Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease

So let’s talk about my second illness. You may look at me and think, ‘there’s nothing wrong with you’. People are so quick to judge and say there’s nothing wrong with me, but if you saw what was going on inside my stomach, you would understand more.

I got diagnosed at the age of 8, so I was pretty young so I didn’t understand what it was that I had. People will ask, what is Crohn’s disease, well I’ll tell you.

Crohn's disease is a long-term condition where the gut becomes inflamed. The main symptoms of Crohn's disease are diarrhoea, stomach aches and cramps, and blood in your poo.

The main treatments for Crohn's disease are medicines that reduce inflammation in your gut and stop it coming back. Some people need to have surgery.

The exact cause of Crohn's disease is unknown. It's been linked to things like your genes and a problem with the immune system.

Still to this day, I always get upset on why I have this illness, because no one in my family has ever had it. I am the first, so I am worried that I will pass it down to Elijah and so on. But I get on with it every day, I live a normal life.

I have had treatments after treatment and I feel like nothing eases it, I’ve had to have the most disgusting drink, I’ve had about 3/4 surgery’s to get rid of the bad bits, but no matter what I do, this illness is with me for life and there’s not much I can do. Other than trying to keep it under control.

These are a few treatments that I have been on for Crohn’s

• Steroid tablets/injections

• Liquid Diet

• Surgery

• Biological Medicines

Biological medicines is the most recent treatment I am on, the one they chose was best for me is infliximab. That means I have to have an infusion every 2 months. I have been on this now for a few months now and I could possibly end up having this treatment for the rest of my life.

Hope you enjoyed reading more about my illnesses.

Love Rhiarn x