College can be a challenging time, especially with Crohn’s. Caitlin is a nursing student from Florida, and dealing with Crohn’s and daily studies can be a challenge. (I actually had to drop out of college at one point due to a flair.)

Crohn’s has held her back from “finishing college on time and being able to relate to my friends. I have had to cancel/postpone plans or outings due to many symptoms that come along with Crohn’s disease, but my friends aren’t able to relate; especially since all of us are still in our early 20’s. They try to understand and are very supportive, but I know they don’t really know how I feel, and truthfully they never will.” Friends can be a great support system, but they will never know what we go through as ‘crohnnies.’ I remember being in college, there were times where I would pass on different events because I was not well and needed to just sleep and stay close to the bathroom.

She has had Crohn’s for 8 years and has had 6 surgeries! She is on Humira and Imuran, my personal go-to drugs of choice that has help keep me well for the last several years. We all have to have our go-to to check out of reality and Caitlin sings her pain away.

Bathroom breaks aren’t the only issue related to IBD, my arthritis is worse than my stomach. I have been fortunate where I haven’t had the experience of Arthritis and I totally feel for her. Someone in their 20s shouldn’t have to be dealing with Arthritis.

The one thing that she stated is “IBD is an invisible, incurable disease and is so much more than just a pooping disease. It takes over your whole body, including your mental health and well being.” When it overtakes your body, it will mess with you mentally. The drugs can even mess with you and I have personally seen different affects of some of these harsh medications. The bad thing is that we have to take them to stay well when it comes to our guts so it is a double edged sword.

Want to help find a cure? Please help me get to my new goal of $2500 and support me and my ‘crohnnies’ help find a cure and run this marathon together.

You can donate here in support the CCFA.