An Update

[Kev]

Hi guys

I didn't fall off the face of the planet, rumours about my passing are unfounded (I think), and just wanted to pop in briefly with an update.

OK, experimented with quitting smoking since my LDN treatment seemed rock solid.. it has withstood a lot and kept me ticking away like I was illness free. But, it made smoking a nitemare, and made quitting a cakewalk (surprise, surprise).

I knew, based on the advice of the Clinic (Stop Smoking Program) and several of the doctors I've dealt with that it was chancy.. my particular mish mash of UC and or CC could be adversely affected. Took that gamble, and lost my remission in less than 2 months. Trying to get that back, but I have a flu.. 3 1/2 weeks now, and still no end in sight.. heard of some (my younger, healthy brother has it for 4 weeks now) who it hit longer.. oh joy. Anyway, I'm noticing a slight improvement, think I may be coming out of the woods.. just way too early to tell at the present.

not sure if its due to my taking it extra easy.. literally just work, then rest, every day.. or the fact that someone special entered my life. Lets just call her Lady M for present (what, short for Medicine?). Anyway, trying hard to be positive at this point.. the progress (if thats what it is?), is very slow and very 'subtle;, but it looks like progress regarding my health.. and it looks like 'M' was the medicine I needed. I will try to post a bit more, as my health improves

 

[BWS1982]

ooooooooo, Kev found a princess to wine and dine. Sounds like it may be just what you needed.

I just have to remember that "Lady M" is not the member "Lady B" that is here, least as far as I know.

Sounds good so far Kev, mostly.

 

[Jeff D.]

Hope you get better soon Kev. I'll keep you in my prayers

 

[Guest]

jeez thank goodness i didn't hear those rumours!!

glad to hear you think you're at last turning the corner with the dreaded flu bug, Kev. it seems to have been with you for ages, far outstayed its' welcome.

& i hope the Crohns symptoms are subsiding too. as for your someone special - that's lovely news, and probably just what you need right now. you deserve lots of smiles and happy times after everything you've been through

 

[My Butt Hurts]

Jeepers - I KNEW someone was missing!
Kev's got a girlfriend, Kev's got a girlfriend (singing playground chant).

Rest up if it helps, rest up some more. Take care of yourself Kev.

 

[Kev]

Hey folks, if I wanted a phoney story to hide behind, credit me with coming up with something more imaginative than this.. But, seriously, this bug or whatever that is going around is nothing to sneeze at (see, must be feeling better, couldn't resist that)... Heard from many people now who've caught it, and it appears to last a minimum of 3 weeks, with numerous instances of it turning into bronchitis... My baby brother, 15 years my junior, and Healthy with a capital H is into his 4th week. Guess I'd re-think the who flu shot arguement all over if your situation would allow you to have one. Anyway, it finally seems to be breaking up, losing the battle... and my remission may be coming back. I jumped from a 4 on my BM scale to a 6 in just the past few days. fingers crossed... As for the girlfriend... hmmm, not sure if I'm delerious, or deleriously happy.. If it is delerium, for pity's sake.. don't wake me from the coma just yet.

 

[soupdragon69]

Aww Kev this is great news on all fronts! Am so pleased you are on the upturn and also Lady M is doing you a power of good too!! ((hugs)).

Has made my day hearing you are starting to give a bit of cheek and are on the upturn slowly and steadily.

Hang in there..

 

[D Bergy]

Good to hear from you.

It sounds like a similar Flu that hit here earlier in the year. My father is just now getting rid of the lung problems he has been battling.

I gave him some Cumanda, which is a natural Antibiotic that works well for lung problems. He had exhausted all the antibiotics his doctor gave him with no improvement.

He steadily improved until his lungs were almost completely normal. Now he caught a cold and is getting over that.

I have been thinking about quitting smoking again, but am somewhat worried that it will negatively affect my Crohn's. I have been doing so well I hate to risk the change.

I am glad you have a Lady M in your life. Maybe she can nurse you back to health.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Dan

 

[Kev]

Well, I survived a 6 day workweek, and maintained my 6 scale. Rested up as much as possible on Sun N Mon... Keeping fingers crossed, and thinking good thoughts.. The bug is still hanging in... but slowly, oh so slowly easing up a bit.

