I'm Autumn

Hello, I'm Autumn. Although I have not yet been diagnosed with Crohn's I have an extremely high probability that I do have it. For starters both my dad's mom and my dad's sister have IBD (my grandma had ulcerative colitis and my aunt has Crohn's).  Me personally have been dealing with IBS symptoms all my life. I was always constipated as a young child. I remember getting suppositories and constipation medicine all the time. I would go 5 days or more between BM's. 

Things got worse during the summer of 1998. I got a minor surgery 2 days after graduating high school, but I spent the rest of the summer in the Reading Room. I had The Runs (TR) beyond belief.  I had spent that summer visiting family across the country AND went on a cruise but I couldn't do anything but be in the bathroom because TR wouldn't stop.  I've continued to have many bouts of TR where I would go several weeks of non-stop TR.  

On Thanksgiving weekend 2006, I was knocked down by severe stomach cramps on my left side. I was supposed to have gone to see a movie with family but I couldn't do anything but lay on the couch and wither in pain for hours.  Nothing helped with the pain. It was mind numbing agony. I went to the bathroom between an attack and the pain instantly stopped. I thought that was so weird that the only thing that helped/stopped the pain was going to the bathroom. 

The 2nd time I got stomach cramps (which I later learned were IBS/IBD cramps), I was across the country at a family funeral. The family was walking around the mall looking for last minute items.  I remember as we were walking to another store, I got hit by the same pain as I got 2 months before.  I had to sit on a bench and rock back and forth to relieve the agony.  Luckily I was able to go to the bathroom soon after and was able to feel better. As you can probably guess, the cramps have been a permanent experience in my life ever since. I have them multiple times a week and they can last for several days depending on when I go to the bathroom.  

I have other symptoms of Crohn's, including psariosis type rashes I've had for over 10 years, my ankles have been hurting for many years and memory loss and brain fog. 

I hope I get answers, although having Crohn's is not the answer I want. I was raised by my dad's parents and I know first hand how UC UTTERLY RUINED my grandma's life and in turn ruined a lot of my earlier years.  I know there are better treatments then there were in the 1950's (when my grandma got UC) through the late 2000's (when my grandma passed away) but I'm still apprehensive about my future life.