Quote:
Originally Posted by Milky Bar Kid
Was your Crohns a direct result of serving in the armed forces? I don't know much about Crohns so that's a genuine question.
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Cause unknown, lots of theories but nothing confirmed last time I looked. We used to go diving, swimming and windsurfing in Chichester harbour until we found the sewage works just up the channel which during heavy rain let all untreated sewage run straight into the harbour. My dive buddy got Colitis and I caught Crohns, both similar. They rushed me into the Royal at Winchester on Christmas Eve 1999. Theatre staff had no ops so planned a party for the afternoon. They spent 4.5 hrs cutting me open and chopping 14 inches out instead. Saved my life from a massive internal infection and for that I am always very grateful. Have the odd incident now and then and need to know were the nearest loo is, oh and can't drink a bottle of Port anymore. Did used to like Regimental Dinners, passing the Port decanter and cigars, a lifestyle I could have got quite used to.
I quite accept the Army isn't perfect, but on balance it gave me and thousands of others a clean break from what ever back ground they came from, it really didn't matter. All treated equally, paid well many with a trade. In return I did 3 x 2 yr tour in Northern Ireland. Greenham Common early 1980s (on the inside of the fence) having body fluids thrown at me and a few other rough bits. On the upside I have lived in Europe, Asia and the Carib, skiing, diving and sailing, I can't complain.
Pete