I have been reading a lot of the post about what everyone has gone through, and I want to say there is hope. I was diagnosed in 1969 with Crohns at the age of 17. I thought that my world would end, and it almost did. I went through the pain and bleeding for almost 3 years, at one point spent more time in the hospital than out. I had the rectal ulcers, bleeding and everything else that goes along with the Crohns. I had many more surgeries than I would like to admit. I went from 210 lb down to 146 lb in a matter of months.

In the late 60s the doctors in our area werent real sure what to do with me, but thanks to my surgeon and the Clinic, the final outcome for me was an Ileostomy and Im still here at the ripe age of 60. Ive done all the drugs and any treatment they could find and Ive been symptom free for a long time. Ive been married for 38 years and have three great kids and 2 granddaughters. You need to have the attitude that you are going to control the Crohns and not let it control you. With a lot of love from family and friends you can survive to live a full life. All I can say is fight to live.