Here is My True Crohns Story:

02/092/2012

 In the late summer of August, 29, 1976, I just give birth to my one and only son. I was 19 years old, when I had him; not to mention I was still in high school, and about to graduate the following year, which I did thanks goodness. Now, after the birth of my son, I started experiencing the worst stomach pains you could ever imagine. These stomach pains were on-going, or worst would never go away. Along with the pain symptoms were diarrhea, loss of appetite, blood lost, weight, etc.  I lost so much weight, that when the doctors finally diagnose what I had; I was weighing in at 89 lbs. I was in grasslands hospital in Valhalla, New York. This hospital is now known as the Westchester Medical Center. There were two doctors whose names were Drs. G & V. I’m not sure if these doctors are still around; however they were the doctors who diagnose me as having Colitis. I believe this was the first stage.

Although back then I had no idea what colitis was. Being a teenager and feeling all alone, because from what I was told back in 1976, people of color did not acquire this type of disease. I was also told back then, that this was supposedly a Jewish disease… Since this was all new to me, I didn’t quite understand what religion had to do with the fact that I had this disease; and I was frightened because I felt so alone.

I’ve had this disease for 34 years of my adult life. However I dealt with this ordeal without any help from any government agency. Although I was on public assistance after the birth of my son from 1976 until 1986; I’ve had no help from the government since.

  

 Although I would love to work, I’m unable to hold a job outside of the home, for two major reasons: 1) I have a major problem with controlling my bowel movement, which makes it very difficult for me to be able to use public transportation, needing to go to a restroom. 2) My level of pain is unbelievable for most people. On a level of one to ten I stay around nine-ten. Rarely do I have an hour off from pain. My husband has watched me as I try to deal with this unbelievable pain. Whenever the opportunity presents its self, he’ll do as much as possible for me, to help lighten my load as I deal with my pain. I keep praying and believing that one day a cure will be found; so I along with a lot of other people can live a much better life free from pain. Until then, I’ll continue to endure this crohns’ disease. Also if I took a trip whether it’s to the grocery store, doctor or even visiting local family and friends, I have to be sure to have an over-night bag of toilet articles, underclothing, change of clothes, fem products etc…. This is so I don’t get caught off guard. This was an everyday process if I happen to be out. 

One morning my husband was up getting ready to travel to work and he could since the horrific pain I was in. He asked if there was anything he could do. I stated no unless he could find a cure for this disease. He called my boss, told her that I could not come to work in the office today, due to the medical issues I was having, with my boss permission I worked from home until I got better. Of course I’ve never gotten better however; I was stabilized enough to return to work in a few days after that major episode. There was another episode that was very unsettling to my husband that was the day when he discovered that I was out of medications and my pain was excruciating instead of going to work I took sick leave we went to MWH emergency room for some relief.

They gave me some medication that brought the pain level down to about a five on a scale of one-ten. I got an appointment with our family doctor who chestiest me for not letting my husband know I need my pain medication.  I now have been able talk to me whenever there are issues that he can help with. I am unsure why I did not inform him of my medical issues. I am the type of person that suffers in silent unless you know me and can read the sign you will never know what happing to me. It has taken my husband more than ten years to determine when I am having one of my major pain attacks. I have become a master at masking my pain problems. I told my husband that the pain never goes away. Every night I am up late because of the pain he really worry because he don’t think I am getting enough rest but I am the one that must suffer the pain. He is now smart enough to read my facial expressions to determine what is going on with my pain. I gets colonoscopy every six months in Dr T. treatment plans to help manage pain and see what changes have been made in my body.   There are days when I had to go upstairs and rest sometime that seem to be the only way to relax my pain. The medication Dr T. has prescribe for me is so strong when I takes it I have to sleep. I must take it with food and there are no possibilities of me driving or traveling alone.  I think with help I have come to realize that there is little to no chance of me ever taking any long trips unless there are ladies bathroom available.

         

 According to all of the medical advice we have been given barring a miracle my condition will never get any better than it is today as a matter of fact it will only gets worst from here. It troubles me greatly to admit that this is the way it going to be until I both depart from this earth. I must live everyday with my pain for the remained of my days I am on this earth I knows that the day will come when I will leave for home. I would like to express my sincere appreciation for everyone who help in getting me the support I need to make my life better thus far.

Respectfully,

BAWP

To be continued….