Hello Everyone! My name is Melissa and I am new to this forum. I had used another forum site in the past but I'm ready to try something new. I figured the "Your Story" thread would be the best place to start.
I am 23 years old and currently a 2L at the University of Maine School of Law. I work very hard and am doing very well in school, but I struggle sometimes with my illnesses. I have Crohn's Disease, stomach ulcers and Fibromyalgia among other things. I am tired a lot of the time, which makes it somewhat difficult to keep up with my peers, family and friends.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's 10 years ago when I was 13, but the symptoms had begun a year or so prior to that. I remember when it began, I had no idea what was wrong with me. I was in excruciating pain in my lower right abdomen, I was exhausted all the time, and I lost so much weight that my doctor and family worried I was dying because nobody could figure out what was going on.
Today I maintain solely on Remicade. Over the years I went through Pentasa, 6mp, methotrexate pills and then injections, and a few others I cannot recall now. My doctor and I finally turned to Remicade after I had surgery in 2008 to have 10in of my small intestine removed. Remicade works for me in most respects. I get an infusion every 8 weeks. I do notice however that around the 6th week after my last treatment I begin to lose energy and generally not feel all that well.
Lately I have been experiencing what I'm thinking is a flare-up, but also I have started to lose more of my hair than I normally do. I have been used to an above-average level of hair loss for years now, but it has never shown its effects because I have such thick hair. Lately though it has gotten worse. Also, my scalp has become dry and itchy and painful. I don't have lice or dandruff or any of those sorts of scalp conditions, and the only major medication I take is Remicade. Does anybody experience anything like this?
Anyway I'm sorry to have gone on for so long in this post. I would love to hear the stories of others either through this thread or send me a message if you'd like. I don't know anybody personally who has Crohns or anything like it, and I would really like to get to know some.
Thanks!
Melissa
I am 23 years old and currently a 2L at the University of Maine School of Law. I work very hard and am doing very well in school, but I struggle sometimes with my illnesses. I have Crohn's Disease, stomach ulcers and Fibromyalgia among other things. I am tired a lot of the time, which makes it somewhat difficult to keep up with my peers, family and friends.
I was diagnosed with Crohn's 10 years ago when I was 13, but the symptoms had begun a year or so prior to that. I remember when it began, I had no idea what was wrong with me. I was in excruciating pain in my lower right abdomen, I was exhausted all the time, and I lost so much weight that my doctor and family worried I was dying because nobody could figure out what was going on.
Today I maintain solely on Remicade. Over the years I went through Pentasa, 6mp, methotrexate pills and then injections, and a few others I cannot recall now. My doctor and I finally turned to Remicade after I had surgery in 2008 to have 10in of my small intestine removed. Remicade works for me in most respects. I get an infusion every 8 weeks. I do notice however that around the 6th week after my last treatment I begin to lose energy and generally not feel all that well.
Lately I have been experiencing what I'm thinking is a flare-up, but also I have started to lose more of my hair than I normally do. I have been used to an above-average level of hair loss for years now, but it has never shown its effects because I have such thick hair. Lately though it has gotten worse. Also, my scalp has become dry and itchy and painful. I don't have lice or dandruff or any of those sorts of scalp conditions, and the only major medication I take is Remicade. Does anybody experience anything like this?
Anyway I'm sorry to have gone on for so long in this post. I would love to hear the stories of others either through this thread or send me a message if you'd like. I don't know anybody personally who has Crohns or anything like it, and I would really like to get to know some.
Thanks!
Melissa
