it’s now been a week since i met with the surgeon at straub. he’s an italian with a relatively strong accent who studied in the U.S. the good news is he was confident surgery wasn’t necessary, though insisted that i start the drug regiment immediately. all in all it was good news, but meant i need to expedite the request for insurance from the state: quest.

unfortunately, the plan i was put on doesn’t cover the medication prescribed to me, but rather only covers certain kinds of antibiotics and contraceptives. my gastroenterologist prescribed asacol. it seems to be the most commonly prescribed drug for my condition and i’ve learned that two of my good friends from college, who also have crohn’s, take the same drug. the surgeon told me it is often very effective in treating/managing the symptoms. as i may have said before, there is no cure for crohn’s currently, but its is very manageable with diet and medication.

I don’t get sick very often. Colds and the flu rarely affect me. It seems, now, that I’ve been afflicted with something a bit more serious and chronic. I’m posting about this now because this illness has caused me to be absent in my usual circles over the last several weeks and months and as that absence has become conspicuous; people are starting to ask questions. I’ve avoided saying anything publicly or broadcasting en masse my situation because I don’t really like pity, but I know some are concerned and so I’m taking this opportunity to set the record straight.

The first symptoms appeared around the end of of August; stomach cramps and constipation. After a couple of weeks without any relief, and because I don’t have any health insurance, I went to see a doctor at the Waikiki Health Center, who prescribed some medication which eventually helped a bit, but didn’t eliminate the symptoms altogether. As time went on without any real relief, the doctor there finally insisted on a CT scan, as there was no way to proceed without taking a look at what might be going on.