare up that required that I go back on medication. We tried Pentasa, Asacol and Remicade but the side effects were way worse than the disease. I then landed on Entocort and Imuran and felt like a million dollars! After going through menopause, I convinced myself I was cured and stopped taking the medication.
In May of this year I started to feel terrible. I was told I had the flu and to take Advil and drink lots of water by my GP. By June I was in a full blown flare up and hospitalized put on high dose of prednisone and I'm still struggling with obstructions.

Through my entire ordeal with Crohn's I have never experienced pain like this. I am still working that high pressure, high stress job even on those days I can barely walk.

For the first time in 35 years I'm scared about my future and Crohn's.

I guess I'll just have to take it a day at a time right now but if I have any advice for any young people out there. When your in remission - you're not cured TAKE YOUR MEDICINE!!

Thanks for letting me vent.

Comments for Crohn's Disease for 35 years

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i can relate
by: Tod

Also being 50 years old and having Crohn's since I was 12, I can relate. When i first got diagnosed they figured it was Ulcerative Colitis and treated it with Azulfidine and Prednisone (not fun). What really got to me was the self alienation and the feeling of nobody else going through what i was going through angst. i too went through all the hospitalizations and weird side ailments like shingles and high fevers, my flare ups were very cyclicle. Summers were great, winters were the worst.
As I grew older my acute flare ups ebbed and my treatments were less needed. I then had a major flare up about two years ago and that is when I was first introduced to Remicade. I have just two words to describe the infusions....LIFE SAVER!!
I only wish Remicade was introduced when I first had these symptoms. Well, better late than never.

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