You truly are a COMFORT to those who are facing this journey. Thanks for sharing your life with total strangers, lol.

I feel bad for children who get Crohn's disease. My earliest symptoms hit at age 25. It was a long series of bloody stools. It was painful. The doctor at the time could not come up with a diagnosis. Years later, I was diagnosed with IBS. Spent 6 years with that bad diagnosis. Treatment did nothing for me. I had 6 ER visits in 6 months, but nothing was changed. At that time, my G.I. did a colonoscopy. No diagnosis. I later got the records of this scope and learned that he was unable to enter the ileum. He did not bother to tell us that at the time. If I had known, I would have pursued finding out about what was blocking the scope. In 2010, I had another ER visit on Father's Day. Severe abdominal pain due to a major blockage. The ER doctor performed a CT and blood tests. He became the first to tell me about Crohn's Disease. He referred me to a new G.I.. A friend at work is married to the hospital's head ER nurse. She also referred me to the same G.I.. He diagnosed my Crohn's. He got me into surgery a few months later. 3.5 ft of small Bowel and .5 feet of colon were removed. That was the best thing I could have done.

An ostomy isn't in everyone's future but it CAN be a blessing. My mom had terrible chrones. She wasn't diagnosed until her late 50s but she had symptoms in her 20s because she had them when she and my father were dating and there were many times she had to be where there was a bathroom. When I was a child, a teen and even older Mom was always going to her doctor or to urgent care because of intractible diarrhea and pain. Finally, she was referred to the head of the G.I. service in the HMO she belonged to. She had Chrones everywhere and it had never been treated. She had put up with misery for decades and decades. After her diagnosis they treated her with oral steroids. She hated the weight gain and moon face. But that HMO didn't deal with her horror of public embarrassment and with her fear of a stoma or any of the emotional rejection of the other treatments including surgery. They just told her her choices and she rejected all of them. Her subsequent death from her rejection of the steroids and any other treatment was slow and bloody and painful and exacerbated by diabetes. If you are diagnosed with IBD my wish for you is to treat the emotional component right along with the strictures, the bloody diarrhea, the pain, the vomiting and all the other possible symptoms. With that emotional help acceptance of a stoma and good care, very many if not most people can go right on along with their everyday life and the stoma can be a relief not an embarassing burden.

I've been living with GI symptoms since birth. My mom desperately tried to get dr's to listen to her, but 52 years ago, she was labeled as an "over-anxious mother". I was in my late 40's when I finally got a Dr to listen. He said that I have colitis, partial gastroparesis, and a "j" shaped stomach. But he refused to treat any of these things. My newest GI, I've only seen once. She prescribed a few meds that I can't take due to other conditions and meds, and has treated me for SIBO. The most painful symptom I have is severe abdominal pain and rectal pain. Those make me feel like I'm going to pass out. The most embarrassing symptoms are loss of bowel control and rectal leakage. I hate having to fight so hard to be taken seriously. BTW, I live in Texas, the worst state to receive medical care.

I was diagnosed with celiac disease at the age of 13, I'm now 24. I'm so glad I was diagnosed as a kid, I think it made me a very resilient person.

Just diagnosed with crohns in august. I am 65 and was ill for months and no one helped me until I ended up in the ICU with sepsis and a ruptured colon. I have a colostomy and that is a learning curve, however my identical twin sister was diagnosed at 20 with Crohn's and had an abdominal perineal surgery with total rectum removal. She has an ileostomy and with her knowledge and encouragement I have adjusted . It is know walk in the park as you have said and adjustments must be made but you can live a good life . Thank you for your videos they have been in a strange way a comfort to me.

Thank you for saying that everyone has different symptoms and outcomes. I was diagnosed.27 years ago and have had 5 resections and now I’m looking at having ostomy surgery soon. Some days are tougher than others but it’s important to keep a positive outlook. Thanks again for posting your story.

Thanks for this Maggie. As a wife of a Crohn's patient who has had a permanent ostomy since 1999 and has great quality of life, and also of two young adults now with Crohn's, these are good times to be diagnosed. There are so many better treatments now. I was terrified (like your dad) when my son was diagnosed because of all he had been through, but he has done so well on biologics! So it's more likely than not that, especially if caught early, today's newly diagnosed will have an easier road than you and my husband.

As I’ve told you my sister didn’t get diagnosed till she was in 40s. She had it 24 years and took her life. So sad. She didn’t have great medical care in Colorado but some of it was from ignoring her disease. Thrilled you are doing better and have the attitude of helping yourself despite not always wanting to have surgeries

I felt so sad hearing what you had to go through and at such a young age. You’re an inspiration to others.

