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What is it Like Living With A Diagnosis of Crohn’s Disease? | Ryan Zanganeh | TEDxAshburyCollege


how many of you are in connection with

how many of you are in connection with someone with Crohn’s disease show hands

someone with Crohn’s disease show hands

someone with Crohn’s disease show hands very interesting because I too know

very interesting because I too know

very interesting because I too know someone with the cause disease I’d like

someone with the cause disease I’d like

someone with the cause disease I’d like to share with you his story before he

to share with you his story before he

to share with you his story before he was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2013 he

was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2013 he

was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2013 he was living his life enjoying all sorts

was living his life enjoying all sorts

was living his life enjoying all sorts of junky food

of junky food

of junky food he loved his weeknight pizzas and his

he loved his weeknight pizzas and his

he loved his weeknight pizzas and his ice cream dessert he especially loved to

ice cream dessert he especially loved to

ice cream dessert he especially loved to go on the tennis court and play tennis

go on the tennis court and play tennis

go on the tennis court and play tennis and he was living a very happy life

and he was living a very happy life

and he was living a very happy life borderline OBC now the fall of the

borderline OBC now the fall of the

borderline OBC now the fall of the summer of 2013 started experiencing

summer of 2013 started experiencing

summer of 2013 started experiencing cramps and diarrhea and it was just such

cramps and diarrhea and it was just such

cramps and diarrhea and it was just such a shock he could never look at food the

a shock he could never look at food the

a shock he could never look at food the same way every time he went to take a

same way every time he went to take a

same way every time he went to take a bite of food he’d run straight to the

bite of food he’d run straight to the

bite of food he’d run straight to the bathroom within seconds of having

bathroom within seconds of having

bathroom within seconds of having swallowed it and even if he could keep

swallowed it and even if he could keep

swallowed it and even if he could keep the food down for two minutes it wasn’t

the food down for two minutes it wasn’t

the food down for two minutes it wasn’t long before it came back out the way

long before it came back out the way

long before it came back out the way winning even when he went to the tennis

winning even when he went to the tennis

winning even when he went to the tennis court to do his favorite thing two

court to do his favorite thing two

court to do his favorite thing two minutes into the warm-up he had to stop

minutes into the warm-up he had to stop

minutes into the warm-up he had to stop because his cramps were hurting him too

because his cramps were hurting him too

because his cramps were hurting him too much mentally there was a time where he

much mentally there was a time where he

much mentally there was a time where he felt trapped

felt trapped

felt trapped between his bedroom and his bathroom he

between his bedroom and his bathroom he

between his bedroom and his bathroom he missed nearly two months of school and

missed nearly two months of school and

missed nearly two months of school and he was too afraid to go to school

he was too afraid to go to school

he was too afraid to go to school because of these conditions from those

because of these conditions from those

because of these conditions from those two months of summer and school he lost

two months of summer and school he lost

two months of summer and school he lost almost 25 pounds of weight from his

almost 25 pounds of weight from his

almost 25 pounds of weight from his conditions he spent those two months at

conditions he spent those two months at

conditions he spent those two months at shio getting several tests these

shio getting several tests these

shio getting several tests these included imaging colonoscopies and blood

included imaging colonoscopies and blood

included imaging colonoscopies and blood works very scary for him and then it was

works very scary for him and then it was

works very scary for him and then it was the fall of 2013 when doctors told him

the fall of 2013 when doctors told him

the fall of 2013 when doctors told him he had Crohn’s disease for those of you

he had Crohn’s disease for those of you

he had Crohn’s disease for those of you who are unfamiliar with cause disease

who are unfamiliar with cause disease

who are unfamiliar with cause disease Crohn’s disease is a chronic illness

Crohn’s disease is a chronic illness

Crohn’s disease is a chronic illness when there’s a lot of irritation and

when there’s a lot of irritation and

when there’s a lot of irritation and lining of the gut and this is what

lining of the gut and this is what

lining of the gut and this is what doctors call inflammatory bowel disease

doctors call inflammatory bowel disease

doctors call inflammatory bowel disease I needed for short there are two types

I needed for short there are two types

I needed for short there are two types of ieds Crohn’s disease and ulcerative

of ieds Crohn’s disease and ulcerative

of ieds Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis people usually get diagnosed

