Sometimes you know when some things are not quite right, and sometimes you know when things are perfectly pleasant. That’s my life with Crohn’s Disease and this is my story.
I was always active as a kid, but one day while visiting my grandparents, I fell ill. It was subtle at first, but by the time the day ended I was lying in a hospital in agonizing abdominal pain. Three days later, feeling like the 14 year old I was, I was released from the hospital with what doctors said was mono.
Fast forward to 19 years later.
Over the years I developed poor health habits. Not much exercise, a fairly poor diet, and the everyday stresses of operating and owning a business. About the same time, I fell for a beautiful girl that had recently come back into my life. Rachelle was an old high school classmate. After 15 years of no communication, a popular online networking website brought us together again. As we got to know each other again, Rachelle became concerned with my health, and for good reason.
On most occasions throughout my life I was fine after eating a meal. Sometimes, though, not long after a meal, my abdomen would roll and swell as my food digested. I knew something was not right, as the occurrences became almost an everyday event. Even when I was vacationing with Rachelle on the night that I proposed to her in New York City, I felt the effects and was not feeling well, on what should have been the perfect night.
Then it happened.
The last weekend in September of 2009, as Rachelle and I settled into our new home together, I became increasingly uncomfortable due to pain in my abdomen. By the time the weekend ended I was in the hospital. The doctors were obviously concerned and ran tests to find a cause. Not long after stabilizing my condition, the diagnosis was Crohn’s Disease. After learning this, it all became clear that I was living with Crohn’s most of my life and didn’t know. Fortunately I avoided surgery, and with great doctors I am in remission with the help of drug therapy.
Unfortunately, at the time of my admission into the hospital I did not have health insurance. With the expense I accrued and the potential expense of future therapy I was looking at a difficult financial road. Realizing the magnitude of the situation, Rachelle stepped in and made the suggestion that changed everything. The week following a 6 day stay in the hospital Rachelle became my wife at the local courthouse.
After enrolling in Rachelle’s employer’s health insurance plan, things have dramatically changed. With the support of my new wife, Rachelle, drug therapy, a healthy diet, and the reduction of stress, life has been good. I continue to educate myself on all of the issues and on Crohn’s itself. I’ve learned that life with Crohn’s doesn’t necessarily have to be difficult and it can be managed.
Now a lot of my times are perfectly pleasant!
