My struggle with Chron's disease

This is so embarrassing to admit. Not only is it embarrassing to tell people in person, but now I'm letting it  go internet public. Eek! Why am I telling one of my embarrassing secrets? Well, because I want to help others with the same or slightly similar disease. If you know what Chrons actually is, you know how gross and uncomfortable it can be. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, here's a short definition from the dictionary!

Crohn's disease

  [krohnz]  Show IPA

noun, Pathology .

a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that causes scarring and thickening of the intestinal walls and frequently leads to obstruction.
Basically inside the lower intestines, there are parts that flare up. Plus, your immune system suffers, and you get sick a lot. 

Why is my stomach in so much pain? Ahhhh
Here is my story of how I found out I had Chron's disease. If you don't feel like reading, just skip to the next section :)

Around April 2011, I got really sick. My stomach hurt everyday, I was going to the restroom every hour, and I was unbelievably dizzy. I barely did anything besides school and work, and even that was miserable. I didn't want to hang out with friends because I couldn't walk around for longer then 20 minutes! So all I did in my spare time was sulk in my bedroom. What a horrible way to spend my Senior Year! Yikes haha. In 2 months I lost 25 pounds. It took the doctor about 3 months to diagnose me with Chron's. I had to get a colonoscopy to finally discover what was causing me with so much pain. Finally I was told I had inflammatory Bowel Disease/Chron's. 

Treatment to None at All
After my doctor found out what was wrong with me, she prescribed me pills. 4 pills, 3 times a day. Taking 12 pills a day sounded like a nightmare, but I was willing to try anything. The pills worked! For a short while anyway. I went for about a year without any major setbacks. Then in April 2012, I had to go to the emergency room. I was so dizzy and my body was so sore I couldn't move or walk. 

After that scare, my doctor and I realized my pills were not doing what they were meant for. So I tried a new medication, which caused a reaction. Then, my last resort was Humira. I then found out how much it would cost, and that I would have to inject myself with a needle twice a month. After much frustration, I threw out my pills for good, and decided I would conquer my disease by myself.


Healing Myself
It's still a struggle today, and it probably will be for awhile. I feel fantastic though! And I'm taking no medication. I have to watch what I eat though. Little junk food, little dairy, and plenty of fruit and vegetables. I'm still learning what makes my body happy, and what makes it go crazy.
I hope maybe I helped someone out there that has the same disease as me. Medication is a wonderful thing, but there are other options. Don't let what doctors tell you, limit you. Everyone thinks that chrons disease is only for old people. I'm nineteen and I've had it for 2 years! My body is a little early haha :)
Take care of your bodies! You only got one!