Hi everyone, i'm new here although i already feel like i know many of you from reading all the threads the past few weeks. I figured it was time for me to be brave and post my story so that you all could get to know me.
This all started for me around march 2008. I was 22 yrs old, recently married to my highschool sweetheart, just moved in to our first place alone, and i had started a new career in medical billing. As you can imagine that can add up to some stress so thats what i attributed my recent onset of daily stomache aches to..stress. At that point my daily life wasn't greatly effected i just had some pain and irregularity. By the time november 2008 came around i figured, a now 23 yr old, healthy female should not be in chronic, daily pain... so, with my husband pushing me, i got brave and made an appt with my family doc for stomach prob. She told me it sounds like stress, and put me on an anti-depressant (which i do think i needed), she also said it sounds like i have ibs and i should watch my diet, adding high-fiber and raw fruits/veggies and she sent me on my way with a stool sample container and a prescription for bentyl. The dr office never called me with any abnormal results from blood/stool so i just moved on along slowly getting worse and worse dailly.
In July 2009 my husband and i and his family went to las vegas for a company convention. It was a total blast, except for the fact that i was running through a giagantic hotel every hour in extreme pain to try and get to my room before i got sick and had D in my pants, (luckily i made it every time). This was the first time i had D constantly for more than 3 days. I was really scared b/c medications always say that on the label, "if diarrea persists for more than 3 days consult your physician." So as soon as we got home i made another appt with my family dr for stomach problems and D, and i feel like she completely blew me off. With no answers, i again let it go and kept living my life in agony. It really started to effect my work around oct 2009. for the first time ever i went over my allotted vacation time at work and was at that point forced to make an appt with a GI specialist.
I don't know why i had put it off for so long but now I am 24 and my husband and i were wanting to start a family. I knew there was no way I could raise a baby feeling the way that I had been so i did some research and found a good GI in my bcbs network. I was able to see him right away and after explaining my symptoms to him and my oh-so-quickly declining quality-of-life he seemed appauled that my gen dr didnt seem more concerned. He ordered an array of blood work, stool samples, and scheduled me immediately for a colonoscopy. After a night of D and vomiting from the colon prep, which i don't think i will ever be able to do again, i had my first colonoscopy on nov 11, 2009. the dr came in right after and told me i had crohn's colitis, which is crohn's affecting the large intestine and in my case the anus as well. He started me on asacol HD and a few other supplements. After 3 weeks w/ no improvement, the dr swithched me to Lialda from asacol, tapering steroids and gave me darvocet for pain, he also perscribed nexium to help me stop vomiting in the mornings after taking my pills and gas meds as needed. I continued getting worse and work forced me to be out part-time on FMLA. At least i still have a job but on dec. 19 after being in excruciating pain in stomach and lower back, i began vomiting and chills and decided to head to the ER. They admitted me after 2nd ER visit with a sever kindney infection and concerned about my crohn's. I had never been in the hospital in my life, or really never even been sick for that matter and this was terrifying. Luckily my husband and family were there and after 2 blood transfusions and many antibiotics and pain meds i was released on christmas eve, it was a miracle!!! However, sadly my crohn's symptoms are still getting worse. I went back to my GI on 1-5-10 after finding out that i now have gastritis and stricture, and he put me back on predisone and started on azathioprine 75 mg. It has just now been over a week and i have missed the last 7 of 8 workdays. I asked my dr to renew my FMLA forms and put me on full leave but they won't call me until tomorrow.
I have felt so glad to read all of your stories and know that i am not alone but i still can't help but feel overwhelmed at the direction my life has taken. I have had to postpone school due to my recent financial restraints, i may soon be out of work for the first time in my adult life, and my family planning has been put on hold...indefinitely. I am very greatlful to my wonderful husband and family but am really glad to have found this forum so that i can blab on for 20 min to people that truly understand what i'm going through.
Sorry this ended up being so long but if anyone has any basic coping tips, food tips or interesting job ideas for someone who is perfectly capable of working (as long as its on my own schedule...near a potty) i would love to hear it.
