Hi all,
I`ve been browsing through the horror stories and I never get tired of reading about people who know what it`s like...
Crohn`s.
Yeah ,for those of you who don´t mine reading another horror story,here´s mine.
I`m 48,always been a fitness freak,work out,lift weights,yoga,proud that I still have a six-pack at my age.Yeah,I guess I`m kinda vain about my body.
Around Jan. last year,I started losing weight.
Not a lot at first,I didn`t even notice but people were telling me I looked thin.
I´m an American living in Germany,so I thought the German guys with their beer bellies were just jealous.
Then I got the sharts.It got to the point I couldn`t sleep naked in bed anymore because I stained the sheets.Still,I wouldn`t see a doctor,In spite of my wife`s pleas, because I never needed or trusted them.
So the runs got worse and my weight kept dropping until by Dec.,I had lost 14kg.!
Then I started getting abdominal pain,so I finally saw a doctor and then the real horror began.
The first round of blood tests, stool samples colonoscopy,etc. were negative so I went in hospital after New Year`s for "further tests".After three more weeks of poking and prodding,I still had no answer and by this time ,had completely lost my appetite so my weight dropped even more.
Finally,they gave me a pill cam and noticed some "irregularities" in the small intestine,so I had another colonoscopy and in March ,I had the diagnosis:
"Morbus Crohn".Sounds even more sinister in German.
They started me on Budesonide and Azithiaprine.
The diarrhea cleared up within a few weeks but my pain got worse and I still couldn`t eat.
I got meds for pain but was told there was nothing they could give me "legally" to improve my appetite.I guess that meant I should smoke dope.
It didn`t seem like such a bad idea because I hadn`t gotten high for a while and maybe I deserved a little trip.
In the end I decided against it because I figured I already have enough drugs in my system.
I haven´t been able to work since Nov. and my insurance pays me 70% of my salary which ain`t much and I`m feeling the financial strain.
My insurance decided to send me to a rehab clinic for four weeks in Jun.
It was 130 km. away in the middle of nowhere.
I had massages,sauna, fitness training,nature hikes,support groups,etc.
My appetite started to come back while I was there but the food was terrible,so I actually lost more weight!
They said I`m in remission but need more time at home to "recover."
I just want my old body back but I may have to accept the fact I`ll never get it back.
Anyway,I`m lifting weights again(trying to,anyway)
and I`m eating better now that I`m back to my wife`s cooking.
I just hope I can gain enough weight so I can walk the street without people saying "Holy Shit,Man!What happened to you?!"
My next appt. with GI is next week and I`ll find out if I`m really in remission and can return to work.
I know that compared to some of you guys,I got off easy but I`m glad I found here what seems to be a really cool,supportive group and I look forward to being a part of it.
Peace.
I`ve been browsing through the horror stories and I never get tired of reading about people who know what it`s like...
Crohn`s.
Yeah ,for those of you who don´t mine reading another horror story,here´s mine.
I`m 48,always been a fitness freak,work out,lift weights,yoga,proud that I still have a six-pack at my age.Yeah,I guess I`m kinda vain about my body.
Around Jan. last year,I started losing weight.
Not a lot at first,I didn`t even notice but people were telling me I looked thin.
I´m an American living in Germany,so I thought the German guys with their beer bellies were just jealous.
Then I got the sharts.It got to the point I couldn`t sleep naked in bed anymore because I stained the sheets.Still,I wouldn`t see a doctor,In spite of my wife`s pleas, because I never needed or trusted them.
So the runs got worse and my weight kept dropping until by Dec.,I had lost 14kg.!
Then I started getting abdominal pain,so I finally saw a doctor and then the real horror began.
The first round of blood tests, stool samples colonoscopy,etc. were negative so I went in hospital after New Year`s for "further tests".After three more weeks of poking and prodding,I still had no answer and by this time ,had completely lost my appetite so my weight dropped even more.
Finally,they gave me a pill cam and noticed some "irregularities" in the small intestine,so I had another colonoscopy and in March ,I had the diagnosis:
"Morbus Crohn".Sounds even more sinister in German.
They started me on Budesonide and Azithiaprine.
The diarrhea cleared up within a few weeks but my pain got worse and I still couldn`t eat.
I got meds for pain but was told there was nothing they could give me "legally" to improve my appetite.I guess that meant I should smoke dope.
It didn`t seem like such a bad idea because I hadn`t gotten high for a while and maybe I deserved a little trip.
In the end I decided against it because I figured I already have enough drugs in my system.
I haven´t been able to work since Nov. and my insurance pays me 70% of my salary which ain`t much and I`m feeling the financial strain.
My insurance decided to send me to a rehab clinic for four weeks in Jun.
It was 130 km. away in the middle of nowhere.
I had massages,sauna, fitness training,nature hikes,support groups,etc.
My appetite started to come back while I was there but the food was terrible,so I actually lost more weight!
They said I`m in remission but need more time at home to "recover."
I just want my old body back but I may have to accept the fact I`ll never get it back.
Anyway,I`m lifting weights again(trying to,anyway)
and I`m eating better now that I`m back to my wife`s cooking.
I just hope I can gain enough weight so I can walk the street without people saying "Holy Shit,Man!What happened to you?!"
My next appt. with GI is next week and I`ll find out if I`m really in remission and can return to work.
I know that compared to some of you guys,I got off easy but I`m glad I found here what seems to be a really cool,supportive group and I look forward to being a part of it.
Peace.
