Diagnosed 2005

[karj]

Hi all

just introducing myself, i was diagnosed with crohn's around 2005. ever since it has never really been quiet but i have been able to get on with my life. decided to join this form because i have had a flare up worse than usual lately and my doctor might decide to put me on infleximab treatment or humira injections not sure yet. went into the doctor today and he has started me on a dose of pentasa, not sure how much (can't read the bloody writing) but i will know when i get the tablets tomorrow. i have to go for the usual tests again in a few weeks time colonoscopy and small bowel x-ray because he wants to see where it is active. so that is me. been able to work away with my crohn's so i guess i have been lucky. i never really get very bad cramps but when i do - jeez do they wipe me out! sometimes i get a bad pain like an ulcer pain, that is the worst! but mostly i find i just have bleeding all of the time and no other symptoms. this to me is okay but lately i feel very drained and had blood tests done and blood count is a bit low so now i have to see what i have to do to try and get on top of it. been on asacolon bit having really no affect on me. lost about a stone weight so i definitely need to get on top of it this time.

 

[billyjoel]

Sorry you are flaring but happy to have you here!

 

[xJillx]

Hi karj and welcome! I am sorry your current flare is giving you such a tough time. Had you been taking maintence medication regularly? I sure hope you will be able to get your Crohn's under control soon, whether it is with the pentasa, infliximab, or humira. Good luck!

 

[karj]

Thanks guys. If I honest i wasn't taking the meds all of the time. i was trying to see if i could do without them. i had a great few months where i was med free about two and a half years ago but it flared up again when a family relative got ill and died a few months later. I know they say there is no apparent link but i do find that stress is my main problem. in the last few months i lost my job and this has lead to an increase in worry and stress so that definitely is having an affect. the crohn's is mainly is my small bowel so turns out asacolon is not good for that so hopefully the pentasa will settle me down. i have realised now that i have to keep taking meds to keep it under control. i am one of these people who tricked myself into thinking i could manage without tablets :-(

 

[billyjoel]

Actually someone posted a link to a study on the boards yesterday that discusses how bacteria can alter the way a person thinks and this is important to IBD because of the bacterial relationship there and that many IBD patients suffer from anxiety and/or depression.

 

[karj]

Wow really? i must have a search for that - that sounds interesting. i always find i have the worst flare ups when i am worried about something. the first time i got really bad crohns i was studying to me a teacher and i was on teaching practice! bloody inspectors coming every few days! that time actually i was diagnosed with having H-pylori bacteria and that was causing me to have bad pain etc - wonder if there is any link with that bacteria and crohns

 

[billyjoel]

Yep, here it is:

http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=18534