Location Location Location

I've been thinking lately about my location and how it affects my health. I have read that Crohn's only occurs in developed countries which makes me wonder if this most-developed city is making me sick. The pollution in the air? The preservatives in the food? The chemically filtered water?

I never experienced Crohn's symptoms when I lived in farm country. Or did I? When I was in third grade I was put in a stressful position at school. I remember having sharp stomach pains before I left for school in the morning. I was drinking Mylanta at the age of eight. Were these pains an early sign of digestive issues?

I've also read that Crohn's can (rarely) present itself as joint and lower back pains in children long before there are ever any digestive symptoms. I have vivid memories of intense aching in my legs, particularly my right knee area, for a good part of my childhood. It usually was worse at night and the throbbing pain sometimes kept me awake. I was once put on Prednisone for asthma and had such intense knee pain that I could not walk. Early signs of Crohn's or just "growing pains"?

Speaking of Prednisone, I took a lot of medication as a child. I had many ear infections and took my fair share of Amoxicillin. In fact, in my early teens, I was put on Amoxicillin for the last time when I broke out in hives. No more -cillins for me. There's the Mylanta I've already mentioned and all of those vaccines... Is my immune system now having it's revenge?

Don't get me wrong, I had an amazing, happy, carefree childhood. I was active in both sports and academic activities. Other than some ear infections, asthma, and some allergies I was pretty healthy, but in college I smoked cigarettes and drank way too much beer. I worked part time for the university and did well in school. I made friends and went out and didn't eat right. My senior year I started working out and paying attention to what I was putting in my body. I didn't smoke or drink as much. I got more sleep and took better care of myself but I could have done better. Did I ruin my body with those few vice-filled years?

After college I moved to New York. I lived in Brooklyn, worked on Long Island and eventually began working in Manhattan. I paid very close attention to what I was eating. I went out occasionally and didn't get enough sleep. I had no money but I made some friends and was having a good time. I got a better-paying job in Manhattan and was promoted after two months. This is when I got sick the first time. I still work in the same office I was in then. I know the air in the building isn't the best. My nose runs all day and there is a chain reaction of sneezes when heat or air conditioning kicks in. We're in the heart of midtown and I'm sure the skyscrapers make it so the pollution from the street just funnels right up into my building. Maybe the bad air confused my immune system?

I know one day there will be answers to all of these questions. Or maybe the answer to all of my questions is yes. Maybe all of these factors added together kicked my Crohn's into gear. Maybe I'll never know.

I do know that this is the most amazing place to live - if you're healthy or rich. If you're not wealthy, you have to live far away from the action or in a less-than-safe neighborhood. You have to depend on a public transportation system that is, at times, less than dependable. The city can be very cold or very hot. There are few options for public restroom access. Life here can be so stressful and there is never, ever enough time.

I sometimes have these fantasies in which I move to another city where the air is cleaner and there are bathrooms everywhere. The sky is always blue and everyone is smiling. And all I needed was some fresh air to make my Crohn's disappear...

*Disclaimer: There may be no truth at all in anything "I have read". I can't even remember where I read some of this stuff. I will consider citing some of these things if I ever come across them again.