I had my 6 week follow up with my surgeon today after my small bowel resection/diagnosis of Crohn's disease and I need to get your opinions on this. My discharge notes said that I had 'severe terminal ilietis', I also had an abscess cavity and ulcerating inflammation with 'cobblestone appearance' and skip lesions (14cm total removed).
The approach from my surgeon was that as far as he is concerned: diseased bowel removed = problem solved. He thinks I should be able to eat ANYTHING and that my bowel habits will soon return to NORMAL and that I should be able to lead a completely normal life. After reading up a lot on Crohn's disease on the internet and also the fact that it says 'severe' in my notes, also having an abscess and being really poorly beforehand, I am very hesitant to believe any of this.
I requested to have my vitamin levels monitored and he thinks that as only a small portion of the ilieum was removed - I shouldn't have any issues. Am I right in thinking that people with CD, surgery or no surgery, have issues with absorbing nutrients and vitamins? I'm going to my GP anyway for a blood test regardless.
I'm not very happy to be honest as I feel like my surgeon is underestimating Crohn's and I don't think I'm receiving the level of care that I need. I'm not currently on ANY medication and I'm still having some pain and blood every now and then in my BM. He also discussed medication to prevent relapse briefly and thinks I will only need mild medication (metho-something?) and that it might not be necessary anyway because there isn't much evidence in their effectiveness - so it's down to what the gastro thinks.
He has referred me to a gastro specialist but I have no idea how long that is going to take and what that will even involve. I'm feeling really frustrated and don't know what to do. I've been left in the dark for 6 weeks and I still don't feel like I understand my illness any better. The guy was nice and everything, but I couldn't ask him all of the questions I had, because it was clear (and he admitted so) that he wasn't the best person to ask.
Am I right to be unhappy with this or am I just not as optimistic as my doctor?
The approach from my surgeon was that as far as he is concerned: diseased bowel removed = problem solved. He thinks I should be able to eat ANYTHING and that my bowel habits will soon return to NORMAL and that I should be able to lead a completely normal life. After reading up a lot on Crohn's disease on the internet and also the fact that it says 'severe' in my notes, also having an abscess and being really poorly beforehand, I am very hesitant to believe any of this.
I requested to have my vitamin levels monitored and he thinks that as only a small portion of the ilieum was removed - I shouldn't have any issues. Am I right in thinking that people with CD, surgery or no surgery, have issues with absorbing nutrients and vitamins? I'm going to my GP anyway for a blood test regardless.
I'm not very happy to be honest as I feel like my surgeon is underestimating Crohn's and I don't think I'm receiving the level of care that I need. I'm not currently on ANY medication and I'm still having some pain and blood every now and then in my BM. He also discussed medication to prevent relapse briefly and thinks I will only need mild medication (metho-something?) and that it might not be necessary anyway because there isn't much evidence in their effectiveness - so it's down to what the gastro thinks.
He has referred me to a gastro specialist but I have no idea how long that is going to take and what that will even involve. I'm feeling really frustrated and don't know what to do. I've been left in the dark for 6 weeks and I still don't feel like I understand my illness any better. The guy was nice and everything, but I couldn't ask him all of the questions I had, because it was clear (and he admitted so) that he wasn't the best person to ask.
Am I right to be unhappy with this or am I just not as optimistic as my doctor?