My life as a Crohnie
I normally resist identifying myself by a disease and avoid related online forums as I find them too scary. However today I thought I would reflect on the better aspects so far with my journey with Crohn's disease and the things that I am thankful for.
-I am thankful that my major flare-up/episode happened at the time it did. I really do feel sympathy for other young people in that position. I wonder how a 15 or 12 year old would cope with some of the stuff that I have been through in the past 12 months yet I've have read many such stories. These people to mean represent true toughness, more so than any sports hero.
-I am grateful that I wasn't studying for exams, doing prac, travelling overseas or in the process of getting married at that time either. Those events are stressful enough in themselves, never mind added wedding stress e.g. finding a dress to cater to your body changes and simply making it through the full on wedding day.
-I am grateful that my husband is sufficiently employed to comfortably support me during the time I had off,
-I am thankful that now I can also continue working in a profession that I love (but in a different workplace).
-I am grateful that my mum is a nurse and was able to take care of me after coming out of hospital.
-I am thankful that I can eat most things now, especially nuts!
-I am grateful that nausea hasn't been my main symptom and that I am pain free now (words really can't describe).
-I am grateful that getting treatment for CD has improved my eczema and eliminated my lower back pain. It's nice to have answers to all these mysteries.
-I am grateful that I don't have any dependants (other than my dear husband lol), I couldn't imagine being in hospital away for kids and stressing about them.
-I am grateful that I have an able body and mind and that the only issue I have now is needing to sleep a lot. (I think I always have, but now I don't feel guilty about it).
-I am grateful to be in Australia and receive Infliximab at $900 a pop on the PBS, (And also many other meds that I've had along the way also heavily subsidised).
-I am SO grateful that my body decided to react adversely to Azathioprine and 6MP. Who wants to eat cancer pills for breakfast? Oh and grateful to be off steroids and narcotics! Those who have been on them will know what I'm talking about, many side effects including the beginnings of being psychotic plus crazy dreams.
-I am forever grateful to my GP who I say has saved my life and it's not much of an exaggeration. (She is also N's aunty and now I work next door to her). In fact the majority of Drs and nurses I've interacted with have been great.
-I am always thankful how God has walked beside me in a personal and tender way in the worst times, and for his promises of healing. I am thankful that even when I experienced leanness in my body I had fatness in my soul.
-I am grateful for my church family in Midland and Mundaring and loads of other people who I've never met who have (and still do) support me in prayer. I'm very humbled that you would think of me.
-I am grateful for my husband- can't imagine being in a more casual relationship or trying to find love after such a life changing event.
-I appreciate that I have something of an insight into the mind of chronic pain sufferers and understanding of what some of my clients have to endure and the worries that burden them. I pray that this makes me more empathetic, rather than hardened.
Well that's all for now, though I could write heaps more.
-I am thankful that my major flare-up/episode happened at the time it did. I really do feel sympathy for other young people in that position. I wonder how a 15 or 12 year old would cope with some of the stuff that I have been through in the past 12 months yet I've have read many such stories. These people to mean represent true toughness, more so than any sports hero.
-I am grateful that I wasn't studying for exams, doing prac, travelling overseas or in the process of getting married at that time either. Those events are stressful enough in themselves, never mind added wedding stress e.g. finding a dress to cater to your body changes and simply making it through the full on wedding day.
-I am grateful that my husband is sufficiently employed to comfortably support me during the time I had off,
-I am thankful that now I can also continue working in a profession that I love (but in a different workplace).
-I am grateful that my mum is a nurse and was able to take care of me after coming out of hospital.
-I am thankful that I can eat most things now, especially nuts!
-I am grateful that nausea hasn't been my main symptom and that I am pain free now (words really can't describe).
-I am grateful that getting treatment for CD has improved my eczema and eliminated my lower back pain. It's nice to have answers to all these mysteries.
-I am grateful that I don't have any dependants (other than my dear husband lol), I couldn't imagine being in hospital away for kids and stressing about them.
-I am grateful that I have an able body and mind and that the only issue I have now is needing to sleep a lot. (I think I always have, but now I don't feel guilty about it).
-I am grateful to be in Australia and receive Infliximab at $900 a pop on the PBS, (And also many other meds that I've had along the way also heavily subsidised).
-I am SO grateful that my body decided to react adversely to Azathioprine and 6MP. Who wants to eat cancer pills for breakfast? Oh and grateful to be off steroids and narcotics! Those who have been on them will know what I'm talking about, many side effects including the beginnings of being psychotic plus crazy dreams.
-I am forever grateful to my GP who I say has saved my life and it's not much of an exaggeration. (She is also N's aunty and now I work next door to her). In fact the majority of Drs and nurses I've interacted with have been great.
-I am always thankful how God has walked beside me in a personal and tender way in the worst times, and for his promises of healing. I am thankful that even when I experienced leanness in my body I had fatness in my soul.
-I am grateful for my church family in Midland and Mundaring and loads of other people who I've never met who have (and still do) support me in prayer. I'm very humbled that you would think of me.
-I am grateful for my husband- can't imagine being in a more casual relationship or trying to find love after such a life changing event.
-I appreciate that I have something of an insight into the mind of chronic pain sufferers and understanding of what some of my clients have to endure and the worries that burden them. I pray that this makes me more empathetic, rather than hardened.
Well that's all for now, though I could write heaps more.