Gastrointestinal upsets are common in children and usually not serious, but sadly for some, they can indicate the start of a lifelong disorder.
60,000 Australians suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, and it can have a big impact on their quality of life.
As our summer series on childrens’ health continues, we meet a girl embarking on a journey with the little-known Crohn’s disease.
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Hi,
My name is Kiera. I just watched the clip about Holly, the young girl with Crohn’s disease. I really feel for Holly and her family as my daiughter also has Crohn’s disease. She has had it since 4 months of age but like Holly was initially diagnosed with something else. So she wasnt diagnosed until 8 months of age. (one of the youngest patients her gastroenterologist has treated. My daughter was on a feeding tube for 3 months. She is now on medication and has been in remission since July September 2009.
I have Crohns pretty bad but I didn’t get it till in my mid 20’s and wouldn’t wish it on my worse enemy it is a horrible disease and nobody should have to suffer.
Good Luck Holly and Kiera’s daughter there is hope I have managed to go on a get a couple of degrees and got a job now so I am managing a pretty normal life now so hang in there it’s not the end of the world.
But please somebody find a cure sooner rather than later
Thanks Grant. I truly wish there was a cure. If you don’t mind me asking, when it’s bad what happens? and what medication are you on? I have no idea what the future holds for my daughter. Hopefully the Crohn’s is mangaged well forever . . . .
When it gets bad I either have some pain and get very irritable or am rushing to the toilet all the time both very uncomfortable. I use Messalazine and Azathorapine in tablet form daily to control my Crohns as I am intolerant of sulfur (they usually use sulfursalzine). Excuse the spelling.
The worst that happens is scar tissue from the Crohns can cause blockages or strictures these are where the pain come from and may need surgery to fix but the good news is there is some great surgeons in Newcastle that will do what they can to make sure if that it is only used as the final option.
If I am getting pain I have learned to steer away from high fibre food tend to drink milk shakes for bit protein to keep my strength up and always keep hydrated, it’s one time that letting your daughter stay away from fruit and veggies is the right thing to do. I found that it’s important to keep active both mentally and physically so I don’t think about it as well but it’s important not to let yourself get run down because thats when it sneaks up on you.
Bad News Kiera for you is I reckon it’s harder on the family then the sufferer at least we get painkillers if it gets too bad
thanks for that. my daughter is also on Mesalazine, tablet form. People always seem to tell me the horror stories of Crohn’s but never the good ones (if there are any). my daughter sees a gastroenterologist at sydney childrens hospital and he is fantastic. I guess the only thing to do is take it as it comes.Thankfully for us its been a not too bad ride.