A lot of people are wondering why it took so long to diagnose. Well I have Crohns, diagnosed 4 years ago, even though I'm sure now I've had it since childhood. Growing up I thought that's just how my body worked. I thought I was just a little different than other people in that I had to urgently go to the bathroom a lot, And the painful cramping I thought was from my diet that I was constantly trying to change around to avoid problems.
It can be an embarrassing subject to talk about, and if you had it since a child you don't know any better so I'm sure many people don't even talk about it to a doctor until it's an emergency.
I never brought it up to doctors and just lived with it until 4 years ago when I went to the ER in just awful pain. Part of my colon was so damaged they removed about 20cm of it. And let me tell you bowel surgery is hell. The pain killers worked great but they take you off of them quickly because they also slow down the digestive system which they want to get back running again. I remember the first time they got me up to walk I took about 4 steps and had to give up.
Now I'm managing well, can't complain.