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Following her dream despite disease
Carrie Johnson, age 24, is a woman who doesn’t let a potentially debilitating and even life-threatening disease stop her from following her dreams of competing in the Olympics. Johnson is the first kayaker to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team and the only female from the U.S. to qualify for the flatwater sprint at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Johnson is also competing with Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, ulcerations along the intestines (which hinder the absorption of nutrients), severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss and other symptoms in varying degrees.
20 pounds in 30 days
Johnson was diagnosed in 2003, just before the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece after she was unable to hold down food and lost 20 pounds in 30 days. Johnson recalls, “I experienced weight loss, painful stomach cramps, diarrhea and anemia. These symptoms drained my energy and caused me to be extremely fatigued.”
The abrupt change in her health nearly cost her the chance of competing in the Athens Olympics. “At the time, I was training at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California and had just qualified to race at the world championships. But, because my energy level was so low, I was unable to train and couldn’t compete. Having to sit on the sidelines and watch others compete was very hard for me, but it made me realize how badly I wanted to train and to compete.”
Crohn’s is often not quickly diagnosed
Johnson suffered with debilitating gastrointestinal distress for eight months before she was finally diagnosed with Crohn’s disease by a proctologist and then referred to a gastro-internist.
“Dealing with the physical symptoms over such a long period of time also took its toll on me emotionally. I had never heard of Crohn’s prior to being diagnosed. Initially, I thought I was fatigued and anemic due to training. As the symptoms continued to worsen, I knew it was something more serious, but I had no idea what it was nor did my doctors,” says Johnson.
However, once diagnosed, Johnson overcame her initial depression and diligently sought treatment, stayed motivated and was the surprise entry for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, finishing a strong 10th place. This further motivated Johnson to learn more about Crohn’s, manage the symptoms and continue to follow her Olympic goals.
Competing with Crohn’s
Having Crohn’s is physically painful, but it is also emotionally challenging. Having diarrhea and chronic abdominal pain, always needing to know the location of the nearest restroom, and having to be vigilant about diet can be as embarrassing as it is mentally exhausting. But it is not an obstacle that cannot be overcome.
Johnson explains, “When I was first diagnosed, Crohn’s was very scary. I was not certain how I would manage the symptoms in my daily life, much less in my training. I was concerned about being in social situations while experiencing symptoms because of the possible embarrassing [incidents]. Now, I have learned to make Crohn’s part of my daily life. With a combination of medication, healthy eating and exercise, I have been able to manage my symptoms.”
In addition to working closely with her doctors, Johnson and her coach shift her training schedule based on how Johnson feels. She says, “If running is uncomfortable I will do my workouts on a stationary bike. When I am not able to do the physical training, I do visualization exercises. I have found it is important to focus on the constructive things I can accomplish during a flare-up and not on the symptoms I am experiencing.”
Focus on the positive
Once you have Crohn’s, you have it for life. Though symptoms may become less severe or even go into remission, there is no cure for the disease (nor is there any known cause). And even if Crohn’s does go into remission, the symptoms can return inexplicably.
“Over the past five years Crohn’s has become part of my daily life. It does not stop me from doing the things I want to do, although I have had to adjust the way I approach certain situations. By working with my doctors and eating healthy, I have been able to keep the disease under control,” says Johnson.
Johnson recommends doing your research and learning as much as you can about Crohn’s to help you manage it in your daily life. “There are great resources available for information, such as CrohnsAndMe.com. CrohnsAndMe.com has educational info and helpful tips for living with Crohn’s, like information about diet, traveling ideas, videos from doctors and patients, and other resources.”
Of utmost importance, Johnson says focusing on the positives and not being embarrassed about your condition can help you better deal with Crohn’s. “It’s always important to focus on the positive. Crohn’s disease doesn’t have to stop you from achieving your goals. Use your goals as a motivation to live beyond the disease. [And] remember you are not alone,” she adds.
Competing in China this year, Johnson will be an inspiration, like all Olympic athletes, when she steps into her kayak to vie for first place, but she will also be a beacon of hope for the hundreds of thousands of people suffering from Crohn’s when she refuses to let Crohn’s destroy her Olympic dreams.
Be sure to visit CrohnsAndMe.com to learn more about Crohn’s disease and ways other people are effectively dealing with this chronic digestive disorder. And for expert tips on managing Crohn’s, read Living with Crohn’s: Expert advice for managing a debilitating digestive disorder.
If you don't have Crohn's but are interested in keeping your digestive system in fine form, check out 10 tips for digestive health, set forth by the World Gastroenterology Organization (WGO) to help you achieve peak gastrointestinal performance.
Be sure to check out these links for more ways to get into the Olympic groove:
Olympic stories of inspiration (also featuring Carrie Johnson)
Olympic facts about the U.S. Olympic team
Hair and make-up, Olympic-style
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