I was diagnosed with crohns in Jan this year, but had been having symptoms for over a year before that.. It was a relief to know what was wrong, but at the same time I feel crushed, as once it had sunk in, I felt like my life was over.. I was put on pred for 6mths an am currently taking pentasa, aza an tramadol which seems to be tiding me over for now..

I suffered with eretheya nodosum for abour 3mths when it was at its worst, wlthough I only have marks like bruises as the min, but they are still really embarassing as they cover my whole legs and feet.. An at 24 and in this heat I wanna wear skirts etc, but its just too embarassing

I had many side effects from the steroids and I'm glad to be off them.. I put on a lot of weight with them as well and I have lost all of my confidence an a lot of my friends don't bother with me anymore cos I am always so tired still.. I have had to reduce my hours at work as I cannot cope anymore as I get so tired.. I'm usually in bed by 7pm these days which I feel is no life for me at all.. I used to have a plan for my future, but now its just a complete mish mash.. I feel so lonely and like I will be alone for a long time, but I hope to share my story with you and any tips would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks for listening.. Nic x

I was diagnosed in Jan too, but my symptoms go back for 5 or 6 years, though only noticeably bad for about the last 3.  Pred for 6 months? I know it helps but having been on it for only 2 months i'm having the trerrible acne etc.  

Have you been getting any iron or B12 etc?  Or has anything over and above the normal treatments been discussed to help give you a boost of energy?  For those friends who don't bother-they aren't really worth it.   Concentrate on the others who do bother and let them know you appreciate their friendship (as i'm sure you already do)  I know it seems a dark bleak future but hang in there and you'll come out of this ok.  

Just remember Nic -you're never alone, there is a lot of support on forums like this-sometimes its easier to talk to people who you know also suffer, because only they truly understand-especially about the seemingly never ending tiredness!   Also being young (22) like yourself I understand how much more worrying it is and how it seems to tear all the 'youthfullness' away from us, bu the way t I look at it now is that i'm grateful i have a diagnosis and i wasn't imagining the pains or had a low pain threshold etc and now it can be treated (although that in itself can bring worries of its own), also compared to what some others in this world are diagnosed with I'm lucky.

I'm sort of thinking out loud here, but I have wondered a few times, that if I was to really start exercising would it improve my stamina etc, though its a catch 22, no energy to exercise so no improvement in energy!

Keep your chin up and keep positive
J

Hiya

Im new to this too, and I really understand how you feel and what you are going through, but I agree, friends who don't bother aren't worth it, you'll find new ones (even if we become virtual ones

Im trying to figure out if its worth setting up some sort of questionaire to leave at the local doctors of pharmacy to see how many others are out there suffering as we do, and whether its worth trying to set up a coffee morning so we can all moan groan and bitch together !!

Chin up hun

Your future will get better x

It was a relief to know what it was, because I had so much time off work they were sending me through a disciplinary until they discovered I had crohns.. I have had to have my hours cut an have just got back home from a 6 hour day an I'm already in my PJs..think I'm starting to flare again cos been quite unwell today an I think my mood has reflected it the last few days..

I think a coffee morning idea would be good, I joined NACC and they said they have local meets an things, but only just joined so not too sure what to expect yet..

Do you have a lot of support from family and friends?? The friends who didn't turn their backs on me when I got ill are so important to me, but they are all married with kids, so I find I don't have much of a social life these days

It is nice to know that you understand though as a lot of people don't

Nic x