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9 years now.....  my flare won't go away.  no insurance for the past 3 years.  i keep getting turned down because of my condition.  i find my self overcome by my pain.  it affects my work, my relationship.  it takes hours out of each day and i see no end in sight.  i've recently gone down to one meal a day, i see food as the enemy.  so sad, i've created an eating disorder.  i have no where to turn for help.  even my parents live 3000 miles away.

 Reply posted for kerad.

Hi, I know how you feel. I am self employed, and luckily got my insurance before I was diagnosed with UC (pancolitis). They raised the premiums, and now I can't switch insurance because no one will take me. My deductible is really high, and my insurance doesn't cover the cost of Asacol. I ended up going to the Proctor & Gamble website and filled out an application for reduced cost medication, and qualified for free meds for a year. Let me know if you want more info.

On the emotional side, I also know how lousy it is. I'm currently flaring, have been increasing the prednisone, but this time it doesn't seem to be able to get the flare under control. The prednisone is causing all the usual symptoms, weight gain, moodiness, etc., plus I'm sick of feeling lousy everyday. I also feel that no one knows how you feel except people who are going through it. Hang in there. Hopefully we will feel better soon.

 Reply posted for kerad.

I feel for you. I have health insurance but it kinda sucks. So me and my friends came up with a plan, so I am looking for a man with good health insurance and then I'm going to marry him. You may want to think about it.

FYI still looking for a man with good health insurance. ;)

Besides from my friends loving advice. I dealing with this stuff alone, my family is either killing themselves with drugs, or too busy creating a new family with somebody else. My brother is in Kuwait. My Grandma thats totally awesome lives in CA. And my Grandpa is prolly dying with lung cancer, and I like lifes really messed up when my Grandpa who is dying comes to visit me in the hospital.

So in point, make friends your family.

Lately I have been feeling a little pain in the morning when I wake up. I know I should probably tell my doctor. However if you are in a lot of  pain everyday, you should contact your doctor very soon. Because I really don't like doctors much, however they do make you feel better.

 Reply posted for kerad.

I read what you wrote and I had to sit and think for a moment if it was me that had wrote that. Your story is nearly exactly as mine. I was diagnosed with Crohns 9 years ago. 3 years ago started my current flair, had no insurance at the time, have it now but doesn't help anything but the bills. I have pain everyday and no solutions to the problem. I have lost about 60 lbs in the past 6 months because, yes, food is the enemy. I am married and I have a wonderful husband who is very supportive, but I have no life. I am in constant pain and that puts a huge damper on wanting to do anything. I feel guilt for this everyday. I feel like I am holding him back from enjoying life. I worry about my job and losing it due to taking too many days off, they have been very patient with me, but that will only last so long. And all of this depresses me which makes things worse. Feels like a neverending cycle and it is so hard to find someone to talk to because I really don't think people understand what we go through. Not only the things they see or hear from us but also all the silent, private suffering we go through. I am so sorry this is happening to us. But keep your chin up and be strong. I always tell myself if I am having a bad day that tomorrow is another day and perhaps it will get better. If you need someone to vent to please know you can vent to me. I can at least relate even though you don't know me. I wish you well and hope things get better.

 Reply posted for kerad.

You need to find out why you're having pain - it could be a stricture or something that needs surgery.  Even if you aren't employed, you should still be able to get medicaid to cover your health expenses.  Any ER can't refuse you if you present with pain, insurance or no.  There are several things that can be causing the issue, and without a radiology study or two and some blood work, you're just fishing in the dark for answers.  I hope you get the care you need.

 Reply posted for kerad.

I have no answers.

The only thing I can note is once my insurance did not switch over in accordance with my job change, paperwork was lost.  I could not get meds for three months, burst into a bleeding flare up.  When I told this to my Physician's Assistant, she told me that if it ever happens again, I should go to her for her stash of free samples, and that if I were to go to a Clinic (not just a Free Clinic) to my understanding, because we have a "CHRONIC" condition, we can not be denied treatment and turned away.

This was my understanding, and I apologize if it is wrong, but I asked her again because I always see movies, TV, and experience the first thing is you show them insurance, or they show you the door.

That is the caveat, she affirmed that was not the case with a "chronic" condition.  I hope for your case that is true, and you may investigate further. 

Barring that, there are still Universities and doctors doing trial treatments you may call, if accepted, they cover the cost of meds.  In California UCLA has a doctor doing one, which I could get into at the time because he coupled his trial with another illness I did not have.  Check University or Drug Research studies for trial meds. 

I don't mean to sound fecitious, but considering I have now seen two different commercials on Los Angeles television regarding Chron's...that's a lot of money to spend if there weren't some feelers out there...

I'm sorry that I have no answers.