Any input would be great!

[Mogwhy]

I'm new here and hoping to finally have a place to ask things my doctor doesn't seem to be able to answer/help with.

I've always had horrible fatigue, which I know is common with Crohns. I have days where I barely feel able to get out of bed, much less go up and down the stairs. Now that I'm a mother to a ten month old I don't have any choice, and I just push through. However, I do wish I felt like a normal human being and could do more things with her than I do currently.

Is there anything that will make me feel more energetic on a regular basis?

 

[Rebecca85]

First off, is your Crohn's well controlled? If not, hopefully once it is controlled you will feel better.

Secondly, have you been checked for vitamin and mineral deficiencies? Off the top of my head, iron and b12 deficiencies are common in Crohnies, and either can lead to anaemia which will exhaust you.

Thirdly, have you been checked for other possible health abuses, such as thyroid problems, diabetes, etc?

This might be an obvious one, but with a baby around do ou get enough sleep? And is the sleep that you get good quality?

If there are no other possible explanation for your fatigue, there are meds out there that might help. I would go to your doctor so that the above reasons can be ruled out, then explain how this is affecting your life and your baby's, and ask what can be done.

 

[Mogwhy]

What is considered "controlled" when it comes to Crohns? They keep putting me on different meds as nothing is helping and I start Remicade in 2 weeks.

Yeah. I'm anemic and my vitamin d is extremely low. Other then that, they said those levels are normal. I take a ton of iron supplements but they don't seem to be helping.

They do constant bloodwork on me and check me out all the time so I think they would know if I had something like diabetes but I know or sure they checked my thyroid.

I'm one of the lucky ones who has a baby that actually sleeps She sleeps on average 12 hours a night. I have trouble sleeping sometimes due to abdominal pain, and bathroom issues but I sleep when I can get comfortable.

 

[Rebecca85]

By 'controlled' I mean the majority of time you have no symptoms, except if you ate something you shouldn't!

Hopefully once you start Remicade your symptoms (including the fatigue) will lessen. If iron supplements aren't helping, are they sure that it's iron deficiency anaemia that you have? (there are different types) and if so have they tried giving you iron infusions, because it might be that you are having trouble absorbing the iron.

Diabetes would not necessarily show on a regular blood test as they don't typically do your blood glucose on routine tests. But as your disease is active and you are anaemic on top, I would guess that's why you are so fatigued.

 

[Terriernut]

Mogwhy, are you on Azathioprine or 6MP as well by any chance? The reason I ask is that fatigue can be common while you are on these meds. And 6MP made me VERY anemic.

And I agree with rebecca, the infusions would be the way to go for anemia.

Hopefully, Remicade will sort you out and you'll feel well very soon!