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This is my vent rant. I recently have been having problems with my Cronhs/Colitis. It is driving me nuts because I don't feel that bad. But I keep dropping weight and am constantly running to the bathroom. Since I have to run to the bathroom a lot it keeps me from going out. And that drives me crazy because I'm a 17 and by nature i want to go out and be social.

I HATE THIS I HATE THIS I HATE THIS SOOO MUCH.

I hate being controlled by this instead of being able to control it.

 Reply posted for girlwthgoals.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this at such a young age.  I'm 23 and trust me, I completely understand how you feel.  I was just diagnosed with UC in January and have been a hermit ever since.  I feel like this disease has stolen my identity and my independence.  I was forced to move back in with my parents and drop my college courses.  I've been hospitalized twice in the past 4 months for a week each, and i feel like such a burden to everyone.  I'm unable to be there for my friends, to progress in school, to live on my own... Heck, I can't even drive myself to my doctor appointments, which is the only time I seem to get out of the house.  I hate that this disease has completely changed my life, and all my plans.  I have also found Immodium to be the safest and easily accessable medication to slow the diarrhea.  I've used it for long car rides to visit family, and for those days when leaving the bathroom seems impossible.  Also, some nights, if I can't seem to get any sleep because I'm constantly having to get out of bed and run to the toilet.  Beware though, they don't taste too bad initially, but the chewables have a HORRIBLE chemicle-like aftertaste... so I would keep some kind of hard candy in your mouth after you eat them.  If you ever need someone to talk to, please feel free to contact me.  I'd love to talk to someone near my age who can understand what I'm going through.  Also, on this site, there's a link to local chapters, which often offer local support groups.  I'm going to my first group meeting at the end of this month, and I'm really nervous, but excited to possibly meet some people my age that I can bond with and possibly learn from.  Some chapters even offer teens and 20's groups, so you may want to look into that.  Good luck with everything and again, feel free to contact me at

jennifer_borges85@yahoo.com or
myspace.com/jenniferborges85

 Reply posted for girlwthgoals.

Hey...I agree...Imodium is the way to go....no pain, acts quickly and you still can go out and enjoy life!

Hope it gets easier for you!  I was traveling thru Mexoco last year and it was a little bit challenging, but the Imodium really helped!   Good luck!

 Reply posted for girlwthgoals.

I understand exactly how you feel.  Im 26 years old and was diagnosed 1 1/2 years ago.  Prior to that, I spent 5 years in the Army with 1 of those years in combat.  After being so active and independent its really hard to cope with the feeling of weakness.  This is something that Ive never felt.  I always considered myself invincible and even proved it a couple times (so I thought).  I've faced death a couple times and am covered in tattoos that I was proud to bear the pain for several hours each time.  Crohn's is a whole different animal though.  There's no controling it.  Now, I feel weak and feeble whenever my wife looks at me.  I think Im learning to get past this though.  Ive found that laughing, being totally honest with everyone, and joking about it has made it very bearable.  Everyone in my family and all of my friends and coworkers know about my disease and we all joke about it.  They are aware of when I am having problems, but laughter truly is the best cure.  Now that they know, I feel that I have much more freedom to show my symptoms and dont have to feel like Im hiding something all the time.  Heck, they even buy me wine during football games because I cant drink anything else.  Try it, youll never regret it. 

 Reply posted for girlwthgoals.

Hey, I hope you are feeling at least a little bit better. Idk if this helps but I'm 17 also, and what you posted sounds exactly like my life. I feel like I'm someone completly different than who my disease makes me. I normal have tons of energy, really social, great grades, adventourous, ect but cause I'm weak, my pain, and running to the bathroom, plus the crappy immune system I feel like I'm incredibly needy, really weak, a failure, and just overall unable to be me. It sucks.

If you ever need someone to talk to who is in like the same position as you feel free to contact me, I mean I don't really know ppl my age who struggle with IBD, it might be nice to have another 17 year old to talk to about it.

 Reply posted for girlwthgoals.

I was 17 when I was diagnosed with Crohn's and sick 2 years before that so I totally feel your pain and remember the anxiety I would feel before going out and wondering...is there going to be a bathroom there? Or, what if the bathroom is right off the living room where everyone is hanging out?

What really helped me with that issues was just being open and honest about it in a funny way. The more I tried to hide it, the more anxious and frustrated I got and the more I had to go.

Or, if I was having a bad flair, I would have friends over to my house so I could "sneak away" upstairs to take care of business.

Hang in there and keep your head up!

 Reply posted for girlwthgoals.

Hi there.  I'm so sorry to hear about what you are going through.  You might have a condition that requires an antispasmotic medicine.  If it is spasms in your bowel that are causing your constant running.  Levsin is one med that I was on and it really helped calm things down.  The other prescription med for diarrhea is lomotil.  That is a very tiny pill that can help reduce your bathroom visits.  The other is imodium...you can take up to 8 a day, but start small and find out what works for you.  Metamucil wafers taste like cookies and they do bind you, but they cause me too much gas.  You might do really well with them.

I really hope that you can get some relief.

Take Care

Susan

 Reply posted for girlwthgoals.

I've mentioned this before in other posts.  Give Metamucil a try.  You can purchase it at any pharmacy.  Before starting Humira 18 months ago, I would take two heaping teaspoons daily (one after breakfast and the second after dinner, usually mixed in OJ).  It served to absorb a vast amount of the water that was not being absorbed by the intestinal tract, thus keeping me down to 2 or three trips to the bathroom each day and having relatively solid stools.  It also has the advantage of giving one fiber in their diet that helps with getting rid of bad cholesteral!  You will know pretty rapidly if it is going to work for you.  I would also recommend the powder, not the pills, as you can better find the correct amount that works for you.  I always suggest that individuals run any kind of advice they receive on a community board by their physicians before adding anything new to their regimen, but I suspect that he/she will not object to you giving it a try.  It worked for me for 45 years!  Best of health on your journey! - Bob

 Reply posted for girlwthgoals.

Have you tried taking Imodium?  It is an over the counter medication that binds you. Try taking two, and then seeing if you can go out. I would take them maybe 30+ minutes before you leave.