Being a car guy with health problem

"WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe" (wesbarton89) 02/05/2015 at 12:07 • Filed to: None

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I guarantee you we're not all healthy here. I'm sure as heck not. Those of us in poor health are somewhat (sometimes severely) limited in what we can do, and how we function.

I have Crohn's Disease, and it's been nearly 21 years since I was diagnosed. Now, Crohn's Disease isn't that bad, compared to other maladies. It affects the digestive system, anywhere from the throat, to the stomach, esophagus, ileum, and the colon, and it can manifest itself in a few different ways. It causes a lot of inflammation in those mentioned areas, so if you have it, or other forms of IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), make friends with every bathroom you see.

Now, I was just starting school when I found this out, and due to being so lethargic, weak, and tired all the time, I missed A LOT of school. I was intermittently present from Kindergarten through third grade, homeschooled in fourth, part of fifth, and all of sixth and seventh grade. As a result of this, I lost out on a lot of face-to-face social interaction, something I haven't completely recovered from, even today, but it's better than it used to be. I have close friends, and a bit of a social life. Because of my health problems though, I was also terribly sheltered by my family, but I don't hold that against them.

I didn't have much I could do for a long time, but I could certainly enjoy cars, which I did. Not on the scale that I do now, but the interest was there. Besides that, I just played a lot of video games and browsed the internet.

I was told, because of my Crohn's, and related illnesses due to medications (more on that in a bit), that I'd not be able to ever drive, which was a load of crap. I did learn to drive eventually. I drove for the first time at 16 years old, which, while late, was ok to me, and I got my license at 20, again late, but I got it anyways.

When I was younger, I had different treatments, such as Remicade infusions, medication like Prednisone, which, while I haven't been on it in years, the side effects deteriorated my bones, and to this day I still suffer from Arthritis and Osteoporosis in my knees and back. It doesn't bother me unless I'm bending over a lot or do a whole lot of walking, but I do have it nonetheless.

Another treatment I was on was called Modulen. It was essentially a nutrition replacement treatment. 8 glasses a day of this flavored formula like junk, no food, and only water to drink besides this. I would do cycles of this, two months of the treatment, one month of regular diet, two months of the treatment, over and over again. Eventually, it got to the point where I couldn't do it well anymore. I lost 30 lbs in two weeks. At 13 years old, I was about 5'5", and weighed 93lbs. I was terribly skinny. So, I had a feeding tube surgically inserted into my stomach, and did it that way. It sucked, but I put weight back on, and I felt much better. As time went on, I went into remission, and felt better. I was in high school by this point, and attending regularly, making friends, and I started working out. I got in much better shape, I grew, but the medications I was on stunted my growth, so I topped out at about 5'8" or so, but I'm not terribly skinny anymore. As of right now, I probably weigh about 210.

As I started getting better, the feeding tube was removed, and I was put on maintenance meds. I've had flare-ups since, but I'm much healthier now. One of my doctors, in the "esteemed" Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, wanted to remove my colon. I'm so glad that wasn't the case. I don't have the tube anymore, but I do have a hole where it used to be.

I kept feeling better, and better, and I got more into cars, especially once I reached driving age. I learned a lot about cars, and in true Oppo fashion, the first car I drove was a stick shift. It was a little '98 Saturn sedan, completely base, in a dark green color.

Nowadays, I'm doing pretty well, but I still get flare ups. I'm not on any medication, and I lead a mostly normal life. Just remember, no matter what you may or may not be afflicted with, automobilia is a great way to help get your mind off what you're fighting. I went to car shows, checked out exotics in my neighborhood, or sometimes I would just sit in the driver's seat of my mom's car, and just imagine how happy I'd be when I had my own car, and I truly was. Driving, no matter how physically bad you may feel, just to me, takes that all away, and calms the mind. I was in a pretty bad depressed funk for awhile because of the Crohn's, and not being able to do what everyone else did, but that helped.

Because of all I missed out on, as I said, I still suffer from some social awkwardness and anxiety, possibly similar to what someone diagnosed with Asperger's might relate to. My eye-hand coordination isn't great because of lack of physical activity during my most formative years, and I still get the joint pain once in awhile, but you know, you fight the illness, the bad stuff, and you come out on top. Luckily, I didn't have it too bad. I suffered, but many have suffered worse than I have.

Keep on keepin' on, Oppo.

E. Julius > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/05/2015 at 12:13

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Glad to know you're feeling better. It's true that driving is an excellent therapy. I also know that short of entering a vegetative state I'll always be able to enjoy cars. Whether that's just hearing them, seeing them, or even just touching them if I've lost all of my other faculties.

