Hello everyone,

My name is Cherie. I am 32, single and live just west of Atlanta.

I was diagnosed about 1 1/2 ago after about 8 months of numerous
test, blood work, more tests. I kinda had a suspicion about what
was going on since I had a co-worker and friend a few years back who
has Chron's. When she would tell me about what was going on and I
could tell some days when she came into work she felt bad I would
think I couldn't imagine what it would like to have to deal with
that all the the time...little did I know I would end up a few years
later going through some of it. I even did a walk with her for
CCFA.

I went straight to the gastro. dr. after I had been having symptoms
for a about a month of so - kept thinking it would go away that it
was just a bug or stress (I work two jobs). They did a
sigmoidoscopy, barium enemia, numerous blood work and other test,
then finally a colonoscopy. The last couple of months before I was
diagnosed were the worst. I had gotten so sick that one time the
Dr. made me have some blood work re-done because she had though the
lab screwed up the results had changed so much. I was throwing up
all the time or running to the bathroom. I wondered why I even
bothered trying to eat anything since it was just going to pretty
much come right back out. :)


I guess I didn't take the diagnosis as hard as some people may
because I already have rare muscle and joint problems from a birth
defect - a disease called Arthrogyposis Multiplex Congenita. I'm
used to being poked, prodded and tested by doctors anyway. I was
just thinking what else can go wrong with me! :) It seemed my
parents were more upset than I - you'd think that they would be use
to having to deal with problems when it came to me. I guess when it
is your kid anything that goes wrong with can be upsetting.

Sorry this ran kinda long but I look forward to being a member of
this group and look forward to any help, or give any help in this
group.

Thanks