Mike

My Crohn’s journey began junior year high school 1999-2000 and I was playing football and involved in many sports. I had grown up with bathroom issues, but I was always told that it is the way our family was and the type of food we ate. While getting ready for the junior high school football season, I developed bad stomach cramps that would hit me out of nowhere. I was constantly in the bathroom often not having anything come out or having some scary bowel movements. Coaches and other players would make fun of me and threatened my playing time and think I would be making stuff up to get out of practice.

My dad had serious issues but never really investigated any of them. I felt embarrassed talking to my dad about something so stupid that I never really mentioned anything but it started getting bad. Bad to the point I couldn’t function at school or anything without being pasted to the bathroom. On top of the bathroom deal, I was always dehydrated and that led to some scary moments.

After going to my mom and dad and telling them I had some bathroom issues, they said to try Pepto and other things to help with diarrhea. After no change, my dad took me to a gastrointestinal doctor where they diagnosed me with Crohn’s Disease. We even investigated my dad by him getting scoped and they found a severe case of Crohn’s Disease in him.

At that time there were not a lot of medications they provided us with. Even after seeing the gastrointestinal doctor, my dad and I felt hopeless because the medications they gave us still didn’t really help. It seemed like it was a lot of trial and error at times and we would be okay for a little bit, and then have issues back with a fury. My dad always apologized because when they said a lot of my issues were hereditary, he felt like he passed something onto me that he knew would affect my life forever. I always remember making fun of my dad because he would disappear at random times to use a bathroom or would stop on the side of the road at construction sites to use port-o-potties. When I started experiencing issues, especially during sporting events, I felt awful and always regretted the jokes I made or how I made him feel.

I went to college with a lot of the same issues with my Crohn’s. I would flare up and then take a steroid and be good for months and repeat that cycle. By this time, I started believing that this was just going to be my life. Fast forward to about 2014, my dad had been experiencing a lot of the same feelings, but he was growing tired of the constant let’s try this approach, never mind let’s give you another colonoscopy.  At one point my poor dad endured about 8 colonoscopies in one month. I had my fair share of colonoscopies but not as bad as my dad.

My dad told me there was a different practice that had about 7 doctors that specialized in a lot more practices and had a lot of clinical studies that we could be a part of. He said he was doing it, and I was welcome to join him with this new practice. Long story short, these new doctors had us on therapeutics, diets, and different practices in our everyday lives. Though we had different doctors in the practice, they really considered everything. While seeing my new doctor, my symptoms were quelled but would come back. 

One instance my symptoms got so bad out of nowhere, my doctor ordered an emergency colonoscopy and decided to check out my entire digestive system. He performed a colonoscopy and also performed an endoscopy. He revealed to me that not only did I have Crohn’s Disease, but I also ended up having colitis in my small intestine and stomach. I was one of those rare cases that had both which explained why I still experienced a lot of system while being on some mild therapeutics. In his words “it looked like a bomb went off in my entire digestive system.”

My doctor quickly got me on a heavier therapeutic and within weeks my symptoms went from present to almost like they were gone. My doctor always said his goal was to get me to the point where I could eat whatever I wanted like a normal person. My dad also had experienced success and it seemed like we were on the right path finally. It was this little victory that made my dad and I realize we were lucky we found this group. All the years of constant problems were finally no more, and it felt great. 

My dad sadly passed away 6 years ago after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. Insurance had only covered 1 week of hospice, and he would move into to my sister’s house and eventually pass away, but it was that week in hospice that lives in my mind forever. I stayed with my dad for a week strait by myself, him and I, and I spent the nights in hospice with him. That was a long week because I didn’t sleep one bit and would get up and go to work and then come back and just talk the night away with my dad.

One of those nights I remember him talking to me about my health, my weight, my mindset, and particularly about my Chron’s. It was like his final take care of yourself moments before he left me. He told me he had been so happy that I had found something to help and apologized for giving me this bad disease. He told me that there was no worse feeling than passing something onto your kids and watching them fight something they only got because of you. He told me to do whatever I could to maintain my level of normalcy.

He ended that conversation with one of those don’t be stubborn lines. He said had he been stubborn, he would have died probably on a toilet or something crazy like that. In the end he was happy that he hadn’t experienced any symptoms with Crohn’s. To him he was leaving this earth beating Crohn’s disease and would eat his favorite hot Mexican dish without having to worry about running to the bathroom.

He also ended it with “get help for your kids”. He prayed that I wouldn’t pass on the disease but if I did, to get them help right away for them. Those conversations have stayed locked in my mind since those nights. My daughter, who is going to be 15, has begun having stomach issues. Though it is rough knowing she may end up like my father or myself, I can honestly say that I am not scared. With my doctor’s office along with this great Crohn’s & Colitis foundation, I have a vast arsenal of tools and resources I can use and have lots of help from other people like me. 

I have had some spells where medications for Chron’s have stopped working or developed antibodies and I have to start the process all over again. It hasn’t brought me down nor has it affected my mindset because I know I have the support. I am convinced that there will be a cure for Chron’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. My wish is that something is developed soon so if my kids ever discover they have this disease, they can have that cure available without having to endure long or having to endure potentially harmful side effects of a therapeutic.

Coach Marc thank you for asking me to share my story. I am honored to be part of your inspiration to run another marathon. To all my other teammates and people around the world who suffer from IBD issues, keep going and don’t let this disease ruin your spirts or life. There are a lot of resources available to us now so we can dictate our lives, not some disease!! Support one another and never put anyone down! Continue to be an inspiration to everyone and yourself! 

Marathon #83 – Recap