Crohn’s disease is a disease that causes inflammation, or swelling, and irritation of any part of the digestive tract—also called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The part most commonly affected is the end part of the small intestine, called the ileum.
In Crohn’s disease, inflammation extends deep into the lining of the affected part of the GI tract. Swelling can cause pain and can make the intestine—also called the bowel—empty frequently, resulting in diarrhea. Chronic—or long-lasting—inflammation may produce scar tissue that builds up inside the intestine to create a stricture. A stricture is a narrowed passageway that can slow the movement of food through the intestine, causing pain or cramps. Due to this many patients with Crohn's disease suffer from rapid weight loss.
I decided to write this diary today, cause well it was a bad day. I woke up as usual, at 4 am, with severe bowl inflammation, and it has just been a crappy day since.
Crohn's disease affects every aspect of my life, it is an IBD, and just like everyone else who has an IBD, the very first thing that I look for when I go anywhere is the restroom. My life, an others who live with these types of diseases, revolves around the restroom. To be without one is, well..... inconceivable! And yes I think that means what I think it means.
I do not have health insurance, a familiar story, and have to treat my disease out of my own pocket, which is costly. Crohn's is a disease that requires constant physician supervision, and daily medications. I have a total of 12 medications that I take daily, but that is over a dozen pills, because at times, when my flairs ups are bad, I have to take more then one dose. The cost of this, without insurance you ask? Over $200 a month. That is a quarter to a third of my monthly rent, give or take utilities, some months are more then others. I simply cannot afford that.
I had to find another way. So I was left looking into medical marijuana, which in the state of Colorado where I live, is medically legal. What I found was that peoples results were similar to that of cancer patients on chemotherapy. So I went and got my red card, the card you need in the state of Colorado to legally obtain medical marijuana.
My first day was a breath of fresh air, in that, my world did not revolve around constantly taking pills, for whatever symptom was coming, and what ever I thought might be coming next. I could EAT! And eat I did. Over the course of a few weeks I was taking less and less of my medications, and I even had to use the bathroom less, but not as less as I wanted. But I will take any step towards normalcy I can get. My monthly cost of medical marijuana, $75, which BTW I am paying taxes on, as the state of Colorado taxes all medical marijuana purchases, and I am fine with it, in fact I think it's a great idea.
It has been a year since I have re-filled a majority of my medications. Now, I only need 3 of them, while I need marijuana everyday, I am able to function, to work, and to, most importantly eat.
Below is my blog, if you would like to follow along. It is full of more information in greater detail, pictures, and is more about my life and my dealing with my Crohn's day to day.
http://cdmymm.blogspot.com/
I have also included some other great resources about Crohn's and IBD for those who are curious. I decided not to bore you with the details, I can write a book about this!
http://www.ccfa.org/...
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/...