I've had severe Crohn's symptoms since i was a baby, but wasnt diagnosed until i was around ten because i had ✨shitty doctors✨ who told me to suck it up and deal with the pain, when i was a _child_. I have an extremely high pain tolerance, so if i was at the doctor's for pain, then i was in the most pain possible. I had extreme nausea, bloating, constipation, stomach cramps, etc. for my entire childhood. I missed so much school, and i had such bad cramps at around age 6 i was practically screaming in pain.Thank GOD i finally found amazing doctors just before covid hit, and they are genuinly the best. Im on the right medicine, and am in the best place i have ever been with my crohns. My symptons are lightyears better, almost completely gone, around 5 years after being diagnosed.

My nephew had the severe constipation and vomiting too. Once his blood work showed he had anemia, the doctors were on it right away. Sent him to children's hospital and he was diagnosed within a few days. My nephew had digestive issues even as a baby, blood in his stool etc so I truly believe he was born with Crohns.

Thank you Maggie for sharing this information! Our son was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2020 at age 15. It was a relief to know there was an actual cause for his symptoms, and we’ve received excellent care. He’s on infliximab (remicade) and azathioprine, though getting his weight up is a challenge. Hearing your story makes me feel like we’re not alone in navigating our way forward. Bless you and your family, and may you continue your brave fight with your lovely sunny smile. We like to see it☺️

As someone with IBS ( only diagnosis so far) which I know is no where as severe as other GI issues I can’t even imagine how scary that must have been at such a young age!! The pain of GI issues is no joke!

I used to have panic attacks when I saw all that blood in my stool. Eventually I went to the bathroom in the dark bc I couldn’t handle it anymore. I got better eventually but it’s definitely scary as a kid.

Thank you for sharing your illness, Miss Maggie. You are confident to open up how you got it and solutions to cure yourself.

Hi Maggie, thank you for this video. For me to it took years to be diagnosed, and yes everyday I have to make that choice to ve happy and accepting who I am. I am grateful for the ileostomy, as I gor a 2nd change and another chance to live, so I am trying my hardest to always be grateful and take everything that happens in a stride. Some days are more difficult than others, but just to be free from stomach pain, that is such a huge bonus, for I have been struggling with that my entire life. Once again thank you. Have a blessed day 🌼 🌼 🌼 🌼

I am a senior lady(70) who has dealt with symptoms of IBD, colitis, and now diverticulitis attacks,trying to manage and control symptoms and stay as healthy as I can. I want to thank you Maggie for your forth right manner in dealing with your health challenges, the good, the bad and the ugly(pain and other issues). I lived in shame and fear for so much of my life and my kids lives. I missed so many important moments in their lives because I was in a bathroom or being at home near a bathroom cause that was life for me. I have been using an energy treatment protocol for about 15 + years now that allowed me to gain so much more control of my symptoms, that for the most part I have better control over my GI tract. Life for me has become so much better at this point. Diverticulitis hasn’t invaded too many times yet so I just keep doing my best. Just, Thank you again, for being the face of hope for so many people. I may have tried harder to get more help in my younger years if I’d known there was help available. It seemed so hopeless and embarrassing and got me nowhere with the medical system so I just stayed close to bathrooms, carried underwear and spare clothes everywhere I went and didn’t eat if I had to go for groceries or to kids concerts or games, things like that. Just spread the knowledge. The road may be difficult but there’s a better future even if it means going thru h~ll to get there.

Thank you for sharing!! Your videos were so helpful for me throughout my whole Crohn’s diagnosis and I so appreciate the community surrounding this!

Thank you for this marvelous video! I know that the video will help many of us who have GI issues. You really are a blessing to all of us ❤

You are great at explaining your disease. Thank you

You are such a strong woman with everything you have gone thru and still live so positively may God bless you and your husband he shows he is a great husband

Hello ,and thank you for sharing this story with us as you are right it's different from everyone. And we all have to learn how to handle it in our own way. Thanks for sharing 👍

💙Thank you Maggie💙amazing video and you hit on some really key points in your video💙a lot people get misdiagnosed so many times ranging from eating disorders, using drugs, seeking attention, gastritis, stomach flu, to food poisoning and that's only naming a few. It's frustrating. So frustrating. What I want to say is that if you feel something isn't "right" OR you're still feeling crappy, listen to your intuition (gut feeling - sorry for the pun) and be your own best advocate to get a doctor to listen.

