Dear Community.

         I didn't want to put this in the main forum. I'm not sure why but mostly I didn't think it was big enough to justify it. I hope my friends read this but everyone is welcome to. In a few hours I have have my small bowel examine. I'm not worried about the procedure, it's non invasive so that's a snap. I'm a bit worried about what they'll find. There could be scarring or who knows what. I probably should say I have Chron's disease which is chronic and gastro-intestinal in nature. Also the medicine I was taking is no longer covered by my insurance. That's private insurance for you and why I can't wait to have a govt. option. I was given a prescription for a medicine that's affordable but that the doctor didn't think was really doing any good for me. I had taken it for years until he was convinced it wasn't doing the job. I don't know how long I'll be on it because the results of my exam could change things in any number of ways. I should also say recently my dad was in the hospital because of his ulcerative colitis which he and my sister has. Normally Chrons would be considered a more severe version of the same disease. Colitis affects the colon while Chrons hits up to the entire G.I. tract. Even so I'm the least symptomatic of the three of us, so far at least. When dad was in the hospital I wondered if I was looking at my future. Will that future include having bits of my gastro-intestinal system removed over the years as it becomes too diseased? What kind of medicine will I be on? My sister takes prednizone and it gave her really bad acne, which she didn't have as a teen just due to good luck. I've taken it on short term bases before and it wreacked havok on my ability to sleep. My dad has that problem. 2 to 4 hours a night is typical for him. I don't know how someone can live that way. It makes him miserable. My sister doesn't have trouble with sleep by the way, just acne from that. She does have pain from the colitis itself though. I'm symptom free most of the time but when I have an "episode" it feels like an awful 24 hour stomach virus. It passes quickly but for a few hours it's misery.

      Anyway I know I rambled but I wanted to share this with my friends and ask for prayer. The procedure is only two hours away but it'll be days before I have the results (I guess). I wish everyone well and thank you in advance.