That being said…

I grew, but the medications I was on stunted my growth, so I topped out at about 5'8"

I'm 5' 8" haha

HammerheadFistpunch > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/05/2015 at 12:21

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Crohns is rough, don't sell it short (no pun intended, I'm not much bigger than 5'8), glad you are managing it these days though.

Captain of the Enterprise > E. Julius 02/05/2015 at 12:25

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I was going to say not to be so hard on yourself on the stunted growth thing 5'8" isn't that bad.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/05/2015 at 12:28

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All of this. I have Crohn's as well among other medical maladies. Being sick all my life has definitely made me a bit socially awkward, it's something I try to change about myself everyday. But it's also how I got into cars, and I would never want it any other way. I didn't get my license until 20 either due to my parents sheltering me. Parents of medically unstable children tend to do that.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > HammerheadFistpunch 02/05/2015 at 12:29

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Lol. And yeah, I know it is, and I don't mean to sell it short, but when people are battling cancer, or traumatic injuries, severe depression, and the like, I feel like I could be much worse off. These people can't always live a normal life, and their times may be more limited. I'm expected to have a semi-normal lifespan (besides being a left-handed male, that's not in my favor), but a lot of people aren't, and that's why I say I'm not so bad off. I try not to wallow, and just be happy as best as I can.

E. Julius > Captain of the Enterprise 02/05/2015 at 12:30

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I'm doing just fine with it!

Disclaimer: backwards baseball cap is completely unserious and I only wear it at tailgates/football games because I find it funny.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/05/2015 at 12:30

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I feel your pain brother ... literally. I am 10 year post-diagnosis and have had many surgeries. This disease is a pain in the ass (pun intended).

Good luck staying in remission and keep driving!

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > Captain of the Enterprise 02/05/2015 at 12:30

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I'm growth hormone deficient. Without daily hormone injections throughout high school I would have been lucky to be 5'-0"

HammerheadFistpunch > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/05/2015 at 12:33

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good call. I work in the medical industry so I've seen my fair share of worse case scenarios and I've lived through supporting family in some of them (Cancer, ALS, etc) so I get where you are coming from...I also have a friend with crohns and see that its no picnic either. In any case, I'm glad your here and rocking the oppo.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 02/05/2015 at 12:41

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Seems like we've had similar lives. It's not fun, but we're here, and we're getting by! Rock on brother.

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot 02/05/2015 at 12:44

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I've luckily just had the one surgery. They talked many options, TPN, colon removal, etc. but having a feeding tube was probably the best option. Most people don't get diagnosed at a young age, as I did, and after living with it for nearly 21 years, I've learned a lot. But 10 years for you, and many surgeries, and you're still kicking. Be proud, and stay healthy yourself!

RallyWrench > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/05/2015 at 12:55

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I'm going to stop complaining about my back now. Carry on good sir, I'm glad you & others similarly affected are here with us.

WRXerFish - WRX-Wing pilot > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/05/2015 at 13:59

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Trying to stay healthy. Remicade treatment tomorrow. So I get a half day off work and a weekend of rest.

Converse > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/05/2015 at 14:01

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Thank you for sharing your story. I too have a medical condition that is in most ways not severe, as long as I take my medication 2x a day. Forever. And one of them is Prednisone albeit in low dosages.

Interesting tidbit about that medication causing issues in your knees. I'll do more research as I have some knee issues and I'm only 5'8" (hah!) and 27 years old.

Keep working on you and it will be great. I think that's what makes us awesome, not everyone is the same. If we were all super putgoing and socially adept per se, nothing would get done. Ever.

meganuke > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/05/2015 at 14:20

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Hang in there Wes. I have fibromyalgia, so I can relate to the frustration in not being able to do what you want. 15 minutes of working on the car in an awkward position will have me in pain for weeks, sometimes months. Remember you're not alone and your oppo brothers and sisters are here to support you.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/05/2015 at 19:18

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You know, I have been incredibly lucky with my health and in life in general.

So I just want to say I'm sorry for all my prior Bitching.

If you're ever in the Seattle area, you're more than welcome to drive my GLI around a bit! :)

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power 02/05/2015 at 19:22

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Hey, we all have a right to bitch! Ain't no shame. And I'm on the other side of the country, but if I'm out that way, that would be awesome. :D Stay healthy!

Sinanigans > WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe 02/06/2015 at 07:16

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Glad you're better friendo. That's the beauty of being an auto enthusiast, even through we disagree on lots of things, and we tend to hang with people who have similar cars, we, overall, still connect with one another because of our passion for cars. I've been to so many meets, where I could swear that it was a U.N.convention. People who come from different neighborhoods/states who would otherwise never meet. People from different social classes who would never find another medium to congregate. It's a really great thing.