Your positive outlook on life is inspirational. I wish you happiness for the future. Love and blessings to you and your lovely husband, from here in England.

Thanks for posting this helpful video!

I started having symptoms when I was around 20. Took me 3 years to finally get a diagnosis. Thank God for Remicade. Saved my life and has totally changed my life back to some sense of normalcy. The future is nerve-wracking still, fear of the unknown.. But so far, I still have things under control and am managing quite well thankfully. So nice watching your videos Maggie and having someone to relate to with the Crohn’s that is around the same age as me! 🙂

I've had GI symptoms since birth. I was a colic baby and my mom is convinced it was because of terrible gas pains. I was super constipated as a child. I went a week without a bowl movement and ended up going for ultra sounds and got suppositories regularly. In my teen years, I would get absolutely debilitating gas pains. I felt like I was being stabbed. Into my 20's I finally got diagnosed with IBS and was told to go on a low-fodmap diet. I've also dealt with ridiculous bloating my entire life. After a meal my stomach looks like i'm 6 months pregnant. I'm 31 and still dealing with constipation, infrequent bowl movements, bloating, gas pains... it's the never ending story.

God love and keep you safe, little one ❤

Love this video. Thanks for your giving heart!

It took 7 years of being very sick before an emergency surgery, due to severe disease and abscesses, that I was finally diagnosed. After surgery I didn’t really have any maintenance care. Needless to say I had to have another bowel resection years later and was sick all of that time. Thankfully I am now under a GI specialist’s care. I’ve had Crohn’s for 27 yrs.

I don't know how I ended up on this video, but I wanted to tell you that you are a really neat person. Anyone that has you as a friend is obviously blessed. Be well.

Thank you for such an informative video on chrones. You truly are a beacon of hope. How are you doing today?

Thanks for sharing your information.

4 years actually sounds quite quick! My brother first had symptoms as a toddler, but wasn't diagnosed until he was an adult! The doctors just said he had food intolerances and put him on a special diet, etc. It wasn't until he had a bad flare up as an adult and was hospitalised that he actually got the crohn's diagnosis and proper treatment for it. Luckily, he's not needed any surgeries and has actually been able to reintroduce foods to his diet since starting proper treatment that he hasn't had since he was a young child.

I went 7-8 years with GI issues but no one knew all tests and samples came back pretty normal until a year ago out of the blue I put everything together and realized it was my medication.. been off it since may and minimal symptoms but could be from not being used to some foods etc or this medication ruined my GI system and it will definitely take a long time to get through the food related trauma...

My older son was 9 when he was diagnosed with Crohn’s, he’s 20 now and doing well. My younger son was 13 when he was diagnosed, he’s 17 now and not doing as well as his brother. It runs in our family, my niece has it too, diagnosed at 19, she’s 23 now and looking at surgical possibilities because no medications seem to work.

All my life I have had one issue or another with my GI tract. About 6 years ago I had a 3rd colonoscopy and was told I have diverticulosis. I still go back and forth with constipation and diarrhea. Still get the excruciating abdominal pain and awful intestinal spasms. Trouble gaining weight has never been an issue but losing weight is.

I had crohns symptoms starting when i was 8 too!

I have ulcerative colitis. Was diagnosed at 14 and I'm 35. I've been in remission for years...however take medication daily for it to be in remission. My heart goes out to you!!

OMG sooooo cute you were as a little girl 💕

Thank you so much for this video Maggie. It is infuriating that your diagnosis took so long, what were these doctors thinking? I also had GI issues for years which began after taking anti biotics at age fifteen. I was always told my problems were IBS but I also had some acute episodes of gastroenteritis. Despite all this my general health was good and it was not until my mid fifties that I became ill and was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. I then had a two month course of steroids and apart from a minor blip a few years later I have been completely well for the last ten years. Although I have a UC diagnosis I consider myself cured. Wishing you well and sending hugs from the UK.

Thank you.

Back when I had a ostomy there was no one I knew but it was in the 70's and 80's 😄

I was in my 40s before I was diagnosed after years of sickness and constipation my only 2 symptoms. I went for an endoscopy and the camera I swallowed got stuck in a narrow stricture in my bowel and I was sent for a bowel resection and the camera removing. They diagnosed me as having Crohn’s Disease and during the resection they removed a lot of bowel because they said I had 6 narrow strictures that there was no chance the camera would pass through me. I now suffer with bouts of severe constipation and very watery stools, bleeding etc alternating daily. I ‘m now on Biologics weekly injections to help ease symptoms and I’ve now got problems with strictures again but I’ve refused another operation and I’m trying to manage my symptoms with medications.

i always had several gi stuff finally got diagnosed with celiac took years. but feeling better mostly still have some gi problems.

