Hi.  My name is Amanda and I have Crohn’s Disease.

That’s kind of how I feel right now… You see I have just joined my first site/group/support page.  A year ago when I visited some – I promised myself that I wasn’t going to register.  I suppose I saw some of the posts on some and wigged out.  4 weeks after you have been diagnosed and advised that you need surgery isn’t the best time to be reading about people who have recently had their bowels removed.  Which coincidentally is one of my two biggest fears connected to the disease.

So here I am.. all registered… and I even parted with money to become a subscriber… its a big turn around for me… I suppose I need to talk to people like me on a more regular basis… because there is still such a lack of understanding out there amongst the general population.  I suppose thats because (luckily) in the grand scheme of things, a relatively small number of Australian’s suffer with the disease.  Strength in numbers – but in the case of Crohn’s disease… its not something I would wish on someone just to get a bit of recognition or another trial.  The less people that suffer with this disease – the better.

So, this site has an awareness program going called “I can’t wait” and its something that I identify with… I think when you find out you have any chronic illness your priorities change. In the spirit of Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Month… I can’t wait for the government to subsidise Entocort… I can’t wait for medicine to come up with a pain killer that is safe to take, and that actually works… I can’t wait to wake up in the morning and feel good…. I can’t wait till the researchers figure out a way to fix the lesions on my arms and I can get some self esteem back… I can’t wait to socialise like a normal person again and not have to be in running distance of a toilet.  Most of all… I can’t wait for them to discover a treatment that works.

If you are in Australia – you might have seen the ad I have posted below.  I haven’t seen it yet on the television but I am hoping to.

If you have a bowel condition or have someone in your life that suffers from Crohn’s or Colitis – consider donating.  Who knows, it might help change all of our lives.