Alison Ferrer told Candy Schulman
When I was 7 years old, I was on a family vacation and living my best life. Or so I thought. I wasn't sick–until I was.There was nothing symptoms It was an indication that Crohn's disease was on the way. Although he had lost weight, he was a very active child. Suddenly he started vomiting profusely.he had heat. When I got home, my father took me to the hospital and underwent all kinds of tests.done by an expert endoscopy and saw everything inflammation In my digestive tract.
My family didn't know how to get over my Crohn's disease diagnosis. We had never heard of Crohn's disease and found out it was a chronic disease that would be with me forever. I thought my parents would understand. All I cared about was getting better and getting back to dance class. I was happy just being able to dance.
I am lucky to have two wonderful, supportive parents. We met with the doctor and were given oral prednisone to stop the recurrence. In early adulthood, I had to learn to manage my illness, advocate for myself, call my doctor, get permission, and push for what I needed for treatment. Crohn's disease comes back once a year. steroid Calmed it down. As I got older, treatment became more difficult.received a biological product medicine. Over the years, I've taken tons of medications trying to find the perfect medication.
I started running At a healthy time.I fell down Love And! I was out for my first run, which lasted four lampposts. Ultimately, I made it my goal to run the entire mile to the dog park. Three months later, my first race was a four-mile race in Central Park. Since then, he has completed six marathons, 12 half marathons, and many shorter races.
I lived in New York, dream work as editor-in-chief of dance spirit magazine. I was the sickest I had ever been and had to take two years of sick leave. I couldn't even leave my house. It wasn't me who was depressed, it was me. I was going to the bathroom up to 40 times a day, so I had to be near the bathroom at all times. It's not a glamorous or fun story. But that's my life. I will try my best every day.
Crohn's disease has brought about a huge change in me. I had to make the decision that was best for me, my family, and my health. You no longer need to commute to an office or have someone dictate how many sick days you should take. I needed freedom and flexibility. Sometimes I had to work in the bathroom. I could do that if I worked for myself.
Sometimes when I'm flaring I can't run at all. I always plan a run around the toilet, bushes, and woods. Living in the city was tough, so I moved to New Hampshire, where I was surrounded by forests. Eventually, he escapes into the woods, where he finds another person with Crohn's disease in an awkward situation.
My Crohn's disease patient's quality of life is better here. I enjoy running even more now that I don't have to worry about it. People like to run with me because I can tell them all the bathroom locations. I learned to adapt. Even on days when I can't run, I will always remain a runner. I bought a treadmill to help me when I'm sick.
Running is my favorite thing to do, so I made it my career with the podcast „Ali On The Run.“ Every week, I interview runners to find out why they love the sport, how running makes them feel, and what they like to do when they're not running.
My flares vary, but they happen at least once a year. They can last several weeks or even a year. Inconsistent. Run as much as you want to run. If I find a race I want to run, I don't pre-register in case I have to cancel.
My advice is to make the best of any day.only you Decide what is best for you. Lower your expectations and be pleasantly surprised. There will always be hard days, so don't beat yourself up. This disease has made me so strong. I'm resilient. I can handle difficult things. The Crohn's disease community has been very supportive. Our conversations are really powerful. It makes us feel less alone.
Alison Ferrer is a podcaster, freelance writer and editor, runner, marathoner, and proud mother of Annie. Diagnosed with Crohn's disease when she was seven years old, she writes about Crohn's disease for running and leadership. fitness and health magazines. Her weekly podcast “ant on the run” is the nation's top-rated running podcast.