You are an angel

Great job you made this video. may Allah keep you under his special shade of blessings always Ameen sum Ameen.

u r so wise~

I don't have a "real" diagnosis. But I have GI problems every day. I'm constantly bloated and not just a little, it's really bad and painful and looks like I'm pregnant. Most of the time I'm nauseas and have painful cramps. Just now after my last bite of dinner the stabbing began and I'm currently sitting here with a heating pad on my stomach to ease it a bit. Sometimes all that helps is to roll into a ball and hope and wait till it passes eventually. Whenever I talk to my doctors they just say "oh it's probably irritable bowel syndrom and I just have to deal with it"...and that's that. But I think it's not normal to constantly be in pain. Thank you for educating us ❤

Was diagnosed having Crohn's Disease at 40 years old. Later in life, than average. Started getting cramps, loose stools and weight loss.

I have UC, ulcerative colitis my daughter has every symptom/ indication of Crohn’s. She has so so much blood in her stool, and is chronically iron deficient anemic. We’ve been through the ringer of tests, Colonoscopy, Endoscopy, pill cam test, special MRI’s, loads of bloodwork. They cannot find the source or cause of her bleeds. She has lost significant weight, is pale, stunted growth (14) smallest freshman I’ve seen, inflammatory markers in blood work are super elevated, juvenile arthritis in her major joints. Yet, without an actual tissue sample they cannot diagnose and start treatment. Interesting you said your main Crohn’s symptom was extreme constipation. That is also my presentation unless I’m in a flare and then I might alternate. At the time of my diagnosis my main symptoms were constipation and severe joint pain. It’s been a rough 2 years advocating for my daughter trying to get a diagnosis. They have not really taken her symptoms seriously, yet she continues to be anemic and lose blood.

How interesting that you had a red tinge to your hair when you were young

Any idea on how to keep flair ups of IBS chrons on the low side and keep there nausea on the the low side

I started having increased IBD type symptoms over the last year. I have had labs that hasn't shown much other than some vitamin deficiencies. I'm having an colonscopy/endoscopy next week. Is it odd that I've been praying they find something? 🤮💩😭

I remember that moon face too well

I wish that you were living in the Pittsburgh PA area

Thank you for your great videos. I did not know what a Stoma oder IBD is. PS: You could be Emma Stones Twin

IBD runs in most of my family

Symptoms please.

You never forget your first colonoscopy! 😣. Enemas never worked on me! Superhuman retention capacity lol. Take care Maggie ✌

When I worked in the hospital in the 1990s, pediatric Crohns was almost considered a psychiatric disease with emphasis on screwed up parents causing all the kids issues. Brutal. We've come a long way.

If you are cold, you need to get yourself some pretty sweatshirts to wear or wear some of your merch. Being so small compared to Zac, does there have been times when you were taken as his grown-up daughter? (My late wife was just under 5' because of genetic problems while her mom was 5'9" and I'm 6'2". The best mistake occurred when the three of us went out to eat. The hostess seated us with two adult menus and a child's menu as my wife went to the bathroom. The waitress asked if we wanted to wait until the little girl came back. She did and as the waitress saw her she quickly exchanged the child's menu for a third adult one. You see my wife had double D's (certainly not a child).

🌼

i was 8 and was 51 pounds

I have a hiatal hernia. GERD up the whazooo Bruxism up the whazooo my poor molars 😭😭😭😭 Hydrochloric acid in your mouth IS THE WORST. Anxiety mind body connection is real

You know you should left your robe on if you’re cold because who cares what people think

Every month when I menstruate, I'll have dumb cycles of constipation and diarrhea all in the space of two weeks. The bloating I get makes me look pregnant. I'll vomit every morning I wake up for a week straight and spend the rest of the day nauseous. If I had that all the time I'd probably want to neck myself.

🥰😊✌️

Exact opposite prob as you

Sounds like you were probably allergic to milk or some other food and you were completely misdiagnosed.

Immediately recognizable, you've barely aged! I honestly don't know how I came across your channel, but I'm glad I did, when I did, because it's always been a joy to watch your stuff. Stay happy and healthy, pretty lady!