colitis people usually get diagnosed

colitis people usually get diagnosed with Crohn’s uh in between the ages of

with Crohn’s uh in between the ages of

with Crohn’s uh in between the ages of 12 to 30

12 to 30

12 to 30 although Crohn’s can be found although

although Crohn’s can be found although

although Crohn’s can be found although the Crohn’s can be found in between the

the Crohn’s can be found in between the

the Crohn’s can be found in between the mouth to the rectum which doctors

mouth to the rectum which doctors

mouth to the rectum which doctors usually refer to as cheek-to-cheek

usually refer to as cheek-to-cheek

usually refer to as cheek-to-cheek usually it’s most commonly found in the

usually it’s most commonly found in the

usually it’s most commonly found in the ileum which you can see up on the board

ileum which you can see up on the board

ileum which you can see up on the board in the small intestine so just to show

in the small intestine so just to show

in the small intestine so just to show you how aggressive this disease is up on

you how aggressive this disease is up on

you how aggressive this disease is up on the board we have two pictures one of a

the board we have two pictures one of a

the board we have two pictures one of a normal helium and one with Crohn’s just

normal helium and one with Crohn’s just

normal helium and one with Crohn’s just visually looking at those two pictures

visually looking at those two pictures

visually looking at those two pictures the one on the right with Crohn’s you

the one on the right with Crohn’s you

the one on the right with Crohn’s you can see the the white the pus you can

can see the the white the pus you can

can see the the white the pus you can just see all the ulcers you can see how

just see all the ulcers you can see how

just see all the ulcers you can see how it’s a road at that little gap all the

it’s a road at that little gap all the

it’s a road at that little gap all the regular tissue the mucosa that’s all

regular tissue the mucosa that’s all

regular tissue the mucosa that’s all gone now and you can just see the blood

gone now and you can just see the blood

gone now and you can just see the blood you can just see the hemorrhaging in the

you can just see the hemorrhaging in the

you can just see the hemorrhaging in the lining of the gut and then you look back

lining of the gut and then you look back

lining of the gut and then you look back to the left and you can visibly see

to the left and you can visibly see

to the left and you can visibly see right through it the difference is night

right through it the difference is night

right through it the difference is night and day now how does one ileum turn from

and day now how does one ileum turn from

and day now how does one ileum turn from such a beauty that’s such a disaster now

such a beauty that’s such a disaster now

such a beauty that’s such a disaster now peep now doctors believe that Crohn’s is

peep now doctors believe that Crohn’s is

peep now doctors believe that Crohn’s is is when it can be triggered by several

is when it can be triggered by several

is when it can be triggered by several factors such as environmental causes

factors such as environmental causes

factors such as environmental causes stress unhealthy eating and possibly

stress unhealthy eating and possibly

stress unhealthy eating and possibly genetics and unfortunately there’s no

genetics and unfortunately there’s no

genetics and unfortunately there’s no cure to the disease doctors can only

cure to the disease doctors can only

cure to the disease doctors can only control it and what I mean by control is

control it and what I mean by control is

control it and what I mean by control is take people with diabetes for example

take people with diabetes for example

take people with diabetes for example they take insulin the insulin can help

they take insulin the insulin can help

they take insulin the insulin can help control their blood sugar to keep it at

control their blood sugar to keep it at

control their blood sugar to keep it at a level but won’t actually get rid of

a level but won’t actually get rid of

a level but won’t actually get rid of the diabetes itself right now if you

the diabetes itself right now if you

the diabetes itself right now if you haven’t already guessed it by now the

haven’t already guessed it by now the

haven’t already guessed it by now the person in the story was me once again up

person in the story was me once again up

person in the story was me once again up on the board we have two images the one

on the board we have two images the one

on the board we have two images the one on the left is me before I got Crohn’s

on the left is me before I got Crohn’s

on the left is me before I got Crohn’s disease

disease

disease the one on the right is me after my

the one on the right is me after my

the one on the right is me after my colonoscopy when doctors told me I had

colonoscopy when doctors told me I had

colonoscopy when doctors told me I had closed once again visually on the left

closed once again visually on the left

closed once again visually on the left I’m smiling I’m happy I’m healthy – the

I’m smiling I’m happy I’m healthy – the

I’m smiling I’m happy I’m healthy – the nine or ten extra pounds and then on the

nine or ten extra pounds and then on the

nine or ten extra pounds and then on the right the difference once again I’m I’ve

