Another story

[kittykat92]

another story

Hi everyone,:smile:
I'm Kat (short for Kathryn), I live in Australia and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease when I was 10 years old. In 2002 the doctors didnt know what was wrong and thought i might have meningicoccol and i was showing the same symptoms (well the rash anyways) it turned out to be purpera. Which they discovered after numerous tests and biopsies in hospital. After travelling from specialist to specialist and having hospital visit after hospital visit (which is quite dull when your 10) I was finally diagnosed with Crohns after a colonoscopy and endoscopy which was ordered after my specialist thought my younger sister was older on account for our height differences. The past year, my medication has stopped working (well keeping my condidtion under control) and once again the Doctor doesnt know whatto do...I only came out of hospital a week ago and still my stomach is spasming and cramping. I'm on imuran and sulfasalazine (i dont know how to spell it) but am on maximum doses for my age, weight, height etc. My doctor thinks that the pain "is in my head" which really annoys me because he doesnt know what else to do so he is trying to find a way to excuse himself from my constant illness.:voodoo:
I get about every bug going around which sucks as I lack immune defence. I successfully graduated last year, which was very difficult as i had to even do some exams in hospital but I managed and didnt give up - that's what you have to do, you can't let your sickness get you down (even if you feel like total crap) and I have been accepted into my university course (which is vet technology)
Anyways, this is my story
Blessed be,
Kat

 

[Peaches]

:welcome: to the forum Kat!! Love your pic - cute puppy!! You seem to be about the same age as my daughter. I'm sorry that you have had such a long struggle with this wretched disease even while being so young still. Thank you for sharing your story with us. The first thing that comes to mind for me is *get another doctor!!!*. If he is done trying to help - let someone else give it a try. Would you mind sharing what meds you have tried over the years (if you know what they are?). Just curious as to what options may be left open for you. I wish you *good luck* with your journey in vet tech school, and hope that you can get your disease quieted back down so that you can keep that pretty smile of yours going :O)

 

[kittykat92]

at the moment i have 75mg of azathiprine (imuran) and 2000mg of Mesalazine (salofalk). I know ive been on pregnizone before (and other steroids) but im not on any of them at the moment and i cnat remember then name of the other tablets i took when i was little but they were similar to salofalk.

 

[imisspopcorn]

:welcome: Kat......If you are not finding relief from the Imuran, I think it is time to try a different med. This disease is just as frustrating for doctors to treat as it is for us to live with.....However, he shouldn't be saying it is all in your head.....You may want another opinion.

Good luck to you and welcome to the forum.

 

[Peaches]

Ok - well that is pretty good. Sounds like you still have the anti-TNF agents still available to try then (Remicade, Humira, Cimzia). I know you always have to weight the risks with the benefits, especially since you have had it at such a young age. Hopefully either your doc will get it in gear and continue helping you - or maybe a new doc will be in order. Either way- I hope you get things figured out. I know the constant pain must be no fun :O(

 

[kittykat92]

its not that fun :ybatty: but i just put up with it. it's good to know that there is still other stuff to try if i really need it thanks for the good wishes :smile:

 

[Tan]

Hi Kat, Glad to see another aussie on the site let along another 'queenlander'!! Down the roaches!! ha..ha..

Im sorry that you have such a rough time at such a young age.. I can't even start to imagaine how hard it would have been to finish high school with this disease.. good on you for getting there tho and making it into uni.

Its a positive that Imuran put you into remission for so long so hopefully another drug will do the trick. Im currently experimenting with finding the right treatment I tried Imuran but it made me sick now just done off 6mp (sister of imuran) as I was getting sick again so doc trying to work out if the drug is doing it too me.

I really like your positive outlook on the disease most of the time I try to adopt this attitude but some days its just too hard.

Like the rest of the gang have said if you feel your GI is no longer listening to you and especially thinking its all in your head it might be time to look for a new one.. no one should make you feel that way especially someone who is meant to be helping you. You wont get the right answers if your GI is already putting you into the too hard basket.

Good luck, Im glad you found the forum I hope it helps you as much as it has me.. I would be lost without these guys support.

GO QLDER!!!!

 

[kittykat92]

wow its great to find another queenslander lol yes my doctor is trying to work out what might be best for me so i'm just putting up with everything at the moment - i find sleep is the best possible thing to do during flare ups but unfortunately its just way to hot to get a hot water bottle!

 

[rygon]

hi ya, Congratulations on getting into Uni. So what does Vet technology encompass?
I know what you mean about picking up bugs. Unfortunately people at my work still come in if they have bad colds/flu so its 99% certain i'll get it.

Hope you find some med that works better

 

[Fog Ducker]

Welcome!

 

[kittykat92]

hi ya, Congratulations on getting into Uni. So what does Vet technology encompass?
I know what you mean about picking up bugs. Unfortunately people at my work still come in if they have bad colds/flu so its 99% certain i'll get it.

