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I've Been Diagnosed... Now What?
So you've just found out that you have IBD -- Crohn's disease or ulcerative
colitis.
On one hand, this is a huge bummer. You're not feeling well and probably
haven't been for a while...now you have to take medication and maybe have
surgery? Yikes!
But on the other hand, it's probably a relief to know there's a name for what's
going on with your body and that something can be done about it. Here are some
other things you should know:
- Nothing you ate or did gave you IBD. It's not caused by stress either.
- You didn't catch it from anyone else.
- You are totally not alone. There are about 1.4 million people in the U.S.
who have IBD, and at least 150,000 of them are under the age of 17.
- IBD is a "chronic" disease, which means it won't go away. But that doesn't
mean that it's fatal...IT'S NOT!
- Although IBD is a chronic illness, it doesn't mean that you'll be sick every
day.
- IBD comes and goes. Sometimes you'll feel pretty sick, but other times you
may even forget you have IBD because you feel so great.
- Most people who live with IBD are healthy more often than they're sick.
- Even though you'll have IBD for life, it doesn't have to take over your life.
- Kids with IBD can be whatever they want to be and do whatever anyone else
can do: go to school, date, have a career, get married, and have kids of their
own. In other words, you can lead the life you've always planned and
dreamed of.
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You CAN cope with IBD.
Even though IBD will definitely change your life, YOU are the one in charge here.
And that's what this Web site is all about. We're here to help you gain the
knowledge, skills, and confidence you need to take control of your disease.
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