Fiance has Crohns

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Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
3
hi,
well my story is I am engaged to a really wonderful man. 5 and a half years ago we met and within about 2 months he went into hospital and was diagnoised with Crohns disease. Definately a way to get to know each other faster! he hasn't needed the operation and he can control things pretty well with his meds. He hasn't had a flare up since. I never really knew him before this but from what he, and his friends tell me, it has changed him alot. The reason I have come on this site now is I really think its about time I got a better understanding of how to support him. I dont think I understand the implications of him having Crohns well enough and I worry I try and push him too much to do things he doesn't have the energy for now. I dont know if this makes sense or not. I find it sad that he seems to have lost his drive to do things he enjoys now. He used to love tae kwan do and has given up on that. He sees his friends less because it takes energy after a days work. I just really want him to be happy and not let this dictate his life... not sure if anyone can give me advice, whether its to back off or if there is something i can do.. anyway .. thats my story and why i've come on this site x
 
Hello and welcome to the forum, I am really pleased you have decided to join and learn more about this disease :)

What pops out at me reading your post is that your fiancee feels low and tired a lot? If so I would ask him if he has ever had any of his vitamin levels checked? It is common for poeple with crohns to suffer from vitamin deficiences and a low B12 for example causes fatigue and can also have an effect on your mood. It is definetly worth him have a full check on these and ask for specific levels when the results come through and check them here. Some docs are happy to leave things if you are on the low end of normal but this can still mean you actually need some type of supplementation,

Also what meds is he on?

AB
xx
 
hiya thanks for coming back to me.. i have just had a dig in his meds bag and have found azathioprine,pentasa and vitamins and omoprozole so think thats the main lot of what he's on if that helps

he is quite resigned that this is as good as it gets so never keen to push the doctors to make things better. I think he is scared if he changed anything in his meds it might make him worse
 
Hi there and welcome :)

What vitamins did you find? I agree with Angrybird. If his energy levels are low, there are various ways that might be improved. Yes, sometimes energy levels are low simply because of the disease, but often there are other causes as well which can be remedied. Some of the most common causes are vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum! :D

He can have his GI or GP check his vitamin levels. Does he see his GI regularly and have tests done regularly? Do you know if he's in remission or in a flare that's being treated?

Do you go with him to his appointments? It might help both him and you if you went with him one for moral support, two you'll learn a lot about his treatment plan and three if he forgets anything you can bring it to the doctor's attention so the doctor knows everything and will be able to treat him better.

It is common to drop activities that you used to love or not hang out with friends as often with IBD. As mentioned it could easily be the disease itself since his body is working hard on trying to get well and could easily be low in nutrients as absorption is hindered by inflammation and scar tissue etc. but it could also be some slight depression which could be from a number of things (coping with a disease and even vitamin deficiencies). Could be all three. When each of these are managed and when the disease is in remission he should be able to go back to the things he used to love doing.

So far what you're doing is the right thing by sticking by him and learning about the disease itself. :)
 
hi he has ones that just say vitamins on the pill box, the others are calcium tutti fruitti ones which he doesn't take as often as he should atall.

He is booking an appointment to go back to the doctor this week. He is really reluctant to take time out of work to have his bloods done and meet iwth the doctor. I am trying to encourage him to do it as regularly as recommended and would like to go with him to hear from the doctor myself as to what can help!

he was really happy yesterday to find out lewis moody, rugby player, has IBD too!
 

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