right the difference once again I’m I’ve

right the difference once again I’m I’ve lost by twenty five pounds I don’t have

lost by twenty five pounds I don’t have

lost by twenty five pounds I don’t have cheeks anymore my face is pale I’m

cheeks anymore my face is pale I’m

cheeks anymore my face is pale I’m frowning I have dark circles on them

frowning I have dark circles on them

frowning I have dark circles on them under my eyes that is the sign of

under my eyes that is the sign of

under my eyes that is the sign of someone who is chronically unwell and

someone who is chronically unwell and

someone who is chronically unwell and unhappy now in my world food was my life

unhappy now in my world food was my life

unhappy now in my world food was my life unhealthy foods and just laziness was my

unhealthy foods and just laziness was my

unhealthy foods and just laziness was my life and I was told that I would have to

life and I was told that I would have to

life and I was told that I would have to take medications more needles more blood

take medications more needles more blood

take medications more needles more blood works and completely change my diet how

works and completely change my diet how

works and completely change my diet how would you feel now

now I had two options at this point when

now I had two options at this point when doctors told me I’d Chrome I could stay

doctors told me I’d Chrome I could stay

doctors told me I’d Chrome I could stay the same or I could change for the

the same or I could change for the

the same or I could change for the better

better

better I initially wasn’t sure what I was going

I initially wasn’t sure what I was going

I initially wasn’t sure what I was going to do and then I realized that she was

to do and then I realized that she was

to do and then I realized that she was right and I needed to change and

right and I needed to change and

right and I needed to change and initially knowing my very stubborn

initially knowing my very stubborn

initially knowing my very stubborn personality I knew it was going to be

personality I knew it was going to be

personality I knew it was going to be hard but once again my parents and my

hard but once again my parents and my

hard but once again my parents and my doctors had my back so I said let’s go

doctors had my back so I said let’s go

doctors had my back so I said let’s go for it why not change now coming to this

for it why not change now coming to this

for it why not change now coming to this and looking back to what I did I

and looking back to what I did I

and looking back to what I did I realized that life can present you with

realized that life can present you with

realized that life can present you with many hurdles many problems that are very

many hurdles many problems that are very

many hurdles many problems that are very hard to face and even try to overcome

hard to face and even try to overcome

hard to face and even try to overcome but what we don’t do we have to learn to

but what we don’t do we have to learn to

but what we don’t do we have to learn to face it adapt to that hurtle and

face it adapt to that hurtle and

face it adapt to that hurtle and eventually change yourself to get over

eventually change yourself to get over

eventually change yourself to get over the hurdle and get ready for the next

the hurdle and get ready for the next

the hurdle and get ready for the next one now I was willing to change so

one now I was willing to change so

one now I was willing to change so what’s next well you need to set up a

what’s next well you need to set up a

what’s next well you need to set up a sort of strategy I need to have a plan

sort of strategy I need to have a plan

sort of strategy I need to have a plan to go forward I can’t just go for it so

to go forward I can’t just go for it so

to go forward I can’t just go for it so I can’t really suggest the plan that

I can’t really suggest the plan that

I can’t really suggest the plan that will work for all of you

will work for all of you

will work for all of you but to make your own I like to refer to

but to make your own I like to refer to

but to make your own I like to refer to it as my acronym the for case you have

it as my acronym the for case you have

it as my acronym the for case you have to know yourself know your strengths

to know yourself know your strengths

to know yourself know your strengths know your weaknesses and know your help

know your weaknesses and know your help

know your weaknesses and know your help and support now I knew myself I knew I

and support now I knew myself I knew I

and support now I knew myself I knew I wanted to get well I knew I wanted to

wanted to get well I knew I wanted to

wanted to get well I knew I wanted to get back on the tennis court I knew that

get back on the tennis court I knew that

get back on the tennis court I knew that having prawns was it right for me

having prawns was it right for me

having prawns was it right for me and I knew that I was ready for change

and I knew that I was ready for change

and I knew that I was ready for change now my weakness

now my weakness

now my weakness one word sums it up feared I was

one word sums it up feared I was

one word sums it up feared I was terrified of having another cramp just

terrified of having another cramp just

terrified of having another cramp just the thought of it even now I’m still

the thought of it even now I’m still

the thought of it even now I’m still scared and I had a major phobia of

scared and I had a major phobia of

scared and I had a major phobia of needles which was really bad um and my

needles which was really bad um and my

needles which was really bad um and my strength was the other was the other one

strength was the other was the other one

