Over 1.4 million people suffer from Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis collectively know as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Unfortunately I am one of those people. I am a 24-year-old mother, step mother, and nurse. I am creating this blog to not only tell my story and allow others to tell theirs, but to raise awareness. Not just awareness of IBD itself, but also awareness of the debilitating, life changing effect the diseases have on both the body and the mind. Not to mention the effect it has on the relationships with everyone around you. I am Ashton, I am Crohn’s disease, and this is my story.
I’ve never had what one would call and easy life, but I was always a strong, independent, driven, and confident women. I had no idea how quickly that would change. I had always had issues with my health. I was told it was anemia, that I was anorexic, that it was anxiety and in my head. I saw several doctors over the years before I found my current primary care physician. He spent two years running tests and reviewing symptoms to no avail. We still had no answers. I was sick but with what?
During a vacation with my family I developed severe pain in my right lower abdomen. To my surprise I also had a large palpable lump. I naturally, being the nurse I am, ignored it until we returned home. By this time, I could hardly walk on my own. I went to my primary care physician who immediately sent me to the ER.
This is where my life changed forever. As I laid in the bed awaiting my results the doctor who I had previously worked with for years walked in and said, “I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” He told me that I did not have appendicitis which we originally thought. Instead I had what looked like Crohn’s disease. I had a mass of infection and inflammation in my small intestine where it connects to my large intestine.
I was shocked. I never imagined that I would have an autoimmune disease. I was admitted to the hospital. I was scared, I was shocked, but most of all I was worried about my future. I received mostly excellent care while there, but one nurse stood out from the rest. Unfortunately, it was not for a good reason. She entered my room, introduced herself, and immediately began telling me how my life was about to change. She showed no compassion or empathy at all. She just kept saying how I would have to change my diet, how I wouldn’t be able to do my regular activities, and above all how she wished I understood what this meant for me. I was angry. I know how patient education works, and patient shaming is not the way. I knew how the disease process worked, I knew the meds, and knew what it meant. Or I thought I did. It turns out that you can only learn so much from a book.
I had no idea the impact it would have on me. Looking back that nurse was right about all of it. I was a scared newly diagnosed chronic illness patient. Anger was all I had keeping me sane at that moment. It is also what almost did me in.
After a week in the hospital, many pain meds, and lots of steroids I got to go home on Christmas day in 2017. I was referred to a GI specialist who confirmed my diagnosis. We began treatment immediately, but unfortunately a good amount of damage had already been done. I have a fibrous stricture that I am currently preparing to have surgically removed.
I wish I could say that is the worst of my story. I suffer from severe joint pain to the point that some days I can hardly walk. I have also begun to experience some mental status changes. Confusion, headaches, forgetfulness, along with anxiety and depression.
I deal with an invisible illness every day. An illness that has left me unable to be the nurse that I was. I have never known any life other than that to help people. I am hoping by starting this blog I can continue to do so in a way.
I would love to hear everyone’s stories and struggles and more importantly stories of strength and survival. Email me your stories and I will post them for support from fellow survivors along with my blog. I look forward to hearing from others who share the same experiences as myself. Even if this blog goes nowhere, I’m hoping for an outlet because I’m sure you all know as well as I do, we need one.
Chumleyashton@gmail.com
The Truth about Crohn's Disease 