This all started for me around march 2008. I was 22 yrs old, recently married to my highschool sweetheart, just moved in to our first place alone, and i had started a new career in medical billing. As you can imagine that can add up to some stress so thats what i attributed my recent onset of daily stomache aches to..stress. At that point my daily life wasn't greatly effected i just had some pain and irregularity. By the time november 2008 came around i figured, a now 23 yr old, healthy female should not be in chronic, daily pain... so, with my husband pushing me, i got brave and made an appt with my family doc for stomach prob. She told me it sounds like stress, and put me on an anti-depressant (which i do think i needed), she also said it sounds like i have ibs and i should watch my diet, adding high-fiber and raw fruits/veggies and she sent me on my way with a stool sample container and a prescription for bentyl. The dr office never called me with any abnormal results from blood/stool so i just moved on along slowly getting worse and worse dailly.
In July 2009 my husband and i and his family went to las vegas for a company convention. It was a total blast, except for the fact that i was running through a giagantic hotel every hour in extreme pain to try and get to my room before i got sick and had D in my pants, (luckily i made it every time). This was the first time i had D constantly for more than 3 days. I was really scared b/c medications always say that on the label, "if diarrea persists for more than 3 days consult your physician." So as soon as we got home i made another appt with my family dr for stomach problems and D, and i feel like she completely blew me off. With no answers, i again let it go and kept living my life in agony. It really started to effect my work around oct 2009. for the first time ever i went over my allotted vacation time at work and was at that point forced to make an appt with a GI specialist.
I don't know why i had put it off for so long but now I am 24 and my husband and i were wanting to start a family. I knew there was no way I could raise a baby feeling the way that I had been so i did some research and found a good GI in my bcbs network. I was able to see him right away and after explaining my symptoms to him and my oh-so-quickly declining quality-of-life he seemed appauled that my gen dr didnt seem more concerned. He ordered an array of blood work, stool samples, and scheduled me immediately for a colonoscopy. After a night of D and vomiting from the colon prep, which i don't think i will ever be able to do again, i had my first colonoscopy on nov 11, 2009. the dr came in right after and told me i had crohn's colitis, which is crohn's affecting the large intestine and in my case the anus as well. He started me on asacol HD and a few other supplements. After 3 weeks w/ no improvement, the dr swithched me to Lialda from asacol, tapering steroids and gave me darvocet for pain, he also perscribed nexium to help me stop vomiting in the mornings after taking my pills and gas meds as needed. I continued getting worse and work forced me to be out part-time on FMLA. At least i still have a job but on dec. 19 after being in excruciating pain in stomach and lower back, i began vomiting and chills and decided to head to the ER. They admitted me after 2nd ER visit with a sever kindney infection and concerned about my crohn's. I had never been in the hospital in my life, or really never even been sick for that matter and this was terrifying. Luckily my husband and family were there and after 2 blood transfusions and many antibiotics and pain meds i was released on christmas eve, it was a miracle!!! However, sadly my crohn's symptoms are still getting worse. I went back to my GI on 1-5-10 after finding out that i now have gastritis and stricture, and he put me back on predisone and started on azathioprine 75 mg. It has just now been over a week and i have missed the last 7 of 8 workdays. I asked my dr to renew my FMLA forms and put me on full leave but they won't call me until tomorrow.
I have felt so glad to read all of your stories and know that i am not alone but i still can't help but feel overwhelmed at the direction my life has taken. I have had to postpone school due to my recent financial restraints, i may soon be out of work for the first time in my adult life, and my family planning has been put on hold...indefinitely. I am very greatlful to my wonderful husband and family but am really glad to have found this forum so that i can blab on for 20 min to people that truly understand what i'm going through.
Sorry this ended up being so long but if anyone has any basic coping tips, food tips or interesting job ideas for someone who is perfectly capable of working (as long as its on my own schedule...near a potty) i would love to hear it.
....Many women here have gone on to have healthy normal babies in spite of this stupid disease. So, don't give up hope....I am so glad you joined. I like blabbers
