Receiving a diagnosis of Crohns disease during high school wasnt the best news I ever got.
I wasnt too surprised, though, when my doctor told me why I was having severe digestive problems.
Both myfather and older sister have Crohns.
JJ Courtney
The confirmation kicked off years of navigating ups and downs that led to where I am now.
Crohns diseaseis an autoimmune disease, so my body mistakenly attacks its own tissues.
For me, it was mostly in the small intestine and perianal area (tissues surrounding the anus).
When I had a flare, the pain could be so severe that I would double over.
Finding things to eat that I could tolerate wasnt easy, soadequate nutritionfor a growing teenager was a challenge.
I went to the bathroom often, but it didnt slow me down.
I was a three-sport athlete in track, soccer, and tennis.
When the pain hit, it came in rolling waves and felt like a knife in my gut.
I mostly hid what I was going through from people because I didnt want to appear weak.
I could barely stand when they announced the winner.
My parents got me an appointment with a pediatric gastroenterologist, and a colonoscopy confirmed Crohns.
In my senior year of high school, the symptoms started to get the better of me.
The pain came in rolling waves and felt like a knife in my gut.
The Search for the Right Treatment
My doctor prescribed Remicade (infliximab), abiologic medication.
Biologics (made from living cells) are the most advancedtreatments for autoimmune diseases.
I got my first infusion delivered through an IV (intravenous line), and it was a revelation.
I felt on top of the world.
My appetite and energy came roaring back.
I was scheduled for an infusion every two months.
After the first four treatments, the symptoms started up again around week six.
Then, the symptoms returned at week four, which meant I had a month to tough things out.
They started giving me more frequent infusions, but it wasnt helping.
I had developed antibodies to the biologic, which made it stop working.
I took steroids instead of the biologic for a while, but you cant stay on those for long.
You have four shots the first time, and the injections were incredibly painful.
Youre supposed to inject yourself after the initial dose, but Im really anxious about giving myself shots.
I didnt know how I was going to manage, but my parents stepped up.
The inflammation caused afistula, a sort of tunnel in the tissue going from my butt to my skin.
It was right where my intestines contracted during a bowel movement, and it was excruciating.
(It would take fivesurgeriesover eight years to get that under control.)
It felt like everything was hitting at once.
I still hid my condition from most people, but a school adviser could tell I was struggling.
They referred me to a psychotherapist, which gave me an outlet I needed badly.
Between counseling and medication adjustments, my condition became more manageable, though I still had tocontend with flares.
I graduated college in 2017 and became a certified public accountant.
I could eat more normally afterward and felt much improved.
Crohns can hinder your body from absorbing the digestive fluid bile, leading to gallstones.
Youll get a lot back and can give to others as well.
People with Crohns form a tight-knit community, which really helps when you need it.
You may have Crohns, but it doesnt have to define you.