Hope you find some med that works better

vet tech is when your like second in charge to the veterinarian the difference is you can't perform surgery or prescribe drugs but you get to assist with surgery and all that jazz :smile: and doesnt that suck when people just ocme in when they are ill? HELLOOO stay at home im sick enough times as it is :lol: :tongue:

 

[Crohn's 35]

Welcome Kittykat, when I saw the name I was thinking you would be holding a kitty lol. Looks like you have gotten alot of support and people welcoming you. You are going to fit in here no problem! Congrats on continuing education, and looking after animals. I couldnt do it I have 3 dogs and a cat but I can't even clip their nails, I cut one of them too far and bled...never again so the hubby does it.

Hope you are doing all you can to stay out of stress, it helps your Crohns not act up. Glad you found us!

 

[rygon]

oh right so you get to help the animals, but dont get the blame if they die

So guess youre looking forward to Uni. Must be great in Aus as well, being able to chill outside on beaches etc. Not quite the same in UK (although the temp does sometimes reach 30degC...maybe twice a year). I hate hearing about my cousin in Perth tell me how great the weather is when its a miserable -2deg here grrr

 

[kittykat92]

I want to move to the UK:lol: I can't cope with the heat and hot weather (though the beaches ARE lovely). I much prefer cooler weather and loved it when i went to the snow (it was 2 degrees C)

 

[kittykat92]

Welcome Kittykat, when I saw the name I was thinking you would be holding a kitty lol. Looks like you have gotten alot of support and people welcoming you. You are going to fit in here no problem! Congrats on continuing education, and looking after animals. I couldnt do it I have 3 dogs and a cat but I can't even clip their nails, I cut one of them too far and bled...never again so the hubby does it.

Hope you are doing all you can to stay out of stress, it helps your Crohns not act up. Glad you found us!

My cat is slightly deranged and has a vendetta against me :lol: though she is nice to me when im sick

 

[rygon]

and theres me thinking australia is paradise.
Last year was great for snow tho over here (even if it did grind the entire country to a halt) normally we get brown slush.

Youre more than welcome to swap places with me... think i could handle learning to surf and drinking Tooheys New everyday, and not forgetting you lot have bbqs dotted around youre parks with free gas ... best thing ive ever heard

 

[farm]

Welcome Kat!

 

[kittykat92]

lol i dont know how to surf xD though it would be cool to learn and i just took the free gas in the bbq's in the park for granted its what ive grown up with - family picnics in the park

 

[Tan]

lol i dont know how to surf xD though it would be cool to learn and i just took the free gas in the bbq's in the park for granted its what ive grown up with - family picnics in the park

Ha..ha.. its funny how we all want to experience different countries.. mind you Im pretty happy where I live its laid back atmosphere although it is freaking hot... hotter then you would get Kat you don't have the humidity down there like we get up here.. out of control. Is it raining down there yet... we had cont rain for the last week from that cyclone.. fun..fun.

Yes I think we do take for granted how wonderful our country is and the fact you can go to a beautiful park or beach and have a bbq with friends and family and play cricket or swim (although up here we have to swim inside stinger enclosures during summer).

rygon - I bet the snow at xmas is lovely in the UK... I would love to experience a white xmas one day!

 

[shazamataz]

Welcome KittyKat Great to have you here. Well done on getting thru exams even when you were in hospital! The vet tech things sounds awesome! i would have loved to do something like that but I'm allergic to everything!!! Except cats for some reason - thank goodness!

 

[rygon]

First time ive known it to snow on xmas this yr. But it did make xmas that little bit better. Our heat is a muggy heat as well..not as nice as your heat

 

[tamesis]

Welcome Kat! Sorry to hear that you're struggling so much with this dang disease at such a young age. Seems like you have a positive outlook though, that's great! Congratulations too on getting into your university program, that's so exciting!

 

[Astra]

Hi KittyKat
Well done you! being at Uni is hard enuf as it is without the dreaded cronies disease! A word of advice - DO NOT BE FOBBED OFF ANY LONGER! I wasted sooooo much of my life being told I was phsychosymatic, neurotic, depressed, demented, all in the head, yada, yada, yada, I even had a total hysterectomy believing the quacks knew wot they were on about! Then enuf was enuf, I sat down with my horrible GP (who I have since binned) and wouldnt move til he refrerred me to a gastroenterologist. I got an appt and my consultant, Dr Bassi saved my life! He believed me, I had a colonoscopy, barium, scan etc etc and he started me on mecaptupurine and azopriothine straight away. but the azopriothine caused an itchy rash all over my body. I see Dr Bassi every 3 months and I love him, he is so sympathetic and really cares and looked after me last week during a stint in hospital. Dr Bassi has put me on a course of Prednosolone for a coupla months because I was sooooo infected and nearly died! My bowel was ready to blow up and implode! Scream and shout KittyKat, get a second opinion, there are some crackin docs out there, you need to find an angel like mine!

 

[pain in the butt]

Welcome! Congrats on exams! I admire your streight at such a young age. I would get a different Doctor thought. Keep us posted