What should I do? (Health & Sports Related)

inca · 10-02-2005

Okay...I'm thinking about trying out for either baseball or soccer for my college. I have always been good in both sports and played up to JV level in school. I'm only 5'5 but pretty athletic, and I'm not worried about people calling me short or wimpy or anything like that. Here's what's bugging me: I have had Crohn's Disease since I was about 10 years old. It didn't affect my athletic abilityat the time, so I was fine in sports. However about a year after I graduated high school I had surgery for the Crohn's and they took part of my intestine out. Since then I have had anemia problems and have to get iron infusions to keep from getting tired. I know this will affect my abilities now, especially since I haven't trained for over 2 years. When a classmate told me I should try out for baseball, it got me curious about what I should do. I know I'm good at the game and can play, but I don't want to make a fool out of myself at tryouts when the coach makes the team run a mile or something and I have to stop early to rest. I have been running 3X a week for the past two weeks and walking every day to help and I've noticed some improvement of my stamina.

What would some of you do in this situation? Should I go to the coach and tell him my situation upfront, or would that deter him from accepting me on the team? Thanks for any advice.

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xDCx · 10-02-2005

well you'd have to get a physical in the first place to join the team id assume which is when you should let the doctor know you have a health condition. the doctor will give u his professional advice. if its a deathly health concern id say **** it, im sittin my ass at home playin checkers or somethin. good luck wit ur decision.
-calvin

CarbonFly · 10-02-2005

Ask your doctor about epogen-Procrit. It will increase you red blood cell count and fight off the anemia. EPO is the street term for it. It is what the french were claiming that Lance took in the 99 Toor de France.

What kind of anemia do you have? I'm guessing Hypochromic or is it Pernicious?

inca · 10-02-2005

Carbon - thanks, I've been getting something called Aranesp along with the iron; I know that it helps red blood cell count, but I'm not sure how it compares to procrit. They tell me that they can give it to me only because I'm taking medication for the Crohn's called Imuran, which is considered an oral chemo drug and it justifies them to use it. I'm not sure what kind of anemia I have, but I do know that it happened because they took out part of the intestine that absorbed B12 and enabled my body to produce a lot of red blood cells. My hemoglobin has been below 7 at times when the Crohn's is flaring up.

CarbonFly · 10-02-2005

Well Pernicious Anemia is due to an absence of stomach mucous protein or a deficiency in B12. In this type of anemia the red blood cells are called Macrocytes because they grow but do not divide. B-12 injections are the typical treatment.

Hypochromic anemia is due to a lack of iron in diet or significant blood loss.

Sounds like Pernicious to me. Ask you doctor. There are about 7 different kinds of anemias and we are studying them all right now in class.

robbclark1 · 10-03-2005

I suggest talking to your doctor(s) about what he/she thinks about you playing sports. I understand that different people have different anomolies that may prevent them from training. However, if you and your doctor develop a good plan on how to manage your Crohn's while you are training, then I don't see the harm. You might be more tired on some days, but if you are willing to take that in order to play, then go for it. Just be sure whatever you do is safe and not harming your body.