This is a project that I did to document the life of my younger brother Nathan who sufferers with Crohn's disease.
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My name is Nathan Long, and I have Crohn's disease. It is an inflammatory bowel disease that can effect any part of my gastrointestinal tract from my mouth down, unfortunately, incurable. I was diagnosed on the 16th of November 2012 when I was 7 years old. When I get a flare up, and show symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhoea, amongst the things, it really takes a toll on my everyday life.
Before I got Crohn's, I loved to play football and sports with my mates, but now that is not so easy for me, but its okay because I found a new love for gaming instead! I am on my Xbox One at home quite a lot, because Crohn's can get in the way of my education. Luckily, it doesn't affect my brain, but I often fall behind on class work which makes me feel frustrated.
When i'm not at school or at home, chances are i'm at the hospital. I get admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital for children a lot; when my Crohn's is bad or I need a check up. The doctors check me over and over again and I often have operations, and other times they alter my medication. It's scary facing life with Crohn's at a young age, and despite friendly nurses and well...reasonable tasting food, I never ever want to stay. I just want to be at home gaming with my friends. It's not all bad, as my family come and visit me at on the long days at the hospital, which means a lot to me, as they can't escape the reality of Crohn's disease either. Although I feel very singled out from the people around me, we pretty much look the same. That's why it's called an invisible illness. But sometimes my appearance, especially weight, changes a lot; especially when I'm on steroid medication. I was very self-conscious and did not recognise myself.
Self-medication is a very big part of my life., it feels like all I ever do it take medication. Currently I take 6 different tablets daily along with an at home injection every month and varied strict diets. It can feel never-ending, especially when they don't always make me feel better. Crohn's disease is a very difficult illness to deal with, if I could describe it in two words it would be upsetting and disgusting.
I am only young and people tell me I often have a very positive outlook towards my new lifestyle, as challenging as it may be. If i'm on the toilet for a long time, I like to make flowers out of toilet tissue...it's not all doom and gloom. Crohn's disease does not make me any less of a person, and I hope you remember this when you come across somebody else with an invisible illness.
Before I got Crohn's, I loved to play football and sports with my mates, but now that is not so easy for me, but its okay because I found a new love for gaming instead! I am on my Xbox One at home quite a lot, because Crohn's can get in the way of my education. Luckily, it doesn't affect my brain, but I often fall behind on class work which makes me feel frustrated.
When i'm not at school or at home, chances are i'm at the hospital. I get admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital for children a lot; when my Crohn's is bad or I need a check up. The doctors check me over and over again and I often have operations, and other times they alter my medication. It's scary facing life with Crohn's at a young age, and despite friendly nurses and well...reasonable tasting food, I never ever want to stay. I just want to be at home gaming with my friends. It's not all bad, as my family come and visit me at on the long days at the hospital, which means a lot to me, as they can't escape the reality of Crohn's disease either. Although I feel very singled out from the people around me, we pretty much look the same. That's why it's called an invisible illness. But sometimes my appearance, especially weight, changes a lot; especially when I'm on steroid medication. I was very self-conscious and did not recognise myself.
Self-medication is a very big part of my life., it feels like all I ever do it take medication. Currently I take 6 different tablets daily along with an at home injection every month and varied strict diets. It can feel never-ending, especially when they don't always make me feel better. Crohn's disease is a very difficult illness to deal with, if I could describe it in two words it would be upsetting and disgusting.
I am only young and people tell me I often have a very positive outlook towards my new lifestyle, as challenging as it may be. If i'm on the toilet for a long time, I like to make flowers out of toilet tissue...it's not all doom and gloom. Crohn's disease does not make me any less of a person, and I hope you remember this when you come across somebody else with an invisible illness.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my project. If you care to donate towards Crohn's and Colitis UK, or learn more about the disease, there are two links below: