Watching Time Pass You By With IBS

I was diagnosed with IBS and Crohn’s Disease in 2011. I am about to hit the 10-year anniversary of my diagnosis and I can’t believe it has been this long.

In many ways, it feels like it was only yesterday that I was diagnosed, but in more ways, it feels like ages. Literally decades.

I have had a long and tough journey dealing with these 2 diagnoses. For the most part, the last 10 years have been very difficult and I have been in and out of the hospital fighting symptoms and trying to keep afloat.

New medication for my IBS

Thankfully just recently, my gastroenterologist put me on a new medication that I have responded quite well to, but I still deal with symptoms daily. The difference is, I am just able to function on a daily more. Will I ever be totally symptom-free?

That’s definitely a question I think about often, and I hope so dearly.

So much time has passed

Another thought I often ponder about is how quickly time has passed me by, and how I have in some ways feel as though I have been left behind.

I am currently 31 years old, and I am being totally honest here, I never thought I would be where I am today. In other words, I envisioned a much different 31-year-old than the one I am now.

In high school, I kid you not, I thought I would be married by 27 and living in a house with a white picket fence, golden retriever, gorgeous husband, and 1 or 2 kids by the time 31 rolled around.

Well, the reality is, I am currently just bouncing back on my feet financially for having to quit my professional dance career due to the severity of IBS and Crohn’s. Have you had to take a huge break career-wise due to your diagnosis?  It is a hard pill to swallow but I had to do it. Of course, this set me back in life majorly.

Personal life, IBS, and Crohn's

I haven’t been able to make the moves I wanted to in my career life or my personal life due to IBS and Crohn’s. I look back at all that I’ve gone through, and because of these 2 diagnoses, my life has taken quite a detour.

However, I can sit here and dwell on how my life could have been without these conditions, but what is the point? I have to do my best with what I have now. And although I am not exactly where I want to be, I know I can soon get there.

I have been slowly improving and although I am still dealing with constant symptoms, they are not severe which is very encouraging. I also have to make sure not to compare my journey to my peers. Many are married, with children, traveling, and buying homes. It can be hard to see these things since I am not there yet. However, I know with time I soon will be there.

A quote that always hits home with me in regards to this is: "comparison is the thief of joy." Don’t compare your life to others. We all have different journeys and purposes in life. Stay in your lane. Focus on you and you will see that with time, things will be worked out for the good.

Do any of you relate? If you’d like to share your thoughts, comment below. We love hearing from you.