 

[Kev]

OK, almost two weeks have passed... damned bug is finally almost all gone (whats up with todays bugs? Are they getting stronger, or am I just getting weaker? Hmmm, topic for another thread or an opinion poll..).. Maintained my 6's, even made a weak 7.. I think (knock wood) that I'm getting my remission back,,,

Keep your fingers crossed, keep the cards n letters coming in folks. My final word on the subject is this folks. Learn from my blatant mistake, my big blunder... IF you've come up with a treatment, med, regimen, diet, whatever,, that works for you... DON'T rock the boat,, It's downright nasty in those waters.

 

[Nancy Lee]

Great words of wisdom there Kev!!

It's good to see you back here and feeling much better

I don't know if I've send you any cards or letters...
but I still have jokes if you would be wanting more. :ylol2:

 

[BWS1982]

Kev, the worst part is not knowing what is the factor pulling the weight of "smooth sailing", when so many are thrown at it, so the horrible part is keeping up with all the changes, no matter how costly or inconvenient they are. But, it is worth it if getting better is the outcome. What is your final regimen as far as nicotine patches and/or smokes, the one that has you stablized?

 

[Kev]

Well, yes, I should elaborate. OK, the nicotine patches that I had hoped would keep my pre-quitting stable weren't the key. It obviously (in hindsight) isn't that part (nicotine) that ... minimizes.. eliminates.. the bleeding situation in a colon in the throes of ulcerative or crohns colitis... AND that is the key distinction. Advice from countless sources is that if you have Crohns above the colon, smoking is NOT a good option... I wouldn't argue with that at all. But, if you have severe bleeding from the colon as part of your particular version of the disease, then anecdotally AND on the advice of several doctors here AND the {QUOTE} EXPERTS {UNQUOTE} on smoking addiction, then quitting may in fact make your condition worsen.. This is the third, and I am now forced to say, final time I will attempt to get off tobacco. I currently smoke between 8 - 10 cigarettes a day... I take 4 grams of salofalk (5 ASA) and 4.5 mg of LDN a day. On top of that, I take a generic multi-vitamin for folks over 50 (lactose free), I eat a low lactose, low fat, low fibre, low residue, hi protein diet, I rest as much as my body needs counter-balanced with the demands of working and living. I also take a Wild Salmon oil supplement, plus calcium supplements. And it seems to be doing the trick. I don't take any immune suppressors or biologic meds, I don't follow the SCD, nor have I experimented with TSO or other therapies. Its in one sense a very conservative approach if one allows for LDN therapy being a bit cutting edge... the risk of side effects or long term negative outcomes of LDN being neglible... except for the risk of taking this approach and it not being successful.. but that caveat holds for just about any medicinal approach to our disease. This morning, my personal BM scale hit an 8, just hoping it continues..

 

[Kev]

Saw my GI.. The bloodwork from my last visit was pretty bad... have to repeat it. I still am hitting about an 8 on my BM scale.. but nothing is remaining consistent. It is good for 2 - 4 days, then drops for a day or two, then back up again. It seems to be that I'm gaining ground, but its a slow uphill battle with many small fallbacks... Barring my repeat bloodwork being no better, then my next GI visit is in 3 months. The plan is to stay the LDN course, and keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Nancy Lee]

Good to see you again Kev.

Sounds like you're doing the dance of life.
One step forward and two back.

Let's hope you keep going forward now.

Healing hugs.

 

[soupdragon69]

Good to see you around Kev you have been missed by many!

Glad things seem to be picking up albeit slower than you might like but you will get there. You had such a rough run there with all that was going on.

Take care!!

 

[Wiles]

Good to hear from you, Kev! Hopefully things keep improving for you.

 

[BWS1982]

Slowly gaining ground is still gaining ground....best wishes.

 

[Kev]

Thanks for the kind expressions of support folks. I miss dropping in as often as I'm accustomed to. However, the shift from part time to full time employment means I don't have the free time I used to... and my health is taxed just keeping pace with the work.. I'm hoping that when I get back to 100% I will be better able to cope. In the meantime, I've successfully completed my probation period @ work

 

[soupdragon69]

Thats great news Kev. Well done!!

Totally understand where you are coming from as I end up so drained when at work I just dont have the energy to be here as much as I would like!

Can you tell I am being a lazy monkey at the mo and havent worked for almost 4wks now and currently on pred? lol

Well done again am well chuffed for you!

 

[ladyB]

I was gone and now I'm back, where's the jokester?
MIss ya, Kev.
Glad to hear about Lady M and the remission and the job. Boy, aren't you a bundle of good news, keep it up.

 

[drew_wymore]

I was so late on this, I'm glad to hear you're around still Kev. A lady in the life is always helpful =) I miss your sagely advice though. Hope you are on the mend and will be around more often when time permits.