Hi, my name is Sean.  I’m 29 years old and I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease 2 years ago. Now, this wasn’t a shock to me at all.  I knew I had IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) a long time before diagnosis. But, like many people in my situation I wasn’t listened to by my doctors and was refused tests to prove I had the disease. After 2 years and 3 hospital admissions I changed my gastroenterologist and was finally given a colonoscopy. For those that don’t know what that is, it’s a pretty big camera that goes up your ass. From the colonoscopy and the biopsies that were taken the Crohn’s was found.

Now, you would think that’s where the problems started to ease, but no.  Unfortunately, this is where they began to get worse. They immediately started me on steroids. They didn’t work and over the next year I was put on so many different steroids but nothing. Then, after having a major flare up and being hospitalized for a week just before Christmas, my gastroenterologist decided to put me on to immunosuppressive drugs. So, these drugs suppress your immune system to stop it from attacking the digestive system.  Sounds great if they work, but they didn’t. All that happened was I got 3 chest infections in 5 weeks and had to be taken off of them. That was my Christmas of 2018.  Now into February, I was again hospitalized and really unwell. They had kept me on these steroids called prednisone the whole time all this was going on.  These steroids do help in the fact that they help me get through the day without being curled up like a fetus in the womb, but that’s as far as I’d like to praise them. The many side effects from these little bastards are awful. Weight gain is one.  That doesn’t sound huge, but when I’ve already lost 190lb any weight gain is a massive kick in the balls.  There’s also the steroid acne, mood swings (not great for someone who has depression) and the best side effect, moon face.  Yes, it does what it says. It really makes your face swell and bloat like a moon.

After I was hospitalized they decided to start me on biological drugs.  Basically, the same as the immunosuppressant drug, but stronger.  These were injection form that I would self-inject at home every 2 weeks. When I started them, they seemed to help, but like all the drugs before, after a couple of months they weren’t doing anything. People think Crohn’s disease is just a bit of a stomach ache and shitting problems, but it’s far more than that.  Only 2 months ago, I had scans done on my leg where they found multiple blood clots. And, if you guessed it gold star!  They were caused from my Crohn’s. If your reading this and thinking this should have some Disney happy ending, shit please don’t get too disappointed. I’m currently writing this while taking my 19th shit of the day at 4am. But, the happyish ending is that last week my gastroenterologist and I made a plan that I would be having surgery to remove the Crohn’s.  This means removing my small bowel and part of my colon and rerouting my intestines. Sounds crazy, but I’m actually very excited.  The worst part about this disease for me is that it’s a time thief. When I say that I mean it literally takes up my life. I have 3 amazing children all under 9 years old and an incredibly beautiful wife and I’m missing time with them.  From the constant fatigue to hospital admissions, it’s ridiculous!  I started a personal blog on Instagram called chronicallylaughing.  I found it’s a great outlet for me to get my emotions out, and the biggest thing, raise awareness of this shitty disease. Literally!  Thank you for reading my story.  Sadly, it’s not over yet, but let me tell you, I’m not giving up and will certainly be laughing along the way. And, to finish my personal quote, “Keep positive and fuck Crohn’s!”