strength was the other was the other one I just wanted to get well I didn’t want

I just wanted to get well I didn’t want

I just wanted to get well I didn’t want to have to stop playing tennis because

to have to stop playing tennis because

to have to stop playing tennis because of my Crohn’s I didn’t want to have to

of my Crohn’s I didn’t want to have to

of my Crohn’s I didn’t want to have to miss any more months of school I just

miss any more months of school I just

miss any more months of school I just wanted to be myself I want to stand on

wanted to be myself I want to stand on

wanted to be myself I want to stand on my two feet and still be happy and my

my two feet and still be happy and my

my two feet and still be happy and my support my parents my doctors including

support my parents my doctors including

support my parents my doctors including my gastroenterologist that she Oh

my gastroenterologist that she Oh

my gastroenterologist that she Oh and Ashley my teachers my friends are

and Ashley my teachers my friends are

and Ashley my teachers my friends are support meant everything to me

support meant everything to me

support meant everything to me I had a strategy and I was ready I was

I had a strategy and I was ready I was

I had a strategy and I was ready I was confident I said I’m going to do this

confident I said I’m going to do this

confident I said I’m going to do this I’m going to get over my hurdle now when

I’m going to get over my hurdle now when

I’m going to get over my hurdle now when I tell people I have crows they usually

I tell people I have crows they usually

I tell people I have crows they usually end up somewhere saying oh I feel so

end up somewhere saying oh I feel so

end up somewhere saying oh I feel so sorry for you hopefully you get well

sorry for you hopefully you get well

sorry for you hopefully you get well something along those lines

something along those lines

something along those lines although Crohn’s is something very bad

although Crohn’s is something very bad

although Crohn’s is something very bad to have for any human at any age I’d

to have for any human at any age I’d

to have for any human at any age I’d like to say that having Crohn’s disease

like to say that having Crohn’s disease

like to say that having Crohn’s disease was one of the best things that ever

was one of the best things that ever

was one of the best things that ever happened to me why because had I not had

happened to me why because had I not had

happened to me why because had I not had drones I would not be the person that I

drones I would not be the person that I

drones I would not be the person that I am today I would not be so aware about

am today I would not be so aware about

am today I would not be so aware about the food that I eat I would not care

the food that I eat I would not care

the food that I eat I would not care about my body and I would not realize

about my body and I would not realize

about my body and I would not realize how important it is to make sure you

how important it is to make sure you

how important it is to make sure you take value of your life and why call my

take value of your life and why call my

take value of your life and why call my eating habits like diet I enjoy food the

eating habits like diet I enjoy food the

eating habits like diet I enjoy food the way I eat it and that’s why I keep

way I eat it and that’s why I keep

way I eat it and that’s why I keep eating it so I don’t call it a diet I

eating it so I don’t call it a diet I

eating it so I don’t call it a diet I call my lifestyle

call my lifestyle

call my lifestyle I’ve been eating food the way I eat it

I’ve been eating food the way I eat it

I’ve been eating food the way I eat it for the past four years and that’s not

for the past four years and that’s not

for the past four years and that’s not going to change I like I like the water

going to change I like I like the water

going to change I like I like the water I like what I eat so I will continue

I like what I eat so I will continue

I like what I eat so I will continue it’s my lifestyle not a diet now I’m on

it’s my lifestyle not a diet now I’m on

it’s my lifestyle not a diet now I’m on this stage right now because we all have

this stage right now because we all have

this stage right now because we all have hurdles every one of you has one whether

hurdles every one of you has one whether

hurdles every one of you has one whether it’s big or small has a hurdle but how

it’s big or small has a hurdle but how

it’s big or small has a hurdle but how many of you will actually go that extra

many of you will actually go that extra

many of you will actually go that extra mile and jump it go for the change right

mile and jump it go for the change right

mile and jump it go for the change right now I’m here to encourage you to change

now I’m here to encourage you to change

now I’m here to encourage you to change me with my stubborn personality with all

me with my stubborn personality with all

me with my stubborn personality with all odds against me I jumped it I went for

odds against me I jumped it I went for

odds against me I jumped it I went for it and I did it if I could do it there

it and I did it if I could do it there

it and I did it if I could do it there should be no excuse friend you not to

should be no excuse friend you not to

should be no excuse friend you not to try I appreciate you all listening to me

try I appreciate you all listening to me

try I appreciate you all listening to me and I’d like to finish with this one

and I’d like to finish with this one

and I’d like to finish with this one quote nobody can change you unless you

quote nobody can change you unless you

quote nobody can change you unless you change yourself

”

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