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Random i know but thought I would come here for answers...
fungistratus
Member Posts: 437
OK, I just met someone really really really special she's got it all the looks, the body, the smarts (2 masters @25) AND she makes me laugh. There is one "catch" I guess you would call it for a lack of better words, because I would never let this kind of thing get in the way of someone i am this attracted too.
She has Crohn's Disease.
I read all about it on Wikipedia, unfortuantley I want to know what it is really like. I want to know what to expect when she does have a flare up and what I can do to make her more comfortable. She is nervous that I won't be able to "handle it" but she is worth running across Norrath and back 1000 times and I would do it again.
If anyone has ever lived with the disease themselves or has been in a realtionship with someone who has Crohn's or has a family/friend with Crohn's please let me know what to expect. It's not that I wouldn't be able to handle it I just don't want be suprised by anything so when she does have a flare up I dont act like an idiot or hurt her feelings at all.
I appreciate it-- I know I should be in some other forum porbably but I have met some really smart people on here and I trust I will run into someone that can answer my question.
Thanks all
Comments
That sucks mate. I can only say that you will never be prepared for what will happen. You will make mistakes and probably hurt her feelings the first few times. It's what happens. Go find a medical site, sign-up and start learning.
Best of wishes.
When a piscating wizard floods every thread I can understand why people leave.
Don't cook tacos or order white castle. Other than that I got nothing.
Good luck.
The Official God FAQ
She's going to be using the bathroom a lot so be prepared for her to have to duck out during the most inopportune times. This makes things like camping and amusement park trips a bit more difficult, but not totally infeasible. She may also be gassy quite often so if that bothers you be aware that it will happen.
There can be a good deal of pain associated with the inflammation that occurs as a result of Crohn's. She may also have canker sores that are slow to heal, at times not healing fully at all.
It would help me to expand on other issues a bit more if you knew what part of her gastrointestinal tract is mainly affected. I say this because, in serious cases, symptoms can include small skin tags, ringworm, and anal fissures. Also an increased risk of colon cancer.
It can be a lot to deal with, but it isn’t a deal-breaker in my opinion. Love is love and if it would be worth it sans the disease, then it should be worth it with the disease.
On a more personal, and fairly crude, level, don’t be expecting anal sex. Don’t even think about it.
Crohn's disease is tough.
People afflicted typically have to treat the disease symptomatically for their entire lives because there is no known cure.
The symptoms can be inconvenient and embarassing, and in some cases can impact activities of daily living.
If you are lucky enough to find someone that you mesh with emotionally, that's a rare thing.
If you can handle frank discussion of what management of the disease entails and you are compassionate and patient enough to help your partner through the rough patches, then in many ways you'll be ahead of many people in relationships.
We all have baggage/ challenges.. whether it be physical or emotional. Don't let fear of a disease keep you from seeing the person that has it : )
There is plenty of decent info on crohn's/ UC on the web, but every patient is different. Your best source of info will be your partner when/ if she is ready to talk about it.
Good luck!
deviliscious: (PS. I have been told that when I use scientific language, it does not make me sound more intelligent, it only makes me sound like a jackass. It makes me appear that I am not knowledgable enough in the subject I am discussing to be able to translate it for people outside the field to understand. Some advice you might consider as well)
Where are you reading that Crohn's patients get Tinea?
Are you thinking about helminthic therapy?
deviliscious: (PS. I have been told that when I use scientific language, it does not make me sound more intelligent, it only makes me sound like a jackass. It makes me appear that I am not knowledgable enough in the subject I am discussing to be able to translate it for people outside the field to understand. Some advice you might consider as well)
Where are you reading that Crohn's patients get Tinea?
Are you thinking about helminthic therapy?
Good call, I'm not exactly sure why I said ringworm. I was thinking of erythema nodosum, and I was also thinking they were more closely comparable.
I'm a med geek, but not a doctor. I guess it shows
Thanks everyone,
I underestimate this community sometimes, thanks all for the responses. I knew I could come here for some answers/ reassurance.
I think your right about just having a conversation about it. I just dont want her to feel awkward about it.
We have been honest about everything else so I dont see why we couldn't with this.
Thanks all
I want a progress report on this relationship.
Dr. Clwoods, over 10 years of experience in fake doctoring!
There used to be one person that frequented these forums that has Crohn's but I can't seem to get a hold of them right now. Would make for some decent clarification but unfortunately it's a no go.
No required quests! And if I decide I want to be an assassin-cartographer-dancer-pastry chef who lives only to stalk and kill interior decorators, then that's who I want to be, even if it takes me four years to max all the skills and everyone else thinks I'm freaking nuts. -Madimorga-
My brother has that.
She should have a diet that she needs to follow and maybe some (off the top of my head I think they were steroids) pills. Worst case, she might have to go in for an operation to remove some of her intestine (a large scar on her tummy) or she might have a bag that collects her waste.
Day to day she may have stomach aches, gas, and problems in the bathroom.
On the plus side she'll probably always be thin and look younger than her age.
Bottom line, if you think that this girl can make you happy for the rest of your life then go for her.
"The liberties and resulting economic prosperity that YOU take for granted were granted by those "dead guys"
a good buddy of mine (Also my roomate) has crohns.
At first, its BAD; but you do get used to it.
Its a little awkward, but you gota learn to laugh at it. Atleast in my case, we keep it funny.
Works so far, even though some days it smells like somebody died in the house :P
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
I just wiki'd this disease and it sounds damn tough to live with, I couldn't even begin to imagine what it's like. If you love her go for it, but keep in mind this is not just for yourself, someone bearing a condition like this all their life will naturally be a tough character, but having a rock to lean on now and then when it gets too much.. that's where you come in
She may be hesitant at first but I'm sure she wants to find someone just as much as you